North America - Imagine if the two Class I railroad steam stars of this year, Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 number 2816 and Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 number 4014, showed up at the same place at the same time and shared the same stage.
 
It just might happen one day.
 
Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena on Wednesday told a shipper conference that he'd like to see both steam locomotives appear together.
 
UP's Big Boy is currently scheduled for a swing from the steam shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Northern California beginning 30 Jun 2024.
 
Also planned, a trip to Chicago and Texas on dates this fall that have yet to be announced.
 
The 2816, meanwhile, on 24 Apr 2024 embarked on its barnstorming trip across the Canadian Pacific Kansas City network from Calgary to Mexico City in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the CP-Kansas City Southern merger.
 
It's scheduled to be back in Canada for a 30 Jun 2024 appearance in Winnipeg.
 
Vena emphasized the importance of the UP steam program in general and the Big Boy in particular.
 
"It's a great emblem of who we are and the history of what we've done. So for us it's important to connect with our communities, connect with our customers, and connect with our employees," Vena says.
 
"And we will use that steam engine, we'll have it out over the railroad this year. And hopefully at some point we'll have it at the same place as CPKC. I'd love to have both of them together."
 
Vena spoke at the North American Rail Shippers annual conference.
 
Bill Stephens.