Boy Scouts of America Commemorative Locomotive

When Abraham Lincoln is a founding father of your company, people expect great things from you. From building the nation’s transcontinental railroad to delivering the goods Americans use every day, the men and women of Union Pacific continually work to exceed those expectations. UP has come to symbolize both America’s history and its progress, connecting and supporting this country and the communities and people that define it. 

In much the same way, the Boy Scouts of America is a source of national pride, helping develop leaders for future generations.

The UP No. 2010 Boy Scouts of America Locomotive commemorates the organization’s 100th Anniversary and its century of service to the nation. The locomotive, which was unveiled in Houston, Texas, on March 31, 2010, represents these two American icons coming together to celebrate progress, patriotism, and 100 years of Scouting.  

Boy Scouts of America

With more than 100 million alumni, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has become the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Currently the Scouting organization is composed of nearly four million youth members and adult volunteers who live by the Scout Oath and promise to demonstrate strong character, integrity, and leadership while serving their communities and neighbors.

The Boy Scouts of America is deeply honored to have Union Pacific celebrate the BSA’s 100th Anniversary with a special commemorative locomotive. Railroading has been a vibrant part of the BSA’s history, and to this day has an active role as one of Scouting’s 122 merit badges.

  • The Railroading merit badge was introduced in 1952 and has been earned by more than 189,000 Scouts.
  • American passenger railroads helped boost participation at the first National Scout Jamboree in 1937 by offering fares at a special rate of 1 cent per mile.
  • During the Great Depression, the BSA employed special railroad executives who started and supported Scout troops in some 300 rural communities along railroad lines.

To earn the Railroading merit badge, Scouts must demonstrate a general knowledge of the railroad industry, train engineering and design, and an understanding of railway safety precautions. Some of the requirements include:

  • Explaining the purpose and formation of Amtrak;
  • Listing five safety precautions that help make trains safer for employees and passengers; and
  • Building a model railroad car kit or a locomotive kit.

Union Pacific No. 2010 Boy Scouts of America Locomotive

The Union Pacific No. 2010 Boy Scouts of America Locomotive was built at the General Electric plant in Erie, Pa., and delivered to North Little Rock, Ark., as UP No. 7469. In the process of having graphics applied in honor of the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th Anniversary celebration, the locomotive was renumbered to UP No. 2010.

Because it is one of the newest, most reliable and most fuel-efficient locomotives in the Union Pacific fleet, the UP No. 2010 likely will carry service-sensitive consists such as automotive and intermodal trains traveling from facilities in Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Marion, Ark., to West Coast facilities in Los Angeles, Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

ModelGE 4400-horsepower “C45AC”
Weight207 tons
Length73 feet, 2 inches
Width10 feet, 3 inches
Height15 feet, 6 inches
Maximum speed75 miles per hour
Engine Diesel12-cylinder
Emblems11, representing 10 “stages of Scouting” and National Scout Jamboree