The locomotive planned for the 2026 American Freedom Train was assigned the number No. 250.
Reading No. 2100 was restored with the intention of pulling a new Freedom Train for the United States Semiquincentennial. It was renumbered as American Freedom Train No. 250, directly echoing the anniversary’s 250-year theme.
The planned train was designed as a successor to the American Freedom Train that toured the United States during the 1975–1976 Bicentennial. That earlier train carried historic artifacts and visited communities across the country, making the railroad itself part of the anniversary story.
The 2026 excursion was later canceled because organizers cited funding difficulties, railroad-access negotiations, and limited preparation time. The number No. 250 therefore identifies the planned anniversary locomotive, even though the proposed tour did not proceed as originally intended.