The locomotive intended to pull the 2026 Freedom Train was assigned the number 250.
The locomotive was Reading 2100, a historic steam locomotive associated with the Reading Company. For the planned 2026 Freedom Train, it was renumbered as No. 250 to connect the train directly with the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The 2026 project was designed as a successor to the original Freedom Train of 1947–1949. That earlier train toured the United States carrying historic documents and other objects connected with American history, presenting them to communities across the country.
The number 250 is commemorative rather than the locomotive’s original identity. Reading 2100 remained the engine’s historical designation, while No. 250 served as the anniversary branding. This distinction is why 2100 and 250 are both associated with the planned America250 train.