A Mount Rushmore Train Is Now Hauling Grain Across South Dakota

As America gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday this Saturday, South Dakota has rolled out a patriotic tribute that's impossible to miss. A brand-new Mount Rushmore-themed locomotive has officially hit the rails, and it's set to bring plenty of Red, White, and Blue pride to communities across the Mount Rushmore State.

According to Dakota News Now, the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern (RCPE) Railroad officially unveiled the special locomotive Monday, June 29, in Huron during a ceremony attended by railroad employees, community leaders, and South Dakota U.S. Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune.

The unveiling is part of the nationwide America 250 celebration, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. South Dakota now has a rolling tribute that will continue celebrating America's milestone long after the last firework hits the sky this 4th of July.

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Unlike many commemorative displays that sit behind ropes or inside museums, this locomotive was built to hit the tracks. It won't be parked for photo opportunities; it will spend its days hauling freight across South Dakota, transporting grain, fertilizer, energy products, raw materials, and countless other goods that help keep businesses and communities running.

That makes it especially fitting for South Dakota, where agriculture and railroads have shared a long history. The RCPE Railroad has played a vital role in moving commodities through Huron and across eastern and central South Dakota for decades, helping local farmers get their crops to market and supporting businesses throughout the region.

The locomotive certainly looks the part of a birthday celebration. Wrapped in a bold Red, White, and Blue paint scheme, it proudly features the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial image along with an "America 250 Years" logo that honors the nation's semiquincentennial. It certainly won't be hard to miss as it rolls through Huron, Pierre, Rapid City, and many of the other communities along its route.

The timing couldn't be more appropriate. South Dakota is expected to play a major role in this year's America 250 festivities, with Mount Rushmore once again taking center stage as one of the nation's most recognizable patriotic landmarks.

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According to Trains.com, the Mount Rushmore locomotive is the fifth commemorative engine introduced as part of the nationwide America250 rail campaign. Other specially decorated locomotives feature iconic American symbols including the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, the historic Golden Spike locomotive Jupiter, and the Bald Eagle.