An Electro-Motive Diesel locomotive known as Union Pacific No. 4141, the "George Bush Locomotive," will pull a funeral train bearing the body of late President George H.W. Bush from a rail yard near Houston to College Station, Texas, where Bush will be interred.

Union Pacific 4141 will pull the presidential funeral train. Source: Union PacificThe 4141-designated locomotive was unveiled by the Union Pacific railroad in October 2005, during a ceremony near the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the Texas A&M University campus. At the time, the locomotive was the sixth to be painted in colors other than the traditional UP “Armour Yellow” paint.

The locomotive incorporates the colors of the Air Force One used during Mr. Bush’s presidency and bears the number 4141 in honor of the 41st president. The locomotive’s rear panel features elements from Air Force One’s wings and tail, including the American flag.

Since its production, the locomotive has delivered shipments across all 23 states served by Union Pacific. The SD70ACe locomotive measures 15 ft, 11 in tall and weighs 420,000 lb. Its fuel tank holds 4,900 gal of diesel. The locomotive is equipped with a 4,300 hp engine and can travel up to 70 miles per hour.

Notable Funeral Trains

Following his assassination in April 1865, the body of Abraham Lincoln was carried from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois, by train. A year earlier, the U.S. military had begun building a private rail car for Lincoln. The car was finished in February 1865 but he never used it. After Lincoln was killed in April 1865, his funeral train departed on a 180-city, seven-state journey that began April 21 and ended May 3.

President Bush in the cab of UP No. 4141 at its debut in 2005. Source: Union PacificLincoln's body, along with the casket of his son Willie who had died three years earlier, was carried in his private rail car. The funeral train had nine cars, including a baggage car, hearse car and the President's car, built for use by the president and other officials, which contained a parlor, sitting room and sleeping apartment.

Union Pacific bought the car in 1866 and used it for directors and other travelers during construction of the transcontinental railroad. After removing the furnishings, Union Pacific sold the car in 1903. It was eventually put on exhibit in Minneapolis until it was completely destroyed by fire in 1911. Union Pacific had removed a number of art panels and silver before the car was sold.

On June 8, 1968, the 21-car funeral train of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy left New York City for Washington. The train was led by locomotive GG1 No. 4901 with No. 4903 trailing, and ended with Penn Central open-platform business car No. 120 carrying the body of the late senator.

A three-car pilot train pulled by GG1 No. 4932 ran ahead of the funeral train and GG1s No. 4900 and No. 4910 followed as back-up motive power.