The Liberty Express mural in Granite City, Illinois, during its 2026 restoration. Photo © Lenses & Latitudes.
The Liberty Express: Railroad Art, Route 66 & a Mural in Transition
A coal-black steam locomotive pushes into brilliant bands of red, gold, green and blue.
Its glowing headlamp and white number 1591 stand out against colorful rays that appear to burst across a long brick wall.
This is The Liberty Express, a railroad-themed mural in downtown Granite City, Illinois.
I photographed the wall June 13, 2026, during its restoration. Scaffolding stood in front of the engine, and portions of the wall still appeared to be part of an ongoing painting project. These photographs document the mural exactly as I found it at that moment.
Locomotive 1591, the American flag and scaffolding visible during my visit. Photo © Lenses & Latitudes.
A Steam Locomotive Full of Character
The locomotive is the mural’s anchor.
Its circular front, headlamp, smokestack, handrails, wheels and sharply angled cowcatcher have a three-dimensional quality.
The white number 1591 stands out against the dark metal, and an American flag brings another strong graphic element into the scene.
What I find especially effective is the train’s perspective: rather than resting flat against the wall, it seems to drive toward the viewer.
Its curves, shadows and mechanical details create a convincing sense of weight.
Radiating color bands create motion around the realistically rendered train. Photo © Lenses & Latitudes.
Where Railroad Realism Meets a Burst of Color
The locomotive is carefully shaded, but the background follows a completely different visual language.
Broad stripes of teal, cream, orange, yellow, red and blue radiate toward the engine.
Their straight edges contrast with the rounded smokebox and dense tangle of pipes and rails.
Those bands make the mural look energetic even when viewed from across the parking lot.
Move closer and the quieter locomotive details emerge.
I like how changing the framing—from the whole wall to the front of the train—produces two very different photographs of the same artwork.
A Granite City Mural Since 1993
The Liberty Express was originally painted in 1993. In 2026, St. Louis Sign & Mural LLC undertook its restoration.
That work renewed a piece of Granite City’s public art history more than three decades after its creation.
When I visited on June 13, 2026, the scaffolding and unfinished-looking sections gave me an unusual chance to photograph the artwork during that transition.
I chose to preserve those details in my photographs rather than digitally remove them.
They show a moment in the mural’s history that a later visitor might never see.
Railroad Heritage and Route 66
Steam engines are a fitting visual subject for Granite City.
Long before Route 66 became a famous American road-trip route, rail transportation helped connect the area’s factories and industrial businesses with markets beyond the city.
The manufacturing enterprises developed by the Niedringhaus brothers also helped shape Granite City’s identity.
Route 66, established in 1926, brought a later era of transportation history to the region.
Its centennial in 2026 provides a timely reason to seek out the public art and distinctive roadside landmarks in communities along the historic corridor.
Although the mural clearly shows the number 1591, I have not verified a connection between that specific locomotive and Granite City. I appreciate it as a visual tribute to railroad heritage rather than a portrait of a documented local train.
The painted electrical box sits in the parking lot in front of The Liberty Express mural. Photo © Lenses & Latitudes.
Don’t Miss the Painted Electrical Box
In the parking lot directly in front of the mural, I photographed a second piece of train-themed public art.
A utility box has large vertical GRANITE CITY lettering on one face and a stylized locomotive, Route 66 shield, skyline and colorful circular patterns on another.
It is a separate artwork, not part of the brick-wall mural, but its graphic treatment makes a fun contrast with the detailed steam engine across the lot.
It’s worth turning around to photograph before leaving.
Where to Find The Liberty Express
It’s an easy addition to a downtown Granite City photography stop.
Location & Visiting Details
For other nearby attractions, including It’s Electric Neon Sign Park and Route 66-inspired landmarks, explore my Granite City travel guide →
How to Photograph The Liberty Express
A wider lens is useful for the whole mural, but stepping farther back and using a more normal focal length can help keep the brickwork straighter.
If scaffolding is present during your visit, photograph around it where possible without changing or misrepresenting the artwork.
A Moment in the Mural’s Story
The Liberty Express combines things I enjoy finding on a road trip: local history, public art and a subject that rewards a second look.
The mechanical detail of locomotive 1591 and the colorful rays give it an unmistakable presence in downtown Granite City.
I’m especially glad my June 2026 photos document the restoration period.
They tell a slightly different story from a finished mural image—and remind me why photographing a place as I find it matters.
About Angela
Angela Addington is the travel photographer and writer behind Lenses & Latitudes. She shares firsthand destination guidance and practical photography advice for independent and solo travelers, women over 50, road-trippers and weekend explorers. Learn more about Angela.
