Posted on 10/18/2005 4:24:14 PM PDT by RWR8189
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - You could call it Railroad One.
Union Pacific Railroad unveiled a new locomotive on Tuesday named in honor of former President Bush.
The locomotive, shown in public for the first time at a ceremony on the Texas A&M University campus, bears the number 4141, in honor of Bush, who was the 41st president. It is painted to resemble Air Force One, the presidential plane.
"If I had one of these when I was president, I might have left Air Force One behind," Bush said.
The 74-foot long and 16-foot tall diesel locomotive weighs about 420,000 pounds and is expected to operate for at least 1 million miles over the next decade. "George Bush 41 Presidential Library and Museum" is painted on its side. It also carries the presidential seal.
"This is the only president who can say he has his own locomotive," said Dick Davidson, chairman and chief executive of Union Pacific, the largest railroad in North America.
The idea for the locomotive grew out of a collaboration between Union Pacific and Bush's presidential library at Texas A&M to present an exhibit honoring the history of the country's railroad industry.
"This is only the sixth time in Union Pacific's history where we've deviated from coloring a locomotive anything other than the traditional UP yellow," Davidson said.
Robert Turner, a senior vice president with Union Pacific, said the railroad previously painted special locomotives for the 2001 Winter Olympics, for Desert Storm, for the United Way and three heritage series ones honoring the company's history.
"It's the only one we've ever done for an individual," he said.
Bush said the unveiling of the locomotive brought back memories of when he was a child, sleeping on trains when he traveled with his family.
"We just rode on the railroads all the time and I've never forgotten it," he said.
Bush said while Air Force One might be a little more comfortable as far as travel goes, he called the new locomotive "the Air Force One of railroads."
The locomotive was to be on display at the Bush Presidential Library for about a week, beginning Wednesday.
After that it will go into regular service for Union Pacific, initially in Texas, but possibly all across the country, Turner said.
"It's all registered. It's all legal. It meets all the requirements for railcars," he said.
Bush said the unveiling of the locomotive is a great way to begin his library's "Trains: Tracks of the Iron Horse" exhibit, which opens next month and runs through July.
"This (locomotive) is then going to go to work for (Union Pacific), making money," Bush said.
ping
Sounds like a plan.
Now the "You Pee" needs to find a way to keep it from running into other trains.
Texarcana, Devine, Cenetnnial Yard, Navasota, San Antonio, Devine etc etc
Very cool.
After my earlier sarcastic post I agree with you.
This is WAY COOL.
Did a bit of research on the UP site and came up with this.
The motor is a brand new SD70ACe
Good stuff, you can find out more here:
http://www.gmemd.com/en/locomotive/na_freight/sd70ace/
Enjoy.
More on the UP website...
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2005/1018_4141.shtml
Wow. That's one mighty machine. I'm glad Bush the Elder is being honored with this.
ping
Agree
Daddy Bush served the country all his life.
From being a Navy pilot to President, If anyone deserves an honor like this it is him.
http://www.railroadmichigan.com/lsrc3571a.jpg
Last year the Lake State Railroad in Michigan added some text to a repaint job. On the side of the nose, it reads "For the Gipper" with "2004" underneath. A little tribute after his passing.
Nothing like an old Alco to cheer up an old man.
They dont make Alcos like the used to, in fact, they dont make them at all anymore.
You might be interested in this link:
http://groups.msn.com/LakeStateRailway
Thank you for the link!
I am 29 and have always loved trains. I often ponder giving up the IT field to become a conductor or some kind of train operator.
Any thoughts?
There's only one problem though... the engine makes the following sound: "tax-a-chugga tax-a-chugga, tax-a-chugga..."
My neighbor is an engineer and his work hours are very variable. He sometimes leaves at 3 in the morning and is gone for two days
I worked for the Santa Fe/BNSF, originally hired out on the Fort Worth and Denver, then transferred to the Colorado Southern.
No difference between CSX, BNSF, UP ETAL
Same a$$holes behind different faces.
Like I said, "Keep your day job"
Just saw it on Fox.
Cant wait until MTH or Lionel makes one so I can have my own.
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