Metra unveils commemorative locomotive for U.S. 250th anniversary

Metra debuted a specially painted locomotive on June 24 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“This locomotive [...] commemorates the important role that railroads played in the expansion and development of our nation,” said Metra Executive Director and CEO Jim Derwinski in a press release. “It will remind everyone who sees it that America’s strength has always come from people working together: from communities connected by steel rails, and from workers committed to service.”

The locomotive was painted by Progress Rail using a design by Metra Senior Graphic Designer Falecia Woods with input from the operations team.

The locomotive is one of a group of remanufactured former freight locomotives Metra ordered from Progress Rail Locomotives of La Grange, Metra officials said. Metra used a combination of state and federal funding to purchase 42 of the locomotives at a  cost of $206 million. The remanufactured locomotives meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emissions standards, making them the cleanest locomotives in the Metra fleet, railroad officials said.