Illinois Railroad Association

For over seven decades the Illinois Railroad Association has been the voice of our state’s freight rail industry.
Our official Twitter account.

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

Safety is a core value for our members. Welcome to @CNRailway Safety Week!

[Canadian National @CNRailway]

Today, the CN Safety Week Train begins its tour, kicking off a week of recognizing the people and teams who make our railroad safer every day!
From coast to coast to coast, we'll come together to celebrate safety leadership and renew our commitment to looking out for one another.

[Norfolk Southern @nscorp]

🚂🇺🇸 Introducing the America’s 250 Locomotive Series 🇺🇸🚂

We’re excited to unveil our six commemorative locomotives inspired by iconic American symbols and the railroaders who have helped shape the country for generations: https://t.co/o84AIEae2H

Here’s your first look at the renderings!

Meet the six units:

🔔 1776 – The Bell
Honors the Liberty Bell and the role our predecessor railroad played in carrying it across the country.

🗽2026 – The Lady Liberty
Inspired by the Statue of Liberty and the spirit of freedom and connection across America.

🦅 250 – The Freedom
A bald eagle in flight, symbolizing the strength and resilience that has carried the country forward.

🌟8118 – The Stars & Stripes
Marks America’s 250th milestone and the people who built and moved the nation.

🇺🇸 8096 – The Soaring
An eagle in stars and stripes, representing American ambition and the drive to keep moving.

🐎 8143 – The Patriot
Showcases the NS Patriotic Thoroughbred and the railroader pride behind the work.

Each locomotive was built in the U.S. and will be painted by our talented crew at Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, PA. The first one is in the shop now!

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

Yeah, trains are cool!

Awesome work from #ILRail member @BNSFRailway in honor of America 250🇺🇸🚂

[BNSF Railway @BNSFRailway]

🎉🚂 Our big secret, (or three) is out!

BNSF is proud to unveil today three specially painted locomotives honoring America’s 250th birthday, units 250, 1776 and 2026, wrapped in red, white, and blue and carrying the spirit of “We the People.”

These locomotives pay tribute to our nation’s story and the railroaders who’ve helped shape it for nearly two centuries.

They’ll be traveling our 32,500‑mile network, celebrating the communities we serve, our rich history and the people who keep America moving.

Here’s to 250 years of freedom, connection and the railroad that helped build it.

News release at https://t.co/nXxYmHkRQv.

[BNSF Railway @BNSFRailway]

🎉🚂 Our big secret, (or three) is out!

BNSF is proud to unveil today three specially painted locomotives honoring America’s 250th birthday, units 250, 1776 and 2026, wrapped in red, white, and blue and carrying the spirit of “We the People.”

These locomotives pay tribute to our nation’s story and the railroaders who’ve helped shape it for nearly two centuries.

They’ll be traveling our 32,500‑mile network, celebrating the communities we serve, our rich history and the people who keep America moving.

Here’s to 250 years of freedom, connection and the railroad that helped build it.

News release at https://t.co/nXxYmHkRQv.

[Union Pacific @UnionPacific]

When Big Boy #UP4014 is at a whistle-stop, people always ask about the blue sign on the cab. It’s a critical safety tool. Each crew member places their personalized safety tag on the flag while working on, under or between equipment. When the job is done, they retrieve their tag.
The Big Boy does not move until every employee is accounted for, because safety is always our No. 1 priority. https://t.co/tnZUHMgXe5

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

🚀 Did you know the road to the Moon starts on the rails? The massive solid rocket boosters for #ArtemisII traveled nearly 2,800 miles by train to reach the launchpad. 🛤️🌕

Manufactured by @NorthropGrumman in Promontory, Utah, these 10 booster segments are too heavy for planes and too big for most highways. Rail is the ONLY way to move 180-ton rocket motors safely across 8 states. #SpaceRail #NASA

The journey ended in Florida at the Jay Jay Rail Yard, where the @FloridaEastCoast Railway handed them off to @NASAGroundSys. From there, specialized "Shuttlewagons" moved them into the Kennedy Space Center for stacking. 🚂✨

Next time you see a freight train, remember: it might just be carrying the next giant leap for humanity. Godspeed to the crew of Artemis 2! 🇺🇸🇨🇦 #Artemis #Railroads #FutureOfSpace

[Norfolk Southern @nscorp]

History lifted off as #ArtemisII launched today. 🚀

Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are officially on their voyage around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.

But missions like this don’t start on the launchpad. Back in 2023, rail helped move some of the critical components to power this very moment.

Together, NS, @UnionPacific, and Florida East Coast Railway transported the rocket’s solid booster motor segments—the largest, most powerful ever built for spaceflight—from Northrop Grumman in Corinne, Utah, to NASA in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Because of their immense size and weight (over 200 tons each), the journey required months of meticulous planning, specialized railcars and pathfinding equipment, buffer cars, and more.

No shortcuts.
No margin for error.
Just precision, innovation, and teamwork.

Railroads safely deliver across the U.S. and now… to the Moon! 🌙

To the Artemis II crew: we’re rooting for you and wishing you a safe journey. Godspeed.

[CSX @CSX]

Today is K9 Veterans Day, and we’re celebrating the incredible CSX K9 officers who move America forward by helping protect our railroad. Working side by side with CSX Police, they provide an added layer of #safety across our network. Thank you for your service. #K9VeteransDay

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

In the world of railroading, few locomotives carry as much prestige as @UnionPacific #4141. Custom-painted to resemble Air Force One and dedicated to President George H.W. Bush in 2005 to honor his lifelong passion for the rails.

President Bush was a true friend to the industry, often recalling his travels across the country by train as a young man. In 2018, #UP4141 led the funeral train that carried him to his final resting place—a 70-mile journey through the heart of Texas where thousands stood by the tracks to say goodbye.

A powerful reminder that the bond between our Presidents and the railroad is one of service, legacy, and progress.

#Bush41
#PresidentsDay
#America250
#ILRail75

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

Happy 217th, Abe! 🎩 🎂

From an Illinois state legislator pushing for infrastructure improvements, to an attorney advocating for railroads, to the President who signed the Pacific Railway Act, Lincoln knew that railroads = progress.

​Lincoln was our champion for the "Union" of this nation and he had the vision to bind the United States together through the tracks of our nation's railroads. 🛤️🇺🇸

​#LincolnsBirthday🎩
#Railroads🚂
#IllinoisBuilt
#Leadership

[CSX @CSX]

CSX is investing in the future of our fleet and better service for customers by acquiring new and upgraded locomotives from @WabtecCorp. This includes 100 new locomotives, 50 modernizations, and advanced digital solutions to boost efficiency and reliability. Learn more: https://t.co/OQxeDQ5vDI.

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

Did you know Abraham Lincoln was a "Railroad Man"? 🎩🚂

Before the White House, Lincoln was a top lawyer for the Illinois Central Railroad.

175 years ago #OTD, the IC was chartered by the State of Illinois and Lincoln soon became its champion in court. His work protected the very tracks that eventually helped the Union win the Civil War, unite a nation, and have been #AmericasEngine ever since.

The 1851 IC Charter is now one of the 100 most valuable documents in @ILSecOfState's State Archives collection.

Today the Illinois Central lives on as a valuable part of #ILRail member @CNRailway's family. We are proud to work with CN as stewards of the historic lines that Honest Abe helped build.

#ILRail75
#IllinoisCentral175
#America250
#AbrahamLincoln
#RailroadHistory

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

🚂❄️

[AAR @AAR_FreightRail]

It’s cold in D.C. ❄️ Perfect timing to look at how freight railroads keep the network moving through winter’s toughest conditions.

In the latest issue of The Signal, we explore winter railroading—from employee safety and avalanche mitigation to the blizzard that transformed rail operations in Chicago.

Read more 👇

https://t.co/k02Tk1YJtw

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

Ian Jefferies of @AAR_FreightRail is spot-on in this overview of the future of our nation's railroad system, including the fact that Chicago, and Illinois, has long been the epicenter of our transformative system for moving the goods of a continent.

Please take the time to read this op-ed with special thought to what rail has done for Illinois: "Rail transformed Chicago into the logistics capital of North America, powering industrial growth across the Midwest and enabling national markets to function at scale."

That transformation, investment, and growth continues to fuel our state's economy and will continue to do so well past our lifetimes.

As the Illinois State Legislature gets underway and with Congress considering a transportation bill reauthorization in Washington, DC, Illinois policy makers on the federal, state, and local level should take special note that "policy debates in Washington increasingly risk moving in the opposite direction: toward prescriptive mandates, fragmented state rules — including in Springfield — and one-size-fits-all requirements that don’t reflect how freight networks function, especially in complex hubs like Chicago, where all the largest railroads intersect."

We are private businesses, making private investments, to benefit the public good all across North America. And our state has the unique privilege of bringing it all together.

Let's not waste that.

Thank you to champions like Ian and the AAR along with our innumerable rail partners who help manufacture, ship, and deliver the goods carried on our trains.

[Crain's Chicago Business @CrainsChicago]

Opinion: Chicago's rail system is a national asset. Treat it like one. https://t.co/qvK4BKEGI7

[Canadian National @CNRailway]

Today, we thank all those who serve or have served in the military and our veteran colleagues who inspire us with their strength, commitment, and courage. Your dedication makes a lasting impact. 💛

[Norfolk Southern @nscorp]

Team NS wants everyone to have a safe, fun, and fright-free Halloween night! 🎃 If you’re heading out with family to go trick-or-treating, remember these rail safety tips:

🚂 Always expect a train at any crossing, any time.

🛤️ Cross only at designated crossings and stay at least 15 feet from the tracks.

👻 Costumes can block vision or hearing, so stay alert and focused.

🚫 Never try to beat a train or go around lights or gates.

🚘 If your car is stuck on the tracks, GET OUT! GET AWAY! Find the Blue and White Emergency Sign or call 911.

REMEMBER: Tracks are for trains only, not trick-or-treaters!

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

OTD 45 years ago, President Carter signed transformative legislation for our nation's freight railroad network: the Staggers Act.

HBD Staggers Act! 🚂🇺🇸

From @AAR_FreightRail https://t.co/viN3TpdYxd

[Union Pacific @UnionPacific]

We paired human expertise with innovative tech to eliminate 7,000+ unnecessary rail car stops each day, cutting days from shipping schedules to improve freight reliability. Technology helps power innovative solutions to keep America’s supply chain moving. https://t.co/YjesrtdKn2

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

Happy Illinois Constitution Day!

Officially at 5 ILCS 490/194 🙂

[Illinois Supreme Court @illinoiscourts]

#OTD in 1818, Illinois passed its first Constitution. The date is featured on the seal of the Illinois Supreme Court. This is the third seal in the state's history. https://t.co/H2i7WUJFpO #ILCourtHistory

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

One nation forged upon the ideals that all are created equal to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in free and independent states.

Happy 249th birthday America 🇺🇸

"Return to the fountain whose waters spring close by the blood of the Revolution. Think nothing of me - take no thought for the political fate of any man whomsoever - but come back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence."

-A. Lincoln

[Illinois Railroad Association @IllinoisRail]

@UnionPacific, I think we have a winner for the 2026 UP calendar!

Incredible day in Springfield, IL celebrating this amazing railroad, our greatest President, and the importance of the Transcontinental Railroad on the 163rd anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the Pacific Railway Act.

Happy birthday UP, and thank you Mr. President!

(photo credit: Brian Bowles, Springfield IL)