Western Railroad Discussion > 4141 Has Passed Away

Just saw it on the news, RIP Mr President.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/18 07:50 by papio.

RIP George H.W. Bush

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/george-hw-bush-41st-president-of-the-united-states-dies-at-94/2018/11/30/42fa2ea2-61e2-11e8-99d2-0d678ec08c2f_story.html

Yes, our 41st US President George Herbert Walker Bush has passed away tonight at age 94.   A great man and US war hero in WWII, may he rest in peace...

In terms of railroading the UP SD70ACe #4141 was dedicated to him several years ago.  Other locomotives including BN SD60M #1991, UP SD40-2 #3593 and Conrail SD50 #6707 were painted to honor troops during the time he was Commander and Chief.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/18 22:03 by CSX602.

Rest In Peace President George H.W. Bush.

SouthWest RailCams
CA, NM, CO, TX, AZ
https://SouthWestRailCams.com

RIP Mr. President. We will miss you and Barbara....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/18 21:42 by CPRR.

Railroad-wise--interesting notes

No Amtrak cutbacks under Bush. IIRC, Amtrak was authorized EVERY year under a BUsh budget!
No Railroad Mergers under Bush
NO MKT-UP merger under Bush. Drew Lewis and the Bush family hated each other. I was told by many sources that Bush would reject the UP-MKT merger. I remember reading in  the business media that Drew Lewis requested expediency for the UP-MKT merger so it would be approved before Reagan's term ended.

Comments and clarifications are welcome, of course.

papio Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just saw it on the news, RIIP Mr President.
>  

UP 4141, the "George Bush 41" reportedly will be activated (it has been in storage at North Little Rock, AR) and
will move to Houston to operate in the funeral train. UP will also furnish passenger equipment for family and friends
going to College Station TX, and a baggage car for the casket.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/18 22:18 by GenePoon.

1943 would be a nice trailing unit given his service in WWII.

Posted from iPhone

Until the official 4141 hits the road, we have this.

---

Was this President a railfan, hence the locomotive painted in his honor, and now to pull his funeral train?

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> UP 4141, the "George Bush 41" reportedly will be
> activated (it has been in storage at North Little
> Rock, AR) and
> will move to Houston to operate in the funeral
> train. UP will also furnish passenger equipment
> for family and friends
> going to College Station TX, and a baggage car for
> the casket.

Nice for UP to do that. Their tracks are just a few blocks from the Presidential Library on the Texas A & M campus.

 BB

A nicely crafted background on the locomotive from the Union Pacific.

https://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2005/1018_4141.shtml

UP #1943 would also be very appropriate for the consist.  Not only because of that unit being a tribute to all servicemen and veterans, but because in June 1943 George HW Bush became the youngest US naval aviator to that time.

Although closely associated with number 41 as the 41st US President, George HW Bush had been the 43rd Vice President (and his son coincidentally later was the 43rd President).



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/18 10:05 by CSX602.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Was this President a railfan, hence the locomotive
> painted in his honor, and now to pull his funeral
> train?

Unknown if he was a railfan. And you would have to ask the folks in Omaha about the locomotive.

George H.W. Bush was a great President and a WWII Veteran who was shot down in combat.  We have lost a good man.  His funeral train will be a touching tribute to his legacy. 

Bush was a supporter of the railroad industry...  How deep the "railfan" part ran I haven't heard much about.  Being an aviator/pilot probably meant he was more of a "planes" guy.

He skydived on his 90th birthday.  I hope I'm around to ride a train on mine...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/18 09:51 by CSX602.

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bush was a supporter of the railroad industry... 
> How deep the "railfan" part ran I haven't heard
> much about.  Being an aviator/pilot probably
> meant he was more of a "planes" guy.
>
> He skydived on his 90th birthday.  I hope I'm
> around to ride a train on mine...

He skydived on his 80th and 85th birthdays too! 

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bush was a supporter of the railroad industry... 
> How deep the "railfan" part ran I haven't heard
> much about.  Being an aviator/pilot probably
> meant he was more of a "planes" guy.
If you think about it, in WWII most of the men going into service were transported by train and thus established an understanding of the railroad transportation back then.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

I thought that years ago, I had heard or read that George H.W. Bush had donated a bunch of money to some RR projects and that had a lot to do with getting the 4141. RIP  Marvin Bush

Good point Bob.   Yes, I had considered that most WWII troops went to war, and those fortunate enough to return home usually did so by train.   They were also aware of the importance of US railroads in winning that war.

Maybe this week we might hear one of the Bush boys comment or reflect upon how their father took them down to watch trains or something...  If so, I don't think such a story would surprise many.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/18 16:00 by CSX602.