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Freedom Train Question

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Freedom Train Question
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 8, 2014 7:15 AM

I am unsure of which 3 locomotives pulled the freedom train, which ones did? DO they all survive? If so, where?

Also, if anyone knows, which general routes didi they take across the US?

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Posted by PM Railfan on Monday, December 8, 2014 12:20 PM

Reading 2101 and SP 4449. As for the routes, there are more than I can remember. Needless to say you can count on it running across the major class 1's of the day. Maybe another reader can give the specifics here.

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Posted by jrbernier on Monday, December 8, 2014 12:24 PM

  T&P 610(2-10-4) also pulled the train.  I beleive it resides at the Texas State Railroad Museum at this time.

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 8, 2014 1:00 PM

I am espeacially interested in which locomotive pulled it through Southern Missouri, unless more than one loco went through there with the freedom train.

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Posted by PM Railfan on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 3:05 AM

Here are two links that should get you what you need.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Freedom_Train_%E2%80%93_1975%E2%80%9376_station_stops

http://www.freedomtrain.org/american-freedom-train-timeline.htm

 

If this doesnt help, post again and I will see if i can find more.

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 6:47 AM

Thank you! This answers my question! Case closed.

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Posted by Sunnyland on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 11:16 AM

Thanks for the info.  A friend on FB had sent me info too. I can't believe Mom and I missed even knowing about this.  Dad was already dead in 1976, he used to find out about a lot of RR things at work, that's how we first found out about Q steam trips with #4960 and also the General coming to town.  But Mom got the daily Post paper, must not have been much publicity or she'd have seen it.  Sorry we had to miss this event. 

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Posted by fluff on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 11:42 AM

cant believe i missed it either. 4449 came thru brownwood texas only 25 miles away!

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Posted by West Coast S on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 4:37 PM

Technically, you could also include 844 (in her mis-numbered 8444 days), she double headed with the 4449 out of Omaha to Odgen after being sidelined for emergency tire turning. This rare movement did not involve the AFT consists which had continued on to Odgen under diesel power to maintain the schedule. 

I had the pleasure to tour the AFT when it was displayed at the Embarcadero in San Francisco and to ride behind 4449 on the Transcontinental steam excursion from Tucson to Oakland upon the conclusion of the AFT tour.

Dave

SP the way it was in S scale
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Posted by Beach Bill on Saturday, December 20, 2014 12:41 PM

We in "the east" were told that the Royal Hudson was used when the train passed through Virginia because of clearance problems for the SP locomotive.

Bill

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. William Lloyd Garrison
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Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, December 20, 2014 2:02 PM

The Royal Hudson was considered and rejected as were several notable locomotives of the time, 2101 was tasked with AFT duties in the east. The Royal Hudson was later leased by the Southern for its steam excursion program as was the 610.

Dave 

SP the way it was in S scale
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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, December 20, 2014 4:39 PM

Well, it MIGHT have been a bit awkward trying to explain why a train celebrating the bicentennial of American independence from Great Britain was being pulled by a locomotive called a "Royal Hudson", and with a British crown on it to boot!

On the other hand, it certainly would have been appropriate for a train telling the story of the exiled American Loyalists, "The Torys That Built Canada"!

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Posted by samfp1943 on Sunday, December 21, 2014 11:00 PM

West Coast S

The Royal Hudson was considered and rejected as were several notable locomotives of the time, 2101 was tasked with AFT duties in the east. The Royal Hudson was later leased by the Southern for its steam excursion program as was the 610.

 

Dave 

 

Thanks, Dave(West Coast S)  

RE: your post about the CPR Royal Hudson: I had no idea that the #2839 had also worked on the Southern Rwy's Steam Excusrions.  It certainly was out of' it's territory' running in North Carolina.  Even the T&P RR's 610 was off its trritory running on the Steam Excursions. 

Here is a link with some photo's that documents the story of the Royal Hudson CPR #2839  @  http://www.pwrr.org/prototype/RoyalHudson/index.html

As well as her current location in California @ http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/EndPage.aspx?page=train

and this linked photo site @  https://www.google.com/search?q=CPR+Steam+Locomotive%22+Royal+Hudson%22?&biw=1152&bih=620&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=c5-XVPHAHIyQyASvmoGgAw&ved=0CB0QsAQ

Again, Dave, thanks for the history lesson! Bow

 

 

 


 

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Posted by West Coast S on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 11:45 AM

That Hudson got around, I was trackside when it traversed Santa Fe rails through my hometown in Northern California, oddly, no other railfans were present, perhaps they bought into the story as put forth by SF officials that no special movements were pending, steam or ortherwise!  

Dave

SP the way it was in S scale

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