The slow trickle of locomotives being painted to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence will likely turn into a flood as July 4, 2026, approaches. The first Semiquincentennial units appeared in 2023, and more arrived in 2025. Just before the New Year, two more joined the fleet, one from New Jersey Transit and another from North Shore Railroad.

The North Shore locomotive might be one of the most complex. Instead of the red, white, and blue that’s graced the dozen or so locomotives revealed so far on other shortline and regional railroads, North Shore chose murals that depict scenes from the Revolutionary War and American iconography. On one side, there’s George Washington crossing the Delaware River, the Declaration of Independence, and the Liberty Bell. On the other side, there are amber waves of grain, purple mountains, a flag, and the Statue of Liberty.

NJ Transit 4526 was released in December 2025. Courtesy Photo. 

The locomotive chosen was North Shore SW1500 2238, built in 1966 as EMD demonstrator 106. It later went to Conrail and Norfolk Southern. 

The murals are the vision of railroad employees Diana Williams and Loni Martz Briner, and they were hand-painted by Sunbury, Pa., artist Pedro Reyes. Reyes said he started working on the locomotive in early October and finished just before the dedication on December 22, putting in about 1,500 hours of work.

The locomotive was not renumbered during the repaint. On the cab door, there is a depiction of The Mayham Tower in Augusta, Ga., a turning point in the Revolution that occurred 2,238 days into the conflict, the railroad said.

In 2026, the 2238 will be showcased at towns where North Shore railroads operate, both on display and pulling excursions. —M.T. Burkhart