Sunday PM, and we are really into the 'Silly Season' of quadrennial presidential politics. One president who is quite adept at flying to scheduled events, and a candidate who at times past was a noted fan of rail travel between his home, and Washington; 'AMTRAK Joe Biden'. So it seems that rail travel might be out of the question in the current political cycle.
Politics and railroads have had their histories intertwined since rail travel was possible. Trains eventually went everywhere in the country;so rail travel was the natural, [comfortable(?)] way to get around. to be seen, and see the voters.
Back in 1923 President Warren G. Harding went to Alaska for the dedication of the Alaska RailRoad. In Alaska his transport was via a steel wheeled '23 Dodge Roadster . See linked @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwiTRTaeEu0
It was during his return from this trip that he expired in a Hotel in San Francisco.It was then that former Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover became President.
Many are familiar with the rail history regarding President Lincoln; When electred he rode by train intop the Washington area and had to ride the last few miles in secret. His trip back to his Illinois resting place was also done via a special train, after his assassination. His casket rode in the specially constructed Preidential car United States; a car he personally hated, and did not use until his final trip home.
The name Ferdinand Magellan [U.S.Car #1] s familiar to US railfans as the special private car that served as Presidential transport until it was retired in mid 1950's. The last trip for U.S. Car.# 1 was to take Mamie Eisenhower to the dedication of the USS Nautilus; it was then retired to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, located at the former NASRichmond in Miami,Fl.
Last uses of trains by Presidentail candidates was by Hillary Clinton in 2008 when she had a campaign train for the last 90 days of the campaign cycle.
The complete story is at this linked site:
@ https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/4809/all-aboard-the-amazing-history-of-presidential-trains
The first Presidential candidate to use a train for campaigning was William Henry Harrison, who ran for President, unsuccessfully, in 1836. Then, in 1841, as President-elect, Harrison became the first to use a train to ride to his inauguration.
Inside the dining air of U.S. Car No.1.
The interior of the remodeled U.S. Car No. 1 had a presidential suite, two guest rooms, a dining room that also served as a conference room, and an observation lounge that Roosevelt and his staff could utilize during long trips. It was also extremely luxurious and had telephones in most rooms, which was unheard of at that time.
The rear platform of U.S. Car No. 1 that Roosevelt famously used for public addresses.
Communications were facilitated by a converted hospital car that had incredibly high-tech radio gear installed so the President could stay connected at all times. A second converted hospital car was also part of the train. It was used by the President’s Secret Service protection detail and included bunks, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a lounge area. The code name for these two cars was “Crate.” An oversize baggage car would often carry two sedans and two convertibles for motorcades, and other cars could be added, like ones carrying the press and other aids for high-profile rail missions.
The outside of U.S. Railcar No. 1 had the word “Pullman” simply painted on its side, allowing it to blend in with other train traffic during secretive travels. The Presidential train used the callsign “POTUS,” with the Secret Service calling it “City Hall,” during operations, and had the right-of-way whenever and wherever it traveled, just as Air Force One and the Presidential Motorcade have today.
FDR giving a speech from the rear of U.S. Car No. 1
Many famous people rode in the President’s car, including Winston Churchill, and key war planning was done in its conference room. FDR used the car extensively for his 1944 campaign, setting up shop right on the car’s elevated rear platform. Loudspeakers were installed on its roofline for this purpose, a signature feature on previous campaign cars used by Roosevelt. The train allowed FDR, who suffered from polio, to make public appearances under controlled circumstances, as health concerns had loomed heavily over his candidacy. A special wheelchair was also constructed for FDR to use while on the U.S. Car No.1.
Moving the President on the rails was an intricate affair, with one railroad expert stating:
“Special instructions were issued so that no passenger, freight or switching moves would interfere with the movement of the special. Freights had to clear 30 minutes in advance and be at a standstill while the special passed. This was regardless of direction or track. If passing on adjoining tracks, conductors were instructed to insure against loose doors and other possible projections. Division engineers had to arrange for inspection of tracks, interlockings and drawbridges. Drawbridges could not be opened within 30 minutes of arrival of the train. In addition, car inspectors rode the train, state police monitored grade crossings and platform access was limited. It must have been a nightmare for the operating personnel who still had to move all the regularly scheduled trains.”
President Harry S. Truman and the First Lady aboard U.S. Car No.1
Following FDR’s death, Harry Truman continued to utilize U.S. Car No. 1. This included using it for a 31,000-mile whistle-stop tour of the US during the 1948 Presidential Campaign (although he bemoaned its slow speed). He demanded the train be run at 80 mph whenever possible, double the speed of Roosevelt’s liking.
The heavy train car and its moderate pace helped to further solidify air travel as the future of medium-range presidential transport, with Truman increasingly opting to use the C-118 Liftmaster dubbed Independence instead of going by rail. The massive increase in the number of large airfields after WWII also helped facilitate this transition.
Still, U.S. Car No. 1 kept on chugging down the tracks right into the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. But by the mid-1950s, rail travel was increasingly becoming a regional commodity, with the White House putting the first aircraft to use the callsign Air Force One into service, a Lockheed Constellation named Columbine II, for most Presidential travels.
The last use of U.S. Car No. 1 by the White House was by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, who took it to christen the world’s first operational nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus. Eventually, the historic car was retired to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Florida, where it remains on display today. Crate was kept on hand longer, although by the end of the 1960s its days as an operational tool had ceased.
Although the retirement of U.S. Car No. 1 marked the end of Presidential train usage as a primary form of transportation, it remained a secondary one for special occasions. Trains allow Presidents and those running for president to not only get closer to voters and constituents compared to arriving on Air Force One, or a campaign plane, at some locked-down airport, but they also bring a heavy dose of nostalgia to a campaign. This has not been lost on Presidents Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, Bush (43), and Obama, all of whom have leveraged rail travel for political purposes.
Ronald Reagan seen taking to the rails in 1980.
Presidents Jimmy Carter, H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barak Obama all used the same historic train car, the gorgeous, deep-blue Georgia 300, for high-publicity trips. Obama has actually used it multiple times, most famously to retrace Lincoln’s inaugural route as a major source of symbolism for his own inauguration in 2009.
Is Amtrak even going to run special trains for politicians, when they're ruled out even special trains for helping tots?
Delete- duplicate
If the campaign pay the full costs, yes probably. But, I was involved in the security for the Bush 41 train through NC. POTUS trains are a real pain in the a..... from that viewpoint.
matthewsaggie If the campaign pay the full costs, yes probably. But, I was involved in the security for the Bush 41 train through NC. POTUS trains are a real pain in the a..... from that viewpoint.
Presidential travel is a pain in the backside no matter what the mode. I remember when a President visited Cedar Rapids (I think it was Bush 2). Even though he flew in to the CR airport, he had to cross the railroad tracks. They shut down the railroad for something like 4 hours before his expected arrival. And it sticks in my mind that the route from the airport to the city didn't cross at grade.
Jeff
Some railroads are reluctant to run even your run-of-the-mill excursions, which can be planned well ahead of time and don't require the extensive security a presidential trip needs.
We had a presidential visit while I was working at the nearby military installation. You were lucky if you saw the caravan moving from place to place, much less seeing him at the several buildings he visited.
The mass gathering, where he spoke to the troops, was within an arena created by stacking containers three high, and the sharpshooters were very obvious atop those cans. My daughter wanted to see him (how often do you get to see the president, so the two of us were in that arena, after passing through checkpoints.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
samfp1943Back in 1923 President Warren G. Harding went to Alaska for the dedication of the Alaska RailRoad... It was during his return from this trip that he expired in a Hotel in San Francisco.It was then that former Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover became President.
Shouldn't you include that Calvin guy in there somewhere.
In as much as my territory included DC and the surrounding areas - POTUS movement was a PIA no matter how POTUS travels on land account of all the security measures that are implemented - on highways and railroads.
We (CSX) were advised when POTUS would be traveling and when we would have to hold trains clear of the POTUS highway route as directed by Secret Service personnel.
As a child I recall being taken by my parents to a political address from a Presidential candidate at Garrett, IN during the 1952 election season. I was 6; I don't recall who the candidate was.
My father was called to DC to assist with the 1953 Inaugural of Eisenhower - when the PRR train The Federal had a anglecock vibrate closed several cars behind the engine and the train was unable to brake properly with the engine ending up in the basement of Washington Union Station. With Dad being called to work in DC and our family being Baltimore based, we all went East. Dad took me to the basement of WUS to see the GG-1. The floor where the engine had broken through had been 'fixed' so as not to seriously disrupt the inauguration.
https://dotlibrary.specialcollection.net/Document?db=DOT-RAILROAD&query=(select+3543)
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
MidlandMikeShouldn't you include that Calvin guy in there somewhere.
I was visiting the USA (and Ohio) for Bush 41's train.
It was run by CSX using CSX (and UP if I recall correctly) business cars, so Amtrak wasn't imvolved. The lead locomotive was completely repainted, as I recall.
Peter
samfp1943 Back in 1923 President Warren G. Harding went to Alaska for the dedication of the Alaska RailRoad. In Alaska his transport was via a steel wheeled '23 Dodge Roadster . See linked @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwiTRTaeEu0 It was during his return from this trip that he expired in a Hotel in San Francisco.It was then that former Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover became President.
Calvin Coolidge became president upon the death of Harding. Hoover did not become president until 1928.
BaltACDAs a child I recall being taken by my parents to a political address from a Presidential candidate at Garrett, IN during the 1952 election season. I was 6; I don't recall who the candidate was.
This from "Wanswheel." It might have been Harry Truman stumping for Stevenson.
https---www.presidency.ucsb.edu-documents-rear-platform-remarks-ohio-and-indiana-0
M636C matthewsaggie If the campaign pay the full costs, yes probably. But, I was involved in the security for the Bush 41 train through NC. POTUS trains are a real pain in the a..... from that viewpoint. It was run by CSX using CSX (and UP if I recall correctly) business cars, so Amtrak wasn't imvolved. The lead locomotive was completely repainted, as I recall. Peter
Thanks, Peter(M636C): Here is a photo of that 1992 G.H.W. Bush's Campaign Train { I think it is also sourced from KALMBACH Pubs. (?)}
@ http://cs.trains.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-11-15/4578.MDanneman103192_2D00_2rts1.jpg
As well as another photo of CSX power for that train.
linked/on-line photo @ http://thedieselshop.us/POTUS%201992-RCraig.jpg
[Note: CSX special paint job! ]
dmoore74 samfp1943 Calvin Coolidge became president upon the death of Harding. Hoover did not become president until 1928.
samfp1943
Note: dmoore74 You are correct! My error
Flintlock76 BaltACD As a child I recall being taken by my parents to a political address from a Presidential candidate at Garrett, IN during the 1952 election season. I was 6; I don't recall who the candidate was. This from "Wanswheel." It might have been Harry Truman stumping for Stevenson. https---www.presidency.ucsb.edu-documents-rear-platform-remarks-ohio-and-indiana-0
BaltACD As a child I recall being taken by my parents to a political address from a Presidential candidate at Garrett, IN during the 1952 election season. I was 6; I don't recall who the candidate was.
The foggy corners of my mind were thinking it was Truman, however, my knowledge of the times knew he wasn't a candidate in 1952.
Thank Wanswheel for me - he is almost more of a presence on the forum being 'banned' than he was when he was a member in good standing. A better standard bearer of the spirit of the forum than those who control the forum.
BaltACDThank Wanswheel for me - he is almost more of a presence on the forum being 'banned' than he was when he was a member in good standing. A better standard bearer of the spirit of the forum than those who control the forum.
Will do! However make no mistake, "Wanswheel" may be on the outside (more's the pity) but he's still looking in!
Flintlock76 BaltACD "...Thank Wanswheel for me - he is almost more of a presence on the forum being 'banned' than he was when he was a member in good standing. A better standard bearer of the spirit of the forum than those who control the forum..." Will do! However make no mistake, "Wanswheel" may be on the outside (more's the pity) but he's still looking in!
BaltACD "...Thank Wanswheel for me - he is almost more of a presence on the forum being 'banned' than he was when he was a member in good standing. A better standard bearer of the spirit of the forum than those who control the forum..."
"AMEN" to THAT!
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