Metro-North Railroad Unveils Veterans Heritage Locomotive, Expanding Commemorative Fleet

Published: February 28, 2026

NORTH WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — November 2025 — The Metro-North Railroad marked Veterans Day 2025 with the unveiling of a striking new heritage locomotive honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s military veterans, continuing what has quickly become one of the most ambitious heritage locomotive programs among U.S. commuter railroads.

The newly introduced unit — dual-mode locomotive No. 216 — represents the eighth entry in Metro-North’s Heritage Series, a fleet designed to celebrate the railroad’s history, workforce, and predecessor railroads while commemorating the agency’s more than four decades of public service.

Unveiled during a ceremony at Metro-North’s North White Plains Maintenance of Equipment facility on November 10, the locomotive debuted one day ahead of Veterans Day before traveling to Grand Central Terminal for public display. It entered regular passenger service later that month across the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines.

Metro-North's veterans heritage locomotive, P32AC-DM #216.

A Locomotive Designed by Veterans

Unlike previous heritage units largely focused on railroad history, the newest locomotive was created directly by Metro-North employees who served in the armed forces.

The design process began with a systemwide survey of veteran employees, followed by formation of a 12-member veteran committee responsible for selecting the final appearance. The resulting wrap pays tribute to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, incorporating military symbolism rarely seen on modern commuter motive power.

Key visual elements include:

Logos and lettering redesigned as embroidered military uniform patches
A fabric-textured American flag motif across the locomotive’s nose
Silhouettes of military equipment representing each service branch
Imagery including a Coast Guard cutter, Army Black Hawk helicopter, Marine Corps Super Stallion helicopter, and Navy transport dock ship USS New York

Metro-North President Justin Vonashek stated the locomotive reflects the same “dedication, teamwork, and service” shared by both railroaders and members of the armed forces.

A Growing Heritage Series

Metro-North launched its Heritage Series in 2023, joining a broader North American trend in which railroads apply historic or commemorative liveries to active locomotives. The program celebrates both institutional milestones and the region’s rich railroad legacy.

All units operate in normal passenger service and can appear on any train powered by the railroad’s GE P32AC-DM dual-mode locomotive fleet, giving daily riders unexpected encounters with railroad history.

Below is an overview of the Heritage Series locomotives unveiled to date.

The Fleet (Through 2025)

1. Original Metro-North Scheme (2023)

The inaugural heritage locomotive recreated Metro-North’s original red, silver, and blue appearance introduced when the railroad began operations in 1983 following the transfer of commuter services from Conrail.

This unit honored the agency’s founding era and the iconic FL9 locomotives that defined early Metro-North operations.

2–4. Predecessor Railroad Tributes

Subsequent locomotives paid homage to historic railroads whose routes now form Metro-North’s modern system, including liveries inspired by:

New York Central Railroad
Penn Central Transportation Company
Conrail

These designs recognize the layered corporate lineage behind today’s commuter network serving New York and Connecticut.

5. Workforce Tribute Locomotive — No. 214

One of the most personal entries in the series, this locomotive incorporated approximately 2,000 photographs of past and present Metro-North employees, arranged into large composite images representing landmarks along each operating line.

The unit expanded the Heritage Series beyond paint replication into storytelling through imagery.

6. New Haven Railroad Heritage — No. 222 (February 2025)

Unveiled early in 2025, this locomotive revived the classic olive green and dandelion yellow paint scheme worn by locomotives of the historic New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad prior to 1954.

The New Haven Railroad remains one of Metro-North’s most influential predecessors, particularly across today’s electrified New Haven Line.

7. Conrail Tribute — No. 203 (June 2025)

Metro-North’s seventh heritage unit honored Conrail, featuring a silver and blue scheme recalling diesel locomotives operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority shortly after Conrail assumed northeastern freight and commuter operations in 1976.

8. Veterans Heritage Locomotive — No. 216 (November 2025)

The newest addition stands apart as the fleet’s first national tribute, honoring military veterans rather than railroad institutions.

Its unveiling aligned intentionally with Veterans Day observances and highlighted the large number of veterans employed across Metro-North’s workforce.

Heritage Units in Daily Service

Unlike museum or commemorative equipment reserved for special events, Metro-North’s heritage locomotives remain fully integrated into revenue operations. Officials note this approach ensures the railroad’s history is experienced daily by commuters rather than confined to ceremonial appearances.

Passengers traveling between Grand Central Terminal and destinations throughout the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and suburban New York may encounter any of the heritage locomotives in regular rotation.

A Growing Trend Among Commuter Railroads

Metro-North’s program mirrors similar initiatives undertaken by agencies such as Metra, NJ Transit, and the MBTA, reflecting renewed public interest in railroad heritage branding.

For Metro-North, however, the Veterans locomotive demonstrates an evolution of the concept — shifting from historical nostalgia toward recognition of the people who operate and sustain modern rail transportation.

As the railroad continues celebrating more than 40 years of service under the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, additional heritage entries remain possible, particularly as anniversaries of predecessor railroads approach.

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