Union Pacific Railroad celebrated its 163rd birthday in the hometown of its famed founder, President Abraham Lincoln, with the help of numerous dignitaries and its newest commemorative locomotive that honors Lincoln’s role in laying the foundation for America’s best-in-the-world freight rail system.
The event was sponsored by Union Pacific, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, Looking for Lincoln and Hanson Professional Services. Special guests at the event included Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher, Illinois Railroad Association President Tim Butler, Lincoln Presidential Foundation President and CEO Erin Mast, National Park Service Superintendent Chris Collins, State Sen. Doris Turner, State Sen. Mike Coffey, Union Pacific Vice President – Public Affairs Liisa Stark and Union Pacific Senior Director – Public Affairs in Illinois Tom Evenson.
Lincoln founded Union Pacific with the signing of the historic Pacific Railway Act on July 1, 1862, which authorized construction of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad network.
“Union Pacific is incredibly proud of our heritage, and we are honored to share this special locomotive in the hometown of the man who brought our railroad to life and unleashed economic prosperity,” said Liisa Stark, vice president of Public Affairs for Union Pacific Railroad. “We think Lincoln would have been proud of the vital role railroads serve today in delivering the goods and products essential for everyday life in America.”
The Lincoln Locomotive, which serves as a traveling ambassador for Union Pacific, made its debut on April 30 in North Little Rock, where Union Pacific employees painted it. It is painted in a color scheme unique to Lincoln’s era. It serves as a nod to another famed locomotive, No. 119, which was one of two locomotives present at the Golden Spike Ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869, marking the completion of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
Springfield was also designated as an official Train Town USA community. The honor celebrates the towns and communities along Union Pacific’s tracks, many of which exist because of the railroad.
Just as they were more than 100 years ago, these communities remain vital to the railroad’s success.
“It is an incredible honor for Springfield to host Union Pacific Railroad on this historic milestone and to welcome the Lincoln Locomotive to the hometown of our 16th president. Abraham Lincoln’s vision helped unite a nation, and that legacy lives on through the railroads that continue to connect communities and drive economic progress. Being named a Train Town USA is a proud recognition of Springfield’s enduring role in our nation’s rail history,” said Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher.
Railroads are at the heart of the U.S. economy and touch nearly every industry including vehicles, chemicals, energy, agriculture, metals, minerals, forest products, consumer goods and more. Union Pacific’s more than 30,000 employees deliver essential items from lumber and drywall to build homes to corn and wheat to make bread and cereal.
