1976-Bicentennial Train

[Anonymous]

Does anyone remember the Freedom (?) Train that went across the US during 1976? It had a museum type atmosphere in each car, with various stages of US history. I would like to know what ever happened to it, what loco type and car type. It was this that began my love of trains and railroads. Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

There were two locomotives that pulled the freedom train that stand out in my mind. First was the SP 4449, second was the RDG 2101. The first is still occasionally operated, last I believe by the BNSF, anyone confirm? The 2101 now resides in the Baltimore Railroad Museum off of Pratt St in Baltimore Md. This locomotive was involved in a roundhouse fire, and is only a static display now. As far as the type of cars used, I am not really sure, but there are some web-sites devoted to the American Freedom Train, here is one with some good photos:
http://www.dnaco.net/~gelwood/other/aft.html
Hope this helps.

[favuprailroadfan]

Yes you are correct, the SP4449 is currently running on BNSF in the northwest US, because UP basically exiled it from their rails. It really sucks because, it is a very beasutiful engine. Put it back in Daylight colors and let here run on her old rails. But I guess the UP is to hung up on its steam program.

Dru

[Soo2610]

I think Dru and Dan hit it pretty well. I was unable to remember the engine numbers but did remember seeing something on this web page not too long ago about one of the engines being on display in Baltimore.
Don't remember a lot about the train. It was on display in Crystal Lake, Ill. for several days which is where I saw it. Remember that the engine derailed on a sharp bend when they tried to run it out to navy pier on a spur track in Chicago.

[Anonymous]

SP4449 is actually owned by the City of Portland OR., and operated by Doyle McCormack(sp?). The last couple of years it has operated (painted black) mostly for BNSF Employee appreciation specials mostly in Washington State. It ran at least partially on UP rails to the Sacramento Railfair in Daylight colors, in June 1999. It seems odd that UP doesn't let 4449 run more often on UP rails. True, it is not part of UP's steam program, but they did buy the SP and that makes 4449 part of a UP predecessor road. Ron.

[Anonymous]

Hello
One of the Cars that was on the freedom train a old combine that was made in to a cafateria and Power car(#202) for the freedom train, it was then sold to BC Rail and used on the Royal Hudson Steam Train and named "Endeavour" for several years, and then made its way to the Museum I work at, in Prince George BC Canada. The car is in good shape and often used for kids birthday parties.
Micheal Hodgson

[Anonymous]

I believe it was the 2101 which is now in Baltimore that derailed out in Illinois. I seem to remember hearing that after that derailment it never ran quite the same. Also, I did some research on the 2101. It was a Reading Railroad conversion engine. Originally a 2-8-0 built by Baldwin, but remanufactured in 1945 into a 4-8-4 by the Reading in its Reading PA locomotive shops. It was re-numbered the #1 for the Freedom train runs, and is still painted in the Freedom train paint (badly faded) and numbered #1.

[Soo2610]

Dan and Ron, Thanks for the info. The 2101 is the one I remember and saw. Had completely forgotten that the 4449 was also involved. I agree that it would be good if the UP ran more steam especially now that the WC is backing off on excursions in our area due to the pending sale to the CN. It remains to be seen what will happen after the CN takes over. WC used to run a lot of excursions every year. Still can't recall where I saw the recent article on the 2101.

[Anonymous]

I saw the Freedom Train when it came through Columbus, GA in 1976. I was only three, but I remember having a pennant and the huge crowd. Wonder if, with all the fear of flying, etc., and given the patriotic fervor, if anyone has given thought to running another Freedom Train? Any idea who would be a POC for that?

[Anonymous]

Last time I saw any of the AFT cars was in Las Vegas in the early 90's. I recognized about three of them with the red white and blue around the window sills. I'm not sure what part they played in the train. Yes it would be GREAT to see another AFT in light of the recent tragedies. GOD BLESS THE U.S.

[Anonymous]

Any idea how the 1976 AFT got organized? Or who I could take this idea to? Seems like there's a lot of support for it.

[PaulWWoodring]

The American Freedom Train project was the idea of Ross E. Rowland, Jr., then a gold trader on the NY COMEX, who first gained fame with the High Iron Company and it's restoration of Steamtown's NKP Berk #759, for the Golden Spike Centennial in 1969, and a subsequent run of mainline excursions in '69 and the early '70's (including pulling the last run of the Powhatan Arrow on the eve of Amtrak in April '71). The engine turns up on various compilation video's of fantrips in that era, see the major video producer's catalogues. After running into financial and mechanical trouble with the 759, Rowland's next project was the AFT. He rescued the 2101 and sister engine 2100 from Stregel Scrap in Baltimore where they went after the Reading Ramble excursion era ended, and used the 2100 for parts. Restored in a marathon professional/volunteer effort at Chessie Mt. Clare shops, the '01 started the AFT tour in Spring '75, turning the train over to SP 4449 at Chicago. Also used on the train in Texas, was T&P 2-10-4 #610, later briefly used in SR excursion service, until sidelined with running gear problems, and the rental of ex-CP Royal Hudson #2839, which enabled them to run passenger train speeds with the excursions.

2101 was later used in '77 and '78 on the Chessie Steam Specials, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the B&O. She was stored for the winter in late '78 in the C&O roundhouse in Stevens KY, which was destroyed by fire in early '79, badly heat damaging the '01 (including lighting off the coal in the tender).

Since Chessie felt partly responsible for the loss of the 2101, they offered Rowland a comparable engine from the B&O Museum - C&O 4-8-4 #614, in exchange for the 2101 being cosmetically restored as AFT #1 for display at the museum, where she rusts in peace today. 614 went on to pull the Chessie Safety Excursions, promoting Operation Lifesaver in late '80 and '81 after a year-long rebuild in the WM Hagerstown, MD roundhouse. She next ran as a test-bed for the ill-fated ACE 3000 modern steam locomotive project of Rowland's in Jan. '85, pulling 90 car coal trains between Huntington and Hinton, WV for a month. The project may have failed, but what a show it was!

614 last ran a series of trips for the United Railway Museum of NJ on NJ Transit between Hoboken and Port Jervis in the late '90's, and is currently laid-up for sale at the NJ transit maintenance facility at Kearny, NJ. Rowland lost most of his fortune in the failed Pacific Wilderness Ry. project, and is currently an engineer for the Ohio Central RR. BTW, the Freedom Train Project did in fact turn a small profit, which was divided among a couple of charities (The Red Cross was one) that had provided assistance to the project. Also, the 2100 was later restored in Hagerstown in the mid to late '80's, and was recently sold and converted to an oil-burner in Canada for an operation that fell through.

[CHESSIEMIKE]

Let's not forget the "original" Freedom Train of 1947. It was pulled by a pair of Alco PAs. Check out The Railroad Press magazine web site. I saw the 1976 train at Ft. Eustis Va. and it had #4449. They changed locomotives in Wash. D.C.