Norfolk Southern (NS) is celebrating America’s anniversary with its America’s 250th locomotive series of six custom units that will tour the East Coast. The renderings were revealed May 20.
According to NS, the locomotive paint schemes “draw inspiration from enduring American symbols and the role railroads have played in connecting people, places, and commerce for nearly two centuries.” They pay tribute to the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, the American bald eagle, and NS’s “patriotic Thoroughbred heritage, while also recognizing the role predecessor railroads played in transporting enduring national symbols across the country.” (Watch video below and scroll down for separate renderings.)
Each locomotive in the series was built in the United States: No. 1776, No. 2026, and No. 250 by EMD/Progress Rail in Muncie, Ind., and No. 8096, No. 8118, and No. 8143 by Wabtec/General Electric in Erie, Pa.
They “will be crafted and painted by our skilled railroaders at Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa., where American craftmanship and expertise come through in every detail,” NS reported. For the Juniata team, it noted, the work reflects more than a paint scheme.
“We take pride in every engine that comes through here—that’s just how we do the job,” said Tim Lasure, Carman at Juniata Locomotive Shop. “These units are no different, but it does mean a little more. You’ve got a whole crew putting their hands on them, making sure it’s right, because it’s going to represent something bigger. These are about America’s 250, our railroad, and the work we do every day. When they roll out, we know we did it right, and we did it together.”
NS Six-Unit Series
No. 1776 – The Bell
“This engine pays tribute to the Liberty Bell, one of the nation’s most enduring symbols of independence,” NS said.
“One of Norfolk Southern’s predecessor railroads, the Pennsylvania Railroad, played a pivotal role in transporting the Liberty Bell across the country,” NS noted, “allowing millions of Americans to experience a piece of history firsthand. Mile by mile, rail carried liberty farther.”
No. 2026 – The Lady Liberty
“Inspired by the Statue of Liberty, this engine celebrates one of the world’s most powerful symbols of freedom,” NS said. “The Lady Liberty locomotive honors the spirit of welcome and possibility that the statue represents, reflecting the values that have guided generations of railroaders and helped connect communities across America.”
No. 250 – The Freedom
“Featuring the bald eagle in flight, this engine reflects the strength and resolve that have carried the nation forward for 250 years and counting,” NS reported. “A symbol of independence and determination, the eagle represents the American spirit built to weather change, rise to the challenge, and keep moving forward through hard work and perseverance.”
No. 8118 – The Stars & Stripes
“Carrying the America 250 mark, this engine pays tribute to a defining milestone in the nation’s history,” NS said. “It represents two and a half centuries of effort, growth, and determination shaped by people who kept building and pushing ahead. The milestone marks the moment. Rail carries the story forward.”
No. 8096 – The Soaring
“Featuring an eagle painted in stars and stripes, this engine rises as a tribute to American ambition and vision,” NS reported. “Long associated with strength and independence, the eagle reflects a country built to reach higher, push farther, and keep moving forward. Mile by mile, that spirit keeps climbing.”
No. 8143 – The Patriot
“Marked by the NS Patriotic Thoroughbred icon, this engine connects the grit and pride of our railroaders to the larger story of America still moving,” NS said. “It reflects and honors the strength, reliability, and resolve of our people and the work they do 24/7, 365 to keep the nation moving. It’s the Thoroughbred spirit in all of us, carrying it forward.”
Rolling Celebrations This Summer
“As part of the milestone campaign, Norfolk Southern will host Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014—the world’s largest operating steam locomotive—on its network for the engine’s first tour in the Northeast,” NS said. “The train consist will also include four historic business cars, including the Marco Polo, a restored Pullman car once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In total, the train consist, inclusive of the NS’ America’s 250th locomotive series, a historic lineup of business cars, and Big Boy No. 4014, will travel the East Coast to offer Norfolk Southern employees, railfans, and local communities the chance to experience historic events throughout the summer.”
NS and UP will host public display events at multiple locations across the network during the tour:
- June 10 — Buffalo, N.Y.
- June 15-16 — Scranton, Pa.
- July 4-5 — Philadelphia, Pa.
- July 9-10 — Altoona, Pa.
- July 14 — Fostoria, Ohio
NS said events will also be held to celebrate its employees, “railroaders who keep the network operating every day,” and to highlight the railroad’s “longstanding connection to the communities it serves across the Midwest and Northeast.”
Additional tour information, event updates, and public details will be shared as events approach. (Visit UP: Steam for photos, a Big Boy infographic, fact sheets, a complete schedule of Big Boy’s 2026 tour, and more; a map tracking its journey can be found here.)
“Railroads helped build this nation by connecting communities, powering industry, and creating opportunity across generations,” NS President and CEO Mark George said. “As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Norfolk Southern’s new locomotive series and the historic Big Boy journey across our network, honor that legacy while spotlighting the employees, infrastructure, and innovation that continue driving America forward today.”
“These locomotives represent more than American symbols and milestones,” NS Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Orr said. “They reflect the people and the work behind them. Across our railroad, and especially with the skilled teams at Juniata, our railroaders will bring this series to life with craftsmanship, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility. This is a historic moment for our country, and we’re proud to recognize it through this commemorative series.”
According to NS, as it “marks America’s 250th anniversary—celebrating the railroad legacy that helped build and unite the nation—the moment underscores what the proposed merger with Union Pacific is designed to achieve: a seamless, end-to-end freight rail network that connects East and West as America’s first transcontinental railroad.”
Separately, UP is running its first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour led by Big Boy No. 4014 and including its newest locomotive, No. 1776 – America250. Also, the B&O Railroad Museum has unveiled the restored American Freedom Train No. 1 (AFT No. 1), one of three locomotives that powered the 1975-76 American Freedom Train.
Further Reading:
NS said a limited run of America’s 250th NS merchandise, including hats, mugs, and other collectibles, will be available for purchase from its Company Store.