Union Pacific Railroad will celebrate its 163rd birthday in the Illinois hometown of its founder – President Abraham Lincoln – with its newest commemorative locomotive No. 1616 that honors our nation’s beloved 16th president and his vision to unite the nation by rail.
Lincoln founded Union Pacific on July 1, 1862, when he signed the historic Pacific Railway Act that authorized construction of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad, which laid the foundation for America’s best-in-the-world freight rail network.
The July 1 event is being sponsored by Union Pacific, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, Looking for Lincoln and Hanson Professional Services.
The public will be able to view the locomotive after a short presentation that will feature key dignitaries, including a Lincoln historian and a special guest in a top hat. The City of Springfield will also be honored with a Train Town USA designation.
- Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
- Ceremony: 1:30 p.m. (Seating is Limited, Registration Recommended)
- Public Viewing: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Location: Amtrak Station, 100 North 3rd Street, Springfield
Media are invited to attend and may view the inside of the cab, if wearing pants and closed-toe shoes.
Additional information: Locomotive No. 1616 serves as a symbolic tribute to the nation’s 16th president and highlights the pivotal role rail has played — and continues to play — in powering the national economy.
- Workforce: More than 135,000 people are employed by U.S. freight railroads, including more than 30,000 Union Pacific team members.
- Economic Vitality: Railroads deliver 59 tons of goods annually for every American – from lumber and drywall to build homes to corn and wheat to make bread and cereal.
- Investing in Infrastructure: Union Pacific invests about $10 million every day in infrastructure, technology and network expansion to ensure we safely deliver our customers the service we promised.
Register HERE!