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Bicentennial Locomotives: Celebrating America

Last revised: September 15, 2024

By: Adam Burns

During the nation's Bicentennial the railroad industry celebrated the event by repainting over 200 diesel locomotives in patriotic red, white, and blue.

These locomotives included some that were specially renumbered, while others retained their original numbers. They traversed the rails across all states, ranging from two FP7s from the Alaska Railroad and a small GE locomotive from a historical rail group in Hawaii.

The repainting spree extended beyond the 108 common carriers, with more than 100 industrial, museum, and tourist railroads embracing the festive spirit.

Participation was particularly strong among industries steeped in American pride, like cement, construction, and steel, with no fewer than 15 units from the Pittsburgh area alone joining the celebration.

While the celebrations began with Seaboard Coast Line U36B #1776, delivered in June, 1971, the nation's very first patriotic locomotive can be traced back to Alco PA-1 #1776 which was part of the original "Freedom Train" of 1947 honoring America's victory in World War II.

This endeavor inspired the later American Freedom Train (AFT) project, led by Ross Rowland and associates, launched via a nationwide promotional tour called the "Preamble Express."

This initiative aimed to coordinate local arrangements for hosting the AFT. The Preamble Express, initially comprising four ex-Reading commuter cars owned by the Lancaster & Chester short line from South Carolina, was first hauled by Delaware & Hudson’s GE U23B, numbered 2312 and later renumbered to 1776.

This locomotive was subsequently replaced by Union Pacific’s E9A #951—one of the four E9 units still in UP’s possession at the time. Notably, the E9 951 would be Union Pacific's sole Bicentennial locomotive.

The range of Bicentennial diesel locomotives was impressively diverse, spanning from a modest 5-ton Plymouth at a Hercules Powder facility in New Jersey to an array of six SD45-2s — five on the Santa Fe and one on Erie Lackawanna.

The enthusiasm ignited by the Preamble Express and the 1975 Chicago photo shoot by *Trains* magazine, which included Bangor & Aroostook and Boston & Maine, prompted other Class I railroads, as well as numerous short lines and industrials, to join the patriotic movement.

Some Class I railroads, notably those with several Bicentennial units such as Santa Fe, BN, Delaware & Hudson, Missouri Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific, often brought these locomotives together for special events. Many of these units also powered public excursion trains, enhancing civic and corporate functions.

Noteworthy gatherings included San Francisco's July 4th, 1976 celebration, which featured Santa Fe 5700, SP GP40P 3197, and WP's two GP40-2s, as well as the opening of the Central Pacific station portion of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, which showcased WP 1776, SSW 9389, and a Santa Fe SD45-2.

Out of the 46 Class I railroads operating at the time, 31 adorned at least one diesel locomotive in Bicentennial livery. This patriotic fervor extended beyond locomotives to freight cars and cabooses, with several dozen of these being repainted for the occasion.

Participants ranged from Southern Pacific to Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific, and from Georgia Railroad to Cambria & Indiana, as well as the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis. Even caboose manufacturer International in Kenton, Ohio, joined in the celebration.

Photo Gallery

A handsome Santa Fe SD45-2, #5700, shows off its Bicentennial livery in Kansas City on February 26, 1975. J. Primm photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Rock Island E8A #652, wearing its Bicentennial livery, at the 47th Street Shops in Chicago, circa 1977. The livery was designed by the 20th Century Railroad Club (their name can be seen on the cab door), which also sponsored the "Bicentennial Rocket" excursion between Chicago-Bureau, Illinois on May 15, 1976 celebrating the bicenntenial.

Western Pacific GP40s #1776 (#3540) and #1976 (#3541) pose in their Bicentennial livery at Stockton, California, circa 1976. Henry Brueckman photo.

Erie Lackawanna SDP45 #3638, wearing its Bicentennial livery, is seen here at Hornell, New York on October 28, 1975. Richard Allen photo.

Roster