Union Pacific 4141

Union Pacific 4141 is an EMD SD70ACe locomotive painted in honor of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. Its paint scheme is based on that of Air Force One, with lettering reading "George Bush 41".[1][2]

Union Pacific 4141
UP 4141 on display at the George Bush Presidential Library in October 2005
Type and origin
BuilderEMD
Order number20046610
Serial number20046610-115
ModelSD70ACe
Build dateJuly 2005
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksEMD HTCR-6
Prime moverEMD 16-710-G3 2-stroke diesel
Engine typeV16
Cylinders16
TransmissionDiesel electric
Career
OperatorsUnion Pacific
Numbers4141
DispositionRetired, to be placed on static display at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

History

UP 4141 was delivered as UP 8423 in 2005, and initially placed into service in primer paint, similar to the six heritage units before they were unveiled in their respective paint schemes. On October 18, 2005, the locomotive was officially unveiled at the George Bush Presidential Library; the road number 4141 was previously occupied by an SD70M, which has since been renumbered to 3778. The locomotive was displayed outside the Presidential Library for a while before it entered revenue service. Bush himself was allowed to operate the locomotive briefly.

The unit was removed from active service in 2009 and placed in storage at UP's North Little Rock shop when traffic fell amid the financial crisis of 2007–2010. In 2012, the locomotive was removed from storage just long enough for a single round trip from North Little Rock to Chicago, then returned to storage. For a while, it was wrapped for long-term storage, but the wrapping was later removed.[3]

After Bush died on November 30, 2018, UP 4141 was brought out of storage and was sent to Houston, Texas, on December 1, 2018. The locomotive participated in Bush's funeral train on December 6, running from Spring to College Station, Texas.[4] After the funeral, the unit was sent to Omaha, Nebraska, where it was displayed from December 9 to 12.[5][6] UP 4141 later went on a system-wide tour, with stops in Chicago, Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, North Platte, Pine Bluff, North Little Rock, Ogden, Portland, Roseville, and St. Louis.[7] Following the tour, it returned to active service, in addition to being on display in other locations.

On November 8, 2019, Union Pacific donated the 4141 to the George Bush Presidential Library, where it will be on permanent display in the pavilion.[8][9] The locomotive made its last run from November 8 to November 9, traveling from Houston to Palestine, Texas as part of the Southwest tour of the recently-restored Big Boy No. 4014.[10] Following its last run, it was taken back to the North Little Rock shops, where it will be prepped for display.[11] The George and Barbara Bush Foundation hopes to have the 4141 exhibit opened by 2020.[12][13]

References
  1. Hamel, Stacie (October 19, 2005). "Way to recognize service". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 22, 2007. (full text available here)
  2. "Union Pacific Railroad Honors President Bush 41 With Custom-Painted Locomotive". Union Pacific Railroad. October 18, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  3. David Lustig (February 2010). "Pride of the Fleet". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing.
  4. "George H.W. Bush Funeral Train". Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  5. News, 6. "Former President George H.W. Bush's locomotive to be displayed in Omaha". www.wowt.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Earl, David (December 9, 2018). "Union Pacific No. 4141 has arrived in Omaha". KETV. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  7. "UP confirms George H.W. Bush '4141' unit to tour system". TrainsMag.com. December 17, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  8. Wrinn, Jim (November 2019). "Union Pacific donates SD70ACe No. 4141 to George H.W. Bush Presidential Library; Big Boy 4014 joins celebration". TrainsMag.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  9. "Union Pacific Donates George H.W. Bush Engine 4141 To The Bush Library And Museum". wtaw.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  10. "George HW Bush's train to be part of his presidential library". ABC13 Houston. November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  11. "Union Pacific: No. 4141 locomotive to be permanently displayed at Bush Library | Local News | theeagle.com". www.theeagle.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  12. "Union Pacific 4141 to be permanently displayed at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library". KXXV. November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  13. Clark, Caitlin (November 9, 2019). "Union Pacific 4141 To Be Permanently Displayed At Bush Library". Texas A&M Today. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
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