COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Union Pacific No. 4141, the SD70ACe locomotive painted in an Air Force One-like scheme to honor President George H.W. Bush, has arrived in College Station and was scheduled to be trucked on Sunday afternoon from the UP tracks to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Texas A&M University.
The locomotive, protected by a tarp, was delivered by the UP salute to veterans locomotive, SD70AH No. 1943, on Sunday morning. No. 4141 was painted to honor Bush in 2005, pulled his funeral train in 2018, and was donated by the railroad to the museum a year later [see “Union Pacific donates SD70ACe No. 4141 …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 8, 2019]. The university approved a $1-a-year lease of additional land earlier this year, making room for the display of the locomotive [see “Digest: Lease agreement paves way for No. 4141 display …,” News Wire, Feb. 5, 2021].
“What a historic day for our community,” Chancellor John Sharp of the Texas A&M University System said in a press release. “President Bush loved trains and we love everything associated with the legacy of President Bush. Congratulations to the crew at Union Pacific, our hauling contractor, and everyone at the Bush Center at Texas A&M who worked to bring 4141 home.”
The locomotive will be part of a multi-million-dollar expansion which will also include a Marine One helicopter. The George & Barbara Bush Presidential Foundation hopes to complete that project by 2024.
It’s not like it is a big deal to put the locomotive on display. Many railroads have donated engines in the past for special events or historical reasons. It’s not likely that taking this engine out of active duty will impact the Union Pacific power fleet .
I am sure there are still plenty of engines that are stored and no longer being utilized just waiting to be started up when business increases..
Sorry, but it seems wasteful to essentially scrap a perfectly good locomotive for a display.
I would love to have seen his model railroad collection. Years ago I was present when Barbara Bush was in Omaha for a UP sponsored event at the Durham museum (former Omaha Union station). A model railroad maker presented Mrs. Bush with a brass O gauge observation car for his collection.
Good job UP! Didn’t realize George H W Bush was a rail fan. Would love to see that unit in person one of these days.