A red, white and blue Metra locomotive honoring America's 250th birthday is expected to enter service on the Milwaukee District North line through Lake Forest, though no start date has been announced.
Metra unveiled locomotive No. 525 on Tuesday, June 24, at its Western Avenue Coach Yard in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. The engine features red, white and blue striping and a "250" logo on its nose and flanks. Metra CEO Jim Derwinski called it "a gift to the people of the Chicago region, Illinois and the United States."
The paint scheme was created by Falecia Woods, Metra's senior graphic designer and a former U.S. military designer. "I wanted something that would be easily recognized as it came down the tracks — clean, streamlined … simple in design but not boring," Woods said.
No. 525 is the 26th of 42 remanufactured diesel locomotives Metra ordered from Progress Rail Locomotives of LaGrange, a $206 million fleet upgrade funded by state and federal dollars. They meet EPA Tier 3 emissions standards, making them the cleanest engines in Metra's fleet.
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the locomotive will keep its commemorative paint indefinitely.
