East Penn Railroad debuted its red, white and blue locomotive, No. 1776, nearly a year ago, in July 2025. The railroad held a competition to choose the commemorative design, with the winner chosen by parent company Regional Rail’s President Al Sauer.
R. J. Corman Railroad Group is putting the final touches on two GE Dash 8-40CW locomotives numbered 1776 and 2026. The commemorative paint schemes will include the company’s signature red and gray, with bold blue stripes and white stars. The units will operate in Nashville, Tennessee on the Nashville & Eastern Railroad.
ASLRRA member holding company Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (G&W) created a suite of America 250 locomotives for use in service on multiple railroads. All of the four locomotives are painted blue with red and white details and the phrase “America 250 Years.” Then, each has a unique image in white depicting a symbol of America. There is a bald eagle on the Indiana & Ohio Railway and Ohio Central Railroad locomotive; the Statue of Liberty on the Connecticut Southern, Providence and Worcester and Berkshire & Eastern railroads; the Liberty Bell on the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad; and the Jupiter locomotive on the Arizona Eastern Railway.
Lake State Railway’s SD70M No. 1776 paint scheme was inspired by prior 1976 bicentennial units and a Burlington Northern locomotive painted in 1991 in support of U.S. troops in Operation Desert Storm. LSRC’s Travis Vongrey came up with the red, white and blue design, which also incorporates the railroad’s American flag logo.
Minnesota Commercial Railway completed its tribute locomotive in November 2025. The B36-7 No. 76 is painted red, white and blue, with thirteen stars on the cab.
Naugatuck Railroad refreshed its NAUG 2203 locomotive with a red, white and blue paint scheme. The overall design is based on Delaware & Hudson’s Bicentennial U23B 2312 unit of 1974. Five stars on the side represent Connecticut becoming the country’s fifth state, and a silhouette of the late Turbo, a beloved shop cat, is also featured.
North Shore Railroad’s tribute locomotive was entirely hand-painted by local Pennsylvania artist Pedro Reyes. The locomotive features images and symbols from throughout America’s history, including the Declaration of Independence, the Liberty Bell, a bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty.
Reading & Northern Railroad unveiled its tribute locomotive, numbered 1776, on Veterans Day 2025. The design features red and white stripes on the hood and a blue cab with thirteen stars on the nose. Evan Kerr, a Reading & Northern conductor, engineer and dispatcher designed the paint scheme.
Sierra Northern Railway painted its tribute locomotive, number 250, in a blue, white and gold scheme with a flag motif on its flanks.
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway drew inspiration for its tribute locomotive from Norfolk & Western’s 1976 bicentennial locomotive. Also numbered 1776, Wheeling & Lake Erie’s version includes red and white chevron stripes, a polished brass bell, vintage raised-letter number boards and a restored Leslie air horn.
