OMAHA -- Union Pacific Railroad, spurred by the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, is putting the American flag on both sides of its yellow locomotives, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Union Pacific, the nation's largest railroad, will put a decal of a large, waving American flag across the middle of its over-the-road locomotives.

The flag decal will be applied to all new locomotives as they enter service and to the company's 6,400 operating locomotives within a year. Both the railroad and its parent company, Union Pacific Corp., are based in Omaha.

"Many of our employees have urged us to add the image of an American flag to our locomotives in the weeks since the tragedy of Sept. 11," said Dick Davidson, chairman and chief executive officer.

"These men and women play an important role in keeping our country strong and we are delighted to be able to honor this request."

Spokesman John Bromley said the flags would be applied to operating trains at U.P.'s larger locomotive shops, such as those in North Platte, Neb., and North Little Rock, Ark.

So far, three locomotives have the flags. Two will be used on a rail inspection trip starting this week from Kansas City to Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. The locomotives are to return through the Midlands on Nov. 20 - at 12:55 a.m. through North Platte and then through Omaha in time for an 8:30 a.m. arrival in Council Bluffs.