National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Union Pacific #6944

"Centennial"

#6944 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019

1. #6944 Marker

Inscription. The Centennials were built between 1969 & 1971 by the Electro Motive division of General Motors Corporation. The name "Centennial" honors the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869. Number 6944, built in 1971, is one of the 47 DD40-AX "Centennials" the largest diesel-electric locomotives ever built. It is 98' long, 270 tons, producing 6,600 h.p. with a top speed of 80 m.p.h.

Erected by Museum of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.

Location. 38° 34.329′ N, 90° 27.678′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. It can be reached from Barrett Station Road east of Old Dougherty Ferry Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3015 Barrett Station Road, Saint Louis MO 63122, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Pacific "Big Boy" #4006 (a few steps from this marker); Union Pacific #900081 (a few steps from this marker); St. Louis Southwestern Maintenance of Way #95589 (within shouting distance of this marker); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #5011 (within shouting distance of this marker); Chesapeake & Ohio #2727 (within shouting distance of this marker); General Motors #103 (within shouting distance of this marker); Boston & Providence "Daniel Nason" (within shouting distance of this marker); Illinois Terminal Neon Sign (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.

Union Pacific #6944 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019

2. Union Pacific #6944 and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.