By Railfan & Railroad Staff

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A Union Pacific SD70ACe painted to match Air Force One in honor of former President George H.W. Bush will be put on permanent display at Texas A&M University this spring. UP 4141 was painted in tribute to the former president in 2005 and led Bush’s funeral train in 2018. 

The locomotive was donated by UP to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library last year but until now it was unclear where exactly the locomotive would be displayed. On Feb. 4, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved a $1 per year lease for the land on campus, essentially donating two acres for a soon-to-be-built library expansion. Eventually, the acreage will house an exhibit area for a Marine One helicopter as well as the locomotive.

“Texas A&M is proud to host these icons of the Bush presidency,” said Chancellor John Sharp. “We do everything we can to keep alive the memory and accomplishments of this wonderful president and public servant.”

UP 4141, which was numbered in honor of the 41st president, was donated to the museum in 2019 during a ceremony that included Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4-8-8-4 4014. The locomotive has been stored off-site since. 

While the locomotive was briefly put in service after it was painted in 2005, and was brought out for special events, it mostly spent its time on UP stored serviceable to keep it ready to eventually lead the former president’s funeral train. Bush’s body was brought to the Texas A&M campus where he is buried next to his wife, First Lady Barbara Bush. 

“Union Pacific is proud and honored that the UP 4141 is one step closer to being on permanent display at the Bush Library,” said Scott Moore, the Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President of Union Pacific. “President Bush’s love of trains is well known and we are pleased that we can be a part of honoring his legacy.”