BNSF and CSX teamed up to haul nearly 100 pieces of military equipment – tanks, armored vehicles, and tactical vehicles – from Fort Cavazos in Texas to Jessup, Md., in support of the Army’s 250th Birthday Parade scheduled for Saturday in Washington, D.C.
The 4,611-ton train originated on BNSF and was interchanged with CSX at Birmingham, Ala. From there, CSX handled the train on a 981-mile route through six states. Nine crews operated the train during its 55-hour trip, CSX said.
On the point: CSX’s Spirit of Our Armed Forces ES44AH No. 1776, a tribute to the five branches of the military, with ONE CSX SD70MAC No. 4720 trailing.
The parade celebrates the founding of the Continental Army, established by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, more than a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“Our team is honored to support this historic operation celebrating the Army’s 250-year legacy of service to our nation,” CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said in a statement. “The U.S. Army is a valued partner, and we take pride in employing veterans and active military members whose dedication and leadership inspire us. We remain committed to supporting those who serve and their families.”
No matter how much sugar some of you try to pour on it this is the big parade the felon toddler wanted his first term, yet smarter heads told him NO then. Now he gets to have it and still looked like he was pouting because no one came to his birthday party.
“… From there, CSX handled the train on a 981-mile route through six states. Nine crews operated the train during its 55-hour trip, CSX said. … ”
18 mph.
This parade is a celebration of the 250th US Army birthday on 14 June 2025. To somehow twist that into a personal celebration of President Trump is disgusting and vulgar and only demonstrates a person’s visceral hatred of the president.
As a retired soldier who served on Active Duty, the Reserves, and the National Guard, I am so incredibly humbled that the Commander in Chief feels the need to celebrate my and so many others’ sacrifices and service.
This is a celebration of OUR army. If that offends you, I might suggest around 190 other countries on planet earth to which you could move.
MSG Ruppert Baird
US Army & SCARNG, retired
Mr. Baird I truly thank you for your service to our country. But with all do respect your are wrong about trump. And I fear you will realize this sooner than later.
I am proud to be an American. THEREFORE, I am suspicious of any administration Even the one I vote for. Our constitution is designed\intendened to restrict the power of government. I am a veteran and my wife and I have 3 boys who have served in the armed forces, buried one of them–one 28 years as a career navy submarine officer. Charles is right that parades are much more than mere parades. I have voted for both democratic and republican presidents SO I thank God for the secret ballot.
18 mph average speed.
Every one of the negative comments keeps missing one important detail: June 14th is always the annual designated Flag Day in the USA.
I see absolutely nothing wrong in having a 250th anniversary celebration and parade for the US Army. The designated flag day is probably the best time to have it. Veterans day should always be reserved for especially for them. The 4th of July is a celebration of the birth of the USA, not the military.
The most ridiculous comments I hear or see are those that compare this Army milestone with those anything-but-free countries who have an annual major celebration. That’s an insult to all those currently serving and to all of us who did.
Free nations don’t celebrate their militaries. They celebrate their freedoms. In the entire history of the U.S.A. there has never been such a display. Ever. It’s not an insult to those who serve that this is true. We honor you with other means that emphasize your role in preserving the freedoms of our citizens and our nation.
Military parades aren’t mere parades. They are practice mobilizations and practice training.
The same skills and efforts to mobilize tanks to DeeCee this week would be useful in an actual emergency. Military units need to know how to get off their butts in scattered bases around the country and get themselves and their equipment to wherever they are sent.
Note to Thomas Dupree: I respect pacifists and I respect people who wish we didn’t need a military or didn’t have a military. Mahatma Gandhi opposed fighting Hitler; some people agreed with his stand. Jesus Christ said, “turn the other cheek”.
That said, we actually do have a military. We don’t confine it to bases in Kansas or North Dakota and treat the men and women like lepers. If we did that we might as well disband the military and dismantle all weapons.
Steve and Charles, y’all just keep making excuses for your new beloved dictator. Like I’ve said before you will be the one’s who have to live with yourselves for supporting him. But we’ll all together be forced to suffer his rule.
Thomas,
Your statement that “Free nations don’t celebrate their military” is not correct, including the USA.
Starting with the ending of the Civil War when DC experienced a two day affair, military parades have taken place. In the years after WW2, communities had annual parades involving active military units, Reserve units, National Guard units, and ROTC units. It wasn’t until Vietnam became so controversial that the parades were generally stopped.
Chris,
Where in my response did I even mention Trump? Why do you always mention his name? I specifically mentioned that this was the 250th anniversary of the US Army and for that reason I believed a grand parade was reasonable.
ve got to get over your belief that everything you don’t agree with has something to do with Trump.
Steve I’m a supporter of our great military and have family and friends that are both veterans and actively serving. But ANYONE who tries to portray this parade is ANYTHING other than the orange idiots celebrating his own birthday and trying to emulate his hero’s putin, xi jinxing or kim jong un is either fooling themselves or a trump follower, take your pick. The man has cast this nation into turmoil and the worst is yet to come. He worships dictators and his words and actions prove this. It’s very hard for me to see how anyone can’t see this. Being in denial will not in the long run clear one’s conscience.
Thomas Dupee you are wrong.
There have been military parades in DC under Jackson and Polk. The 2-day parade after the Civil War makes all others, including this one, pale in comparison. There were parades in DC after VJ Day, and during Eisenhower’s term. JFK’s inaugural parade has tanks, self-propelled artillery, and a nuclear cannon.
I would advise you that in the future you should perhaps do some research before you make incorrect statements like, “In the entire history of the U.S.A. there has never been such a display. Ever.”
You make yourself look uninformed.
Countries that I know of that have military parades are Russia, China, North Korea, U.S. Anyone see the relationship?
No.
Countries that I know of that have military parades includes UK.
You’ll exactly correct Dennis.
CHRIS and THOMAS ad DENNIS— Pick up a copy of today’s Wall Street Journal and turn to Page C2, a photo of a French military parade. You will see that you’re wrong, all three of you. Then, flip on your computers and search YouTube. You will find countless YouTube videos of UK military parades in England and Scotland.
UK and France (and USA) are not Russia, China, or North Korea.
Charles read the comments above I wrote in reference to Steve’s post. And add your name behind his.
No concerns about the deficit when it come to friendless fat Donald’s b-day parade is he going to wear a Burger King crown?
991 miles one way so another for the return. 9 crews one way. 4911 tons. Anyone have an idea of what the RR cost alone is?
Way to much for the orange one’s birthday parade.
nice video CSX