American Freedom Train - Navy Pier - Chicago

[Anonymous]

When I was a young kid (around 1975), I remember seeing the eastbound American Freedom Train going down the former C&NW east-west mainline through River Forest IL (couple miles east of Proviso Yard, 9 miles west of downtown Chicago). That was the first time I saw a live steam locomotive, and it made quite an impression!

My question to anybody out there, is whether it was the Southern Pacific Daylight #4449 or the Reading 4-8-4 which would have been displayed at Chicago's Navy Pier - I've always wondered which of these two locomotives is the one I saw. I've read articles stating that the Reading 4-8-4 was relieved by SP #4449 at Proviso Yard, but I've never seen anything published as to whether this locmotive change would have occurred before or after I saw the train heading downtown toward Navy Pier.

Can anyone help out? Thanks!When I was a young kid (around 1975), I remember seeing the eastbound American Freedom Train going down the former C&NW east-west mainline through River Forest IL (couple miles east of Proviso Yard, 9 miles west of downtown Chicago). That was the first time I saw a live steam locomotive, and it made quite an impression!

My question to anybody out there, is whether it was the Southern Pacific Daylight #4449 or the Reading 4-8-4 which would have been displayed at Chicago's Navy Pier - I've always wondered which of these two locomotives is the one I saw. I've read articles stating that the Reading 4-8-4 was relieved by SP #4449 at Proviso Yard, but I've never seen anything published as to whether this locmotive change would have occurred before or after I saw the train heading downtown toward Navy Pier.

Can anyone help out? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure when or how the swap was made, but the train left Chicago on the BN Chicago-Aurora main and was pulled by 4449, so if the swap was at Proviso it would have been inbound or possibly with light engine moves between Proviso and Navy Pier.

[ZephyrOverland]

The Reading 4-8-4 would have been displayed at Navy Pier. But I think it never made it because the engine had a slight derailment in the area around the Merchandise Mart and it had problems negotiating the trackage leading to Navy Pier. I went to Navy Pier early during the exhibition hoping to see a live steam engine for the first time but to no avail. 4449 took over hauling the train leaving Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Jerry Pitzen of the C&NW told me the Reading steam locomotive sat for a couple days after the derailment east of Wells Street, before it finally joined the AFT at Navy Pier in midweek.

Update: I stand corrected. The locomotive sat east of Wells Street for a time but never made it to Navy Pier.

[Anonymous]

There is a site that deals quite extensively with both the Freedom Trains. Don't know if it will deal with your particular question but contains a considerable amount of info on both trains.

The site is: www.freedomtrain.org/main.html

Good hunting!

[Mark300]

Actually there appears to have been several ‘Freedom Trains’ roaming the countryside during the mid 70’s

In Jim Boyd’s book ‘The Steam Locomotive – a century of North American Classics,’ there are two sets of photos.

One is; The Southern Pacific’s #4449 with a caption reading; “Southern Pacific #4449 was overhauled in 1974 to pull the American Freedom Train…..’ The photo shows it racing along the ex-C&NW track enroute to Green Bay Wis (Page 110).

The second is; the Reading’s 2101 renumbered as #1 with the caption; “In the spring of 1975 Ross Rowland bought Reading 4-8-4 2101 from the Striegel scrap yard and in just 32 days had it overhauled to handle the eastern routes of the American Freedom Train, which toured the country as a Bicentennial event….” (Page 99). It began it’s tour as the Freedom Train on March 29, 1975.

Further reading indicates Ross Rowland Steam Locomotive Corp (who had overhauled the Nickel Plate’s #759) created the American Freedom Train in 1974. SP 4-8-4 #4449 handled operations west of Chicago and Reading 4-8-4 2101 serving as engine #1 toured the east.

Incidentally, the Feb 2004 issue of ‘Trains’ article ‘Doyle’s House of Toys’ describes the present location of the SP’s #4449 - still decked out in it's Freedom Train colors. I believe the Reading 2101 (Since restored to it's original Reading livery) is in the B&O museum in Baltimore MD.

Between the caption in the photos I mentioned and your memories of Chicago, it probably was the #4449…..a great look’n locomotive!

HTH

Mark

[Anonymous]

And ex-T&P 2-10-4 #610 did the honors in Texas and parts of the south.

[BurlingtonJohn]

NOW this is my kind of post!!!

There was only one American Freedom Train that roamed the country during the nation’s bicentennial. It was pulled by AFT #1 (ex Reading 2101), 4449 (the GS4 that we all know and love) and T&P 610 (in Texas only).

Incidentally, the AFT saw diesel power on the point (usually BN Bicentennial diesels 1776 & 1876) for a brief period when 4449 was in the UP shops for wheel work.

I moderate a Yahoo group dedicated specifically to the American Freedom Train … we have an absolute ton of pictures that have been uploaded by fans and crewmembers themselves. One group member recently posted an extensive day-by-day chronology of the train’s nearly two year journey across the country … others have discussed the nuances of using the Lionel HO scale set from 1976 as a basis to model a complete 26 car American Freedom Train.

I started the group just over two years ago in sincere hopes that one day we would be able to produce a comprehensive book on the AFT … an event that I humbly submit is probably the most important railroad event in my life time (I was born in 1963). Think about it … a steam powered train filled with the nation’s most precious artifacts traveling through every one of the contiguous 48 states over a two year period. Members include fans of the AFT and several crew members as well.

You all are welcome to check out the site at the link below. Please note that membership is required … I have done this to keep out spammers, etc. Membership is free and if you don’t like what you see, you are free to go at anytime.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmericanFreedomTrain/

Sincere regards,

Burlington John
List Owner/Moderator
American Freedom Train Yahoo Group