Watco, the Prairie Line and OmniTRAX unveil special locomotives for US' 250th anniversary

Watco on June 29 unveiled a commemorative locomotive in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The former WAMX 6071 engine is now tagged No. 250. The red, white and blue unit features a large U.S. flag, white stars and Watco’s “Proud to Keep America Moving” logo.

Team members based in Wichita, Kansas, completed mechanical upgrades to the locomotive, while Georgia-based Southern Pride Equipment Painting painted the engine in a portable paint booth in Chanute, Kansas, Watco officials said in a press relese.

The locomotive will operate on Watco's South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL).

“From the teams who designed, prepared and painted this locomotive to the railroaders who will operate it, this is a tribute to the generations that built America and to those carrying that spirit forward,” said SKOL General Manager Jerry Waun.

Meanwhile, the Prairie Line, a family-owned rail switching and logistics company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, has debuted TPLX 1776, a freshly refurbished locomotive painted in red, white and blue to mark the United States' anniversary and honor U.S. military members. 

Abigail Van Dyke, a member of the Prairie Line’s St. Louis team, created the design in honor of service members, including her father, an Air Force veteran. TPLX 1776 will appear across the Prairie Line’s operations and social channels through the July 4 holiday and beyond, company officials said in a press release.

OmniTRAX has also unveiled a patriotic-themed locomotive for the country's anniversary, the Chicago Rail Link (CRL) No. 4200. The locomotive features a red, white and blue color scheme with "250" on the side. The CRL serves the Port of Chicago and provides custom switching, terminal services and intermediate and bridge rail services over 72 miles of track including through the Chicago Terminal Complex.