One of Oil City,s most popular icons was the American Legion Locomotive. A converted 1948 GMC school bus was made into a locomotive on wheels. The boiler barrel, cow catcher and other parts were made by the brown boilier works of Oil City. The balance of materials were contributed to the Post as well as the railroad bell and the cannon. The locomotive was often featured in parades across the country as the lead unit in National American Legion convention Parades.

Known formally as "La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux" (The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses), the 40 & 8 was an independant invitation-only honor sociaty of American Veterans and service members. It was a group dedicated to "charitable and patriotic aims" according to the 40 & 8 history. The name came from the experiances of the U.S. troops during WW-I. American soldiars were transported to the front on the French rail system. Cramped into narrow gauge boxcars stenciled with"40 hommes/8 Chevaux", donating its capacity to hold 40 men and 8 horses. This uncomfortable mode of transportation was a familiar common experiance for "every Doughboy that fought in the trenches", notes the history. "Thereafter they found the40/8' a light hearted symbol of the deeper service, unspoken horrors and shared sacrifice that bind all who have endured combat," according to the unit history. It was founded in 1920 by American Veterans returning from France. Membership was by invitation only and for American Legion Members. The American Legion and the"40 & 8" severed ties in 1959 (1960) and became an independant organization. This was due to the "40 & 8" being racially restrictive.