Bicentennial on Tour: The American Freedom Train

American life in the mid-1970s was disturbing, to say the least. Although the United States had recently withdrawn from Vietnam, the social and political consequences of this incredibly unpopular war would persist for years to come. Meanwhile, the Nixon administration was under investigation for the Watergate scandal, bringing a new kind of disgrace to the Oval Office. Added to all this was a historic energy crisis, record levels of inflation and an economic recession. People were disillusioned with the American dream and lost faith in a system that seemed to be failing at every level. This was the unfortunate setting for the Bicentennial, America's rapidly approaching 200th birthday on July 4, 1976.

While it was supposed to be a unique nationwide celebration, few people were in a patriotic mood. It seemed that the date would pass without much attention, until a group of ordinary people decided to create their own celebration. Now more than ever, America needed a reminder of its achievements, the incredible challenges it had overcome, and the values ​​that had united its people for nearly 200 years. To fully understand the Bicentennial project, we actually need to go back another 30 years. Japan's surrender to the United States on September 2, 1945 marked a victorious end to World War II. But this victory had given way to a new type of war, terrifying and morally questionable.

Likewise, growing tensions with the Soviet Union were setting the stage for a new type of enemy: communist ideology. Americans now found themselves in a more complicated world. Some began to question the values ​​of their democratic system, while others simply took it for granted. Seven months after the end of the war, an idea emerged that would aim to combat this problem. William Coblenz of the U.S. Department of Justice realized that most Americans would never have the opportunity to see their nation's most important historical documents. If these could be put on a special

train

and transported across the country, Americans might feel a more tangible connection to their founding principles.

The idea was presented to United States Attorney General Tom Clark and then President Harry Truman, who immediately agreed. This idea soon became the Freedom Train, a traveling exhibit that would visit hundreds of cities in all 48 states. On board there would be more than 120 precious objects, including the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. At the front of the

train

would be a state-of-the-art diesel locomotive, developed by the American Locomotive Company and General Electric. While steam engines were still widely used at the time, diesel engines were quickly ushering in a new era of progress.

The ALCO PA-1 loaned to the Freedom Train was the first production unit of its type and would showcase the latest in American diesel technology. The exhibits themselves were built inside three converted baggage cars, which were heavily armored inside and out. Each document was secured in high quality acrylic, bulletproof glass and steel casing. And just in case, a security detail of US Marines would live on the train, guarding the artifacts 24 hours a day. After more than a year of preparation, the national

tour

began in Philadelphia on September 17, 1947. A key part of the experience in each city would be the Freedom Scroll, where visitors could sign their names to pledge their faith in the values Americans.

Also debuting at the ceremony was a new song, “The Freedom Train,” composed by Irving Berlin and performed by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. "Here comes the Freedom Train, you better hurry." "Like Paul Revere, come to your hometown." More than 33,000 people saw the train in the first three days and thousands more had to be turned away. And this was just the first of more than 300 cities the train would visit over the next six months. In fact, crowding would become a recurring problem. Only about 600 people an hour could pass through the exhibits, creating a bottleneck for the thousands of people waiting in line.

While the message of the Freedom Train was noble, it was not without criticism. President Truman and Attorney General Clark were known for their strong anti-communist policies. This promoted a kind of blind patriotism that could be dangerous if left unchecked. The Freedom Train was a clear reflection of this, and many people accused it of being a literal propaganda machine. Despite this mixed reception, the attitude throughout the

tour

was generally very positive. In December, things were getting more tense as the train began making its way through the Deep South. Before the tour began, train leaders discussed how they would handle the issue of racial segregation laws.

It would be an obvious contradiction if black and white visitors were kept separate while they viewed the documents guaranteeing their

freedom

. It was then agreed that the train would have a zero-tolerance policy toward segregation. Most Southern cities respected this rule, and black and white visitors stood side by side to reflect on their shared heritage. But trouble soon arose in Birmingham, Alabama. City leaders, such as Police Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor, vowed they would never allow white and black visitors to view the train together. As a result, Birmingham was removed from the schedule and the train continued without stopping.

Local residents were angered by the city's stubborn beliefs. In response, Mayor William Hartsfield of Atlanta, Georgia, invited them to his city and instead said, “In Atlanta, the Freedom Train will be open at all times to all people, regardless of race or creed.” . "I don't see how anyone can draw a colored line between

freedom

and justice." The following week, in January 1948, similar problems arose in Memphis, Tennessee. Mayor James Pleasants insisted that segregation was necessary for public safety, saying, “With the inevitable pushing and shoving that must result, racial problems are sure to occur.” "It would be completely avoided by dividing the time between the whites and the coloreds, giving half to each." As expected, the stop in Memphis was also canceled.

With negative press surrounding both cities, the segregation rule was not questioned again after this point. On a lighter note, the Freedom Train had such a cultural impact that it even appeared in the June 1948 issue of Captain Marvel Adventures. In this exciting story, the titular hero faced off against an evil scientist who vowed to bring down the Freedom Train. It seems like this should have been a job for Captain America, although apparently his on-again, off-again girlfriend had recently become his partner, so he probably had other things on his mind. The train's last stop was Washington DC in January 1949.

The tour had been a success, but it was also an interesting contradiction. Critics criticized it as propaganda, while also shedding light on some of the United States' major shortcomings. In the span of almost a year and a half, the Freedom Train traveled more than 37,000 miles, carrying the country's most important documents to more than three and a half million people. As the next two decades came and went, memories of the Freedom Train faded and a new generation grew up unaware of its existence. This was true even for train buffs like Ross Rowland, a young Wall Street trader who took every opportunity he could to trade in his suit for an engineer's overalls.

At only 26 years old, he already had years of experience restoring and operating steam locomotives in his spare time. In 1966, he formed High Iron Company, Incorporated, whose purpose was to operate public excursions powered by steam locomotives on railroads in the northeast area of ​​New York City, basically hauling passenger cars on weekends and selling tickets to the public. to pay the cost. The most ambitious of these voyages would take place in May 1969. To celebrate 100 years since the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, the group organized the Golden Spike Centennial Limited. This long-distance public hike was from New York City to Promontory Summit, Utah.

On the way to Salt Lake City, actor John Wayne joined the team. He and Ross Rowland had become friends in a past life and he was excited to help promote the event. He was kind enough to organize the premiere of his big movie, True Grit, that year. The night we arrived in Salt Lake City, he premiered the movie. And on the way to Salt Lake, John and I were standing in the observation car. And he was very impressed with the fact that at every road junction we went through, there were 50, 100, 200 people waving flags and cheering, etc.

And John said, "You know, Ross, in seven years we'll be there." “We are going to celebrate our 200th birthday.” “Why don't we make a train like this, even better than this, and take it all over the country to celebrate that anniversary?” And I said, "Okay, John, I'll tell you what." "If you can get the people in Hollywood to support it, I'll do the heavy lifting and put it together." He said, "You've got a deal." We shook hands... ...and that was the beginning of the Freedom Train project. After returning home, Rowland learned about the Freedom Train of the 1940s.

The parallels to the modern era were clear, as Americans once again felt confused and cynical about their country. What's more, the government had not planned any national celebration for the Bicentennial. Rowland considered that if a special train could bring historical artifacts across the country once again, this could be a perfect solution to both problems. He soon formed a nonprofit, the American Freedom Train Foundation, and spent a year in Washington, DC trying to convince politicians to fund the project. In retrospect, it was a complete waste of time, and it became clear to me that if the Freedom Train was going to happen, we were going to have to get corporate co-sponsors to pay for it, because the government was never going to get its act together. .

Rowland would spend all of 1973 presenting his proposals to dozens of corporations. Meanwhile, members of the High Iron Company were tasked with finding a locomotive that could do the job. Although the industry had long since switched completely to diesel, the crew knew from experience that a steam locomotive could attract public attention like nothing else. They considered several options, including Nickel Plate 759, which had been used on the trip to the Golden Spike; Norfolk & Western 611, which was on display at the Roanoke Transportation Museum; and Union Pacific 8444, which was used for corporate advertising events. But the team had its eye on an unlikely candidate: Southern Pacific 4449.

Built in 1941, this GS-class engine was designed for Coast Daylight Service service between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The streamlined design and bright colors of these locomotives made them instantly iconic. Unfortunately, almost all of them would face the torch of scrapping in the late 1950s. 4449 escaped this fate when it was moved to Portland, Oregon, to be displayed at Oaks Park. Here it would remain for the next 15 years, exposed to the elements like a ghost of its former self. Bringing this sleeping giant back to life would be a perfect tribute to the American Freedom Train. However, the project had not yet found any financial backing.

Until then, Ross Rowland had made 54 corporate presentations and received 54 rejections. But on the 55th day, the Lord made his face shine on the Pepsi-Cola Company. Surely the Lord was with us, because in the 55th presentation, which I made on December 23, 1973, to Pepsi-Cola, they said yes. Their president, Don Kendall, told me, "Right after the holidays, I want you to keep your calendar open, because I'll take you and you and I will go and get the other one." four sponsors in a hurry.” I said, "Yes, sir." And that's exactly what happened. In early 1974, Rowland and Kendall made their pitch to General Motors, Kraft Foods, Prudential Insurance, and ARCO.

The CEOs of these companies turned out to be friends of Mr. Kendall, and practically overnight, the foundation obtained the $5 million it needed to launch the project. Volunteers headed to Portland to inspect the Daylight engine in person. Despite its emaciated appearance, the moving parts were in very good condition. Meanwhile, in Richmond, California, crews began dismantling ten removed baggage cars. They would soon be rebuilt to house the Freedom Train's interior exhibits. Two additional baggage cars were shipped to Venice, Florida, to be converted into windowed display cars. HeFamed designer Barry Howard, based in Larchmont, New York, was selected to design the exhibits.

The focal point would be hundreds of historical artifacts to showcase American history and culture. Getting access to these articles could have been quite a challenge if it weren't for Don Kendall. After making a phone call to his close friend, President Nixon, the foundation gained full access to the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. In July, the foundation launched Preamble Express. It was a train of specialists that would tour the country to plan the route of the official tour. His press kit for local officials included a new promotional song. “Here Comes the Freedom Train,” performed by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. “All aboard, America, here comes the Freedom Train.

All aboard, America, here comes the Freedom Train.” In mid-December, with the blessing of the city of Portland, volunteers carefully removed engine 4449 from Oaks Park. Four days later, in Alexandria, Virginia, President Gerald Ford inaugurated the upcoming tour from the rear deck of the Preamble Express. "Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States." "Obviously, I am tremendously pleased to participate in the official ceremony recognizing the American Freedom Train as an important Bicentennial effort." Like its predecessor, the train would make stops in all 48 contiguous states. But this tour would be a little longer, spanning almost two years from April 1975 to the end of 1976.

This meant that the team only had about three more months to get everything ready for opening day. And there was still a staggering amount of work ahead. Although the crew had experience restoring steam engines, the task before them was enormous. This engine was larger than anything they had worked on before and had to be completely restored and ready to run in about 90 days. To meet this tight deadline, the team worked 18 hours a day, not stopping even on Christmas Day 1974 or New Year's Day 1975. Volunteers came from all over the country to help with the project. Among them was Doyle McCormack, 31, of Conneaut, Ohio.

He had experience operating steam and diesel engines alike, and had in fact been the engineer on the Golden Spike voyage in 1969. McCormack became a key member of the Daylight engine crew and was soon chosen as its engineer for the national tour. Meanwhile, in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Alexandria, artifacts and exhibits were being installed in display cars. The curation team, led by Ruth Packard, had made great strides in acquiring hundreds of artifacts to help tell the American story. "Where do you go to find 200 years of American history?" "It took trained personnel to comb the entire country." "We spoke to thousands of people in museums, institutions and also many private collectors." "We ultimately narrowed it down so that the ten display cars contained 512 artifacts and documents, from 285 lenders in 110 cities." "It's a real challenge." The carriages were equipped with a moving walkway that took visitors through the exhibits.

While the original Freedom Train allowed people to walk at their own pace, this walkway would allow twice as many people to pass through the exhibits per day. You might want to stand next to those objects for three, four, five minutes absorbing them, right? Well, if you did that, everyone behind you will have to wait until you're ready to move before they can do so, because it's single file. So, with the moving walkway that we met from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., we were able to get 16,000 people on the train. And that's how we knew how many advance tickets we could sell.

As each guest entered, they were given a personal listening wand to listen to the narration and sounds synchronized with the visual displays. This was no simple museum, but a true multimedia experience, with each car exploring a different facet of American culture. Car 1 portrayed the beginnings of the nation in the 18th century. This included weapons from the Revolutionary War, George Washington's copy of the Constitution, and a copy of Poor Richard's Almanac from 1756. Car 2 showed exploration and expansion over the centuries. Cultural artifacts from Native American tribes, the original Louisiana Purchase, and a moon rock from one of the Apollo missions were on display here.

Car 3 was a visual mosaic of change and growth over 200 years. The images showed progress from frontier settlements to bustling cities, from horse-drawn carts to modern jet aircraft. Car 4 was about the melting pot of America, a nation of immigrants from all corners of the world. In one of the most impressive performances, mannequins with faces projected on video spoke about their cultural experiences. Car 5 was a celebration of American ingenuity. Examples of patented inventions were shown here, from the first telephones and sewing machines to Thomas Edison's first incandescent lamp. Car 6 showed the skilled professions of American workers. Among the artifacts here were the original manuscript of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and the 1776 edition of Thomas Paine's Common Sense.

Car 7 was filled with American sports memorabilia. This included Bob Lanier's size 20 basketball shoes, Joe Frazier's boxing gloves, and baseball bats used by Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Hank Aaron. Car 8 was a celebration of the performing arts. Items here included Charlton Heston's cane from the Ten Commandments, Alfred Hitchcock's director's chair, and one of Judy Garland's dresses from The Wizard of Oz. Car 9 was dedicated to fine arts. It was an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures, the most famous being Archibald Willard's painting, The Spirit of '76. Car 10 honored major flashpoints in American history. This included an early draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, Franklin D.

Roosevelt's declaration of war against Japan, and Dr. Martin Luther King's Bible and vestments. From outside the train, visitors could see two other exhibition cars containing larger objects. Among them was a double-sized replica of the Liberty Bell, a 1904 Oldsmobile that won the first transcontinental automobile race and a 19th-century fire truck. By the end of February, the restoration of the steam engine was progressing apace, despite some hiccups along the way. But just when things were looking up, there was a major problem. Due to the large size and weight of the engine, it could not be used on the older tracks in the northeastern states.

Since the tour will begin in five weeks, the foundation agreed to use a diesel locomotive for this part of the country. But Ross Rowland was determined to find a lighter steam engine that could do the job. His search took him to a scrapyard in Baltimore, where he found the remains of two Reading T1 locomotives, numbers 2100 and 2101. Among them were enough parts to make one of these engines functional, so Rowland purchased them from immediate. While the Portland team had shown that, in theory, a major restoration could be accomplished in three months, Rowland's team in Baltimore would have to accomplish it in just 30 days.

The engine selected for the restoration was No. 2101, which was built for the Reading Railway in 1945. Throughout its career it handled everything from passenger service to heavy coal trains, offering impressive endurance for its size. The engine was retired in 1959 and ultimately sat in the brush rusting for over a decade. Despite the seemingly impossible deadline, volunteers rushed to restore the engine to its former glory. The roundabout was bustling with activity 24 hours a day, with up to 100 people working on the engine at any given time. With just a few weeks to go, the complete cars of the Freedom Train were assembled in Alexandria.

Half of the train contained equipment and facilities for the crew, while the other half contained the exhibits themselves. On March 28, time was finally up. The Freedom Train needed to get underway to prepare for its opening day. Just as a diesel began to pull the train out of the yard, Ross Rowland and his crew rounded the corner in a cloud of steam. Against all odds, they had achieved the 30-day miracle. The engine shined like new, with barely dry paint and a new number, number 1, which he would wear throughout the tour. Rowland himself had been absorbed in the restoration for the past month and was now seeing the completed train for the first time.

After years of hard work, his vision had finally come true. The American Freedom Train was ready to begin its incredible journey. On April 1, 1975, the American Freedom Train officially began its tour in Wilmington, Delaware. When the exhibit opened at 8:00 a.m., the line was already three miles long. 70,000 people would ride the train during its four-day stop here, giving hope to the idea that many Americans were still proud of their country. "I thought it was fantastic." "It's a great thing for the American people to be able to see all the diversity of all the cultures, not just of my people, but of all the different peoples." "I liked the talking mannequins, I thought it was really unusual." "Um, I liked baseball players." "Liberty Bell". "Sports." Departing Wilmington, the train spent the next month and a half traveling through upstate New York and parts of New England.

Tour stops here included Burlington, Vermont; Manchester, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts and Rochester, New York. Most towns along the route did not have large museums with these types of modern exhibits and famous artifacts. For most Americans, the Freedom Train was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these items together, especially so close to home. "I really love hearing people's comments when they get off the train." “It makes everything seem so valuable. There is something there for everyone, there really is.” "And you hear them talk about George Washington's copy of the Constitution, moon rocks, the Louisiana Purchase... the real one!" “Willard's painting of the spirit of '76.

The invention car is very popular. Bob Lainer's sneaker. "We have put together an unforgettable collection that people will never again have the opportunity to see in one place." Although the reception was very positive, the moving walkway has already received some complaints. Visitors waited hours to enter the train, only to tour the exhibits in about 15 minutes. They wanted to see things at their own pace, but the moving walkway was necessary if the project had any hope of breaking even. It was by far our biggest complaint of the 21 month tour. Without a doubt... without a doubt. And it is understandable.

And the criticism was valid. But... the alternative was not having a moving walkway and having no idea how many people you could fit on the train. Revenue was critical to making it work financially, so the mobile gateway was mandatory, not optional. The crew slowed the skywalk in response to feedback, extending the experience to about 22 minutes. However, these complaints would persist throughout the tour. The train proceeded to Ohio, with multiple stops here, including Cleveland and Columbus. After leaving the state, his next stop was Fort Wayne, Indiana. The train was originally planned to reach Indianapolis, but city officials could not reach an agreement on the cost, so this stop never happened.

Instead, the train headed to Detroit, Michigan, where it would be on display for the next two weeks. Meanwhile, back in Oregon, the restoration of the Daylight engine was finally completed. Since the first leg of the tour was run by the number 1 engine, the Portland team had more time to finish their work. Engine 4449 was now fully restored and smoking like new, with a special patriotic paint scheme. He was now ready to head to Chicago, where he would take over the Freedom Train at the end of summer. This solo trip would take almost two weeks in itself, as the engine would make numerous stops for crowds of excited fans.

Leaving Portland, the engine headed south, taking a long detour through northern California and finally arriving in Sacramento. From here it turned east, passing through Reno and Sparks, Nevada; Ogden, Utah; Denver, Colorado and Lincoln, Nebraska. The last stop was the General Motors EMD plant in La Grange, Illinois. This would be the locomotive's temporary home for the next month, while it waited for the Freedom Train to arrive in Chicago. While all this was happening, the foundation's president, Jon Foust, suddenly resigned without giving any public explanation.We had a president who turned out to be very unpopular with the vast majority of employees.

So there was a small rebellion to get rid of him. And finally everything came to the point where the sponsors agreed. And our board fired him and hired a new guy named Petr Spurney, who turned out to be a much better leader. Petr Spurney would prove to be an excellent choice. He had experience turning around financially distressed companies, including the recent Expo '74 in Spokane, Washington. This skill set would help the Freedom Train stay afloat financially throughout the tour. “Children, families, people. “That's what the Bicentennial is about.” "And I can't tell you how exciting it is to bring America's heritage to these people." “The train is a great success.

It was built thanks to donations and its operating costs are covered by ticket sales.” “We are just overwhelmed with the response.” After the long stop in Detroit, the Freedom Train made a few more stops in Michigan and Indiana before heading into central Illinois, finally arriving at its next major stop in Chicago. On August 4, Engine 4449 arrived in town to meet the Freedom Train, where the torch was passed in a special face-to-face ceremony. Engine number 1 was relieved of duty for the time being and soon took its place in the La Grange engine workshops. The two engines would meet again in the future, but for now the time had finally come for 4449 to gain national attention.

For the next few months, engineer Doyle McCormack would command the Freedom Train as it toured the western United States. Accompanying him on the trip was his wife, Laurie, who was having her first experience seeing the country outside of her home state of Ohio. Joining them was Doyle's 73-year-old father, Roy, also known as “Pop,” a retired railroad man who would be the oldest member of the team. "One of the most exciting experiences of the entire adventure is being on the locomotive as it travels across the country and seeing the thousands and thousands of people flocking to the tracks in small towns and big cities around the world." "Some places we went by, there are thousands of people there, as you can see the school buses lined up for a mile down the road, and all the kids lined up along the side of the road." "Some of them will probably never see the inside, but they still felt the experience of the train as it passed by them." Leaving Chicago, the train made a few more stops in northern Illinois before heading to Wisconsin.

Milwaukee was the second city to decline due to cost, so the next stop was Green Bay. From here, the train spent the next month crisscrossing the Midwest, with stops in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota and West Des Moines, Iowa. Approaching Omaha, Nebraska, he was scheduled to pick up some local officials and members of the press. To their surprise, the train continued past them, as no one had informed Engineer McCormack about the additional stop. This error was quickly corrected, but several months later it would become the humorous setting for an Archie comic strip.

During the tour stop in Omaha, it was discovered that the engine had a mechanical problem, so it had to be shelved here until it is fixed. Meanwhile, the Freedom Train would be powered by two Burlington Northern diesel engines, numbers 1776 and 1876, which were adorned in their own Bicentennial paint schemes. The tour continued as planned to the next state of Colorado. Denver had also passed up the opportunity, so the train was put on display in Colorado Springs. While public reception remained mostly positive, the final stops of the tour saw small groups of people boycotting the Freedom Train. These groups were part of the Popular Commission of the Bicentennial, a grassroots movement protesting the

bicentennial

as a whole.

They felt the government was over-commercializing the entire event and accused the Freedom Train of being a corporate cash grab. And we had enemies. There were different fringe groups there that were against the Freedom Train, because they were against the war and they felt that the Freedom Train was promoting war, which it wasn't. And they felt like it was a corporate exit, but it wasn't. So we had our share of enemies, you know? That you will always have. I mean, that's part of the free society. That's part of freedom. Leaving Colorado, the tour continued north to Cheyenne, Wyoming and Billings, Montana.

Meanwhile, back in Omaha, daytime engine repairs were completed. By coincidence, Union Pacific 8444 was also receiving service here and was preparing to return to its base in Cheyenne. As a result, the two engines were sent west together, double-course on a 500-mile excursion from Omaha to Cheyenne. After this, the Daylight continued further west on its own, eventually reaching and resuming travel at Salt Lake City, Utah. From here it was a long walk north, with stops in Boise, Idaho and Spokane, Washington, before finally crossing into Seattle. During this stop, the tour was greeted by another steam engine, the Canadian Royal Hudson #2860.

This spearheaded a special excursion of its own, which attracted more than 700 visitors from British Columbia to see the Freedom Train. After Seattle, the tour continued through Washington and reached Portland, Oregon. “And the engine, of course, is old 4449, on loan from the city of Portland for a 20-month trip across the United States as part of the Bicentennial celebration.” “There are 25 cars on the Freedom Train. “Ten are show cars, each with a different theme.” "There are two display cars featuring early modes of transportation, the lunar rover, and a massive Liberty Bell." “As it crisscrosses America, with its display of heritage and history, the train is an impressive sight.” From here, the train made two more stops in Oregon before heading south toward California.

After detouring to Reno & Sparks, Nevada, it made several stops throughout Northern California and was finally displayed in San Francisco. Shortly thereafter, it left the Bay Area, crossed the Central Valley, and finally reached Southern California. Los Angeles was another city that rejected the Freedom Train, so the next stop would be a little east in Pomona. Here the tour would spend Christmas week at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. On December 31, the train moved to Santa Barbara to prepare for its next display stop. 1975 had finally come to an end and the crew reflected on their progress. They had traveled more than 11,000 miles, visiting more than 50 cities in the span of nine months.

And yet, there was still another full year of travel ahead of us. With the dawn of the new year, 1976, the United States Bicentennial slowly approached. But at this point in the tour, with another 12 months to go, the team was feeling very exhausted. They worked seven days a week to put on this show for tens of thousands of people. And every few days they had to pack up and move to a new city to do it all over again. It took approximately 85 people to move the train across the country. The vast majority of them were very young people, either out of college or still in college.

And it was a hard duty. You were required to live out of a suitcase. Almost all staff were placed in motels. They didn't live on the train. And it was demanding because of the sold-out crowd. So it wasn't an easy gig. Given the demands of the job, employee turnover was quite high. New faces often joined in one city and then stayed somewhere else down the road. Despite the challenges, the crew found ways to keep their spirits high. Doyle and Laurie McCormack had brought their Saint Bernard, Samantha. And at some point, the crew adopted a tabby kitten named Daylight.

Other crew members found different forms of company instead. For example, public relations coordinator Michelle Watson hit it off with Army Maj. Don McCormick in security, and now they were getting married. Speaking about life on the road, she said: “There are quite a few onboard romances that happen. Well, there are many that last one or two days anyway.” "There are 140 people, most of them young, single and... well, you know." "Anything else I said about it would be cheap gossip." As the Freedom Train traveled through Southern California, engine number 1 left storage in La Grange, Illinois. He was scheduled to undergo an overhaul at the Southern Railroad steam shops in Birmingham, Alabama, and soon made a long solo journey south.

The locomotive would remain in Birmingham for the next few months, with the plan to take over the Freedom Train once it arrives here in the spring. Back in California, the Freedom Train ran into a problem as it prepared to leave Santa Barbara. The two display cars had somehow been switched in opposite order. This generally did not matter, but a local railway official refused to let the train leave until they returned. As crew member Stephen Bush later recalled: “This would be a shifting nightmare, a real hassle and would delay departure. But he didn't care." “Then someone on the team found a ladder and a can of paint, and that night, car number 40 became number 41, and number 41 was reborn as number 40.” "That was enough to satisfy the local official, and the two cars remained in that order throughout the tour." Once the problem was resolved, the Freedom Train continued its journey through Southern California, with stops in Anaheim and San Diego.

From here he left the west coast and headed east toward Arizona. During the tour stop in Tempe, visitors were treated to a benefit concert by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. In fact, Johnny Cash had been involved in the Freedom Train project from the beginning and had helped film a commercial to generate excitement across the country. “Hello, I'm Johnny Cash. You know, we, the people, have something to be happy about.” "America's 200th birthday, the Bicentennial." "To help celebrate, the American Freedom Train is coming your way, pulled by a giant steam locomotive." At the next stop in Tucson, the train intersected with another important project, the Bicentennial Train Pilgrimage.

Hundreds of people across the country were tracing historic pioneer routes in covered wagons, with the plan to converge in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on the Fourth of July. While the Freedom Train was the largest Bicentennial event in the country, the Wagon Train Pilgrimage was a notable achievement in its own right. Leaving Arizona, the train proceeded toward Albuquerque, New Mexico and Odessa and Midland, Texas. Meanwhile, a local group in Texas had been restoring their own steam engine: Texas & Pacific #610. Arrangements were made for this locomotive to haul the Freedom Train through Texas. He was supposed to take over during the Odessa/Midland stop, but due to some delays, he didn't make the tour until Austin.

From here, number 610 left the Freedom Train for the next two and a half weeks, going down to Houston and then up to Fort Worth and Dallas. After this, the Daylight resumed its duties and the tour continued north. Over the next few weeks, the train visited numerous cities, including Oklahoma City, Wichita, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri and North Little Rock, Arkansas. As it descended through the southern states, stops included Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana and Atlanta, Georgia. When the train arrived in Birmingham it was finally reunited with engine number 1. Once again, engines were changed and now 4449 took an extended break for maintenance.

With No. 1 again in the lead, the train hit several more towns on its way back to the northeast. Stops here included Chattanooga, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; South Charleston, West Virginia and Cumberland, Maryland. When July finally arrived, the train arrived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it would spend the next few days for the Bicentennial on July 4. This special stop had originally been planned for Philadelphia, but the city had apparently passed up the opportunity. The festivities in Harrisburg may have been on a smaller scale, but the local crowds were incredibly supportive nonetheless. “Hey, hey, this is fantastic. “I think it is one of the best things that could happen for the Bicentennial.” "Oh, we liked it, very good." "The kids were really interested, they found a lot of things that they really enjoyed." "It really reminds us of what we have... and how valuable it should be to us." Amid parades and fireworks, the Freedom Train celebrated an important milestone in its journey.

But there were almost six more months of celebration before that trip came to an end. Although there was still half a year to go, the end of the tour was beginning to feel within reach. The crew was still exhausted, but they began to reflect onhis journey, knowing that it would soon come to an end. As security guard Robin Meehan said: "When it's over, we'll start to realize what a great opportunity it was." "We've seen across America an opportunity that most people don't take advantage of in their entire lives." After departing Harrisburg, the train spent the next few weeks visiting several more cities, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Morristown, New Jersey.

Since space was tight in the boroughs of New York City, the only place that could accommodate the train was Elmont on Long Island. After spending about a week here, the tour continued north, with stops in Providence, Rhode Island, and Meriden, Connecticut. Over the next month, the tour made its way south, with stops in Newark, New Jersey; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland and Washington DC. Meanwhile, in Birmingham, maintenance on the Daylight engine had been completed and it was now ready to lead the tour once again. After making a brief excursion to Atlanta, the locomotive went on a public excursion for the Southern Railroad, traveling for two days up the East Coast to Alexandria.

Once it arrived in DC, the engines were changed for the third and final time. #1 was officially relieved of his duties, while 4449 would handle the remaining leg of the tour. The Freedom Train spent the next few weeks making its way up the East Coast. Stops here included Richmond, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. Finally he arrived in Florida, the last state of the tour. The train visited several cities in the state, including Jacksonville, Orlando and St. Petersburg, before arriving at its final destination, Miami. "I liked it all. I think it is very well crafted.” "And what amazes me is how they collected so many different things for it." "I think it's great for the family to see something like this." “It shows them what our heritage is and helps us be more grateful for the things we have today.” "I think it's one of the best things to come to our city." Emotions were high among the crew, as they felt a mix of relief and sadness as they prepared to go their separate ways.

While they had spent almost two years bringing a positive message to America, America had also shown them something. As public relations assistant Gloria Bonneville said: “The biggest thing I have seen, and the biggest surprise during the entire trip, has been the enthusiasm of the people who have come to see the train.” “They really believe in what this country is about. It’s really a nice feeling.” "It's good to see that people haven't forgotten." Even Pop McCormack had grown from the experience, saying, “I had begun to have a pessimistic view of this country.” "After traveling all over the country by train and meeting thousands and thousands of nice people, this has changed my perspective to the optimistic side, very strongly." On December 31, 1976, the last nearly 7 million Americans viewed the train displays.

After traveling 41,000 kilometers, the biggest event of the Bicentennial had finally reached the end of the journey. When everyone separated the next morning, there were now several loose ends to tie up. Within a few days, the train cars were transported back to Alexandria to unload the historical artifacts. Despite being on the road for almost two years, the artifacts were returned to their owners in perfect condition. As for the show cars, the foundation planned to sell them to pay off the remaining debts from the tour. In July, the National Museums of Canada agreed to take possession of the cars for a new project called the Discovery Train.

This would be a traveling display of history and culture that would visit cities across Canada. The Discovery Train tour ran from 1978 to 1980 and was a national hit in its own right. Shortly after the completion of the Freedom Train, locomotive #2101 found a new contract with Chessie System. The company was planning a series of excursions to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its predecessor, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 2101 was soon painted in Chessie System colors and spent a good portion of 1977 touring the Northeast and Midwest. The Chessie Steam Special was so successful that the engine had to be recalled for a second touring season in 1978.

The following winter, the engine was stored at Stevens Yard Roundhouse in Silver Grove, Kentucky. Unfortunately, a large fire soon burned the rotunda to the ground and #2101 was never operational again. It was cosmetically restored to its Freedom Train appearance and was donated to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, where it remains to this day. After ending up in Miami, Doyle McCormack now had to return the Daylight engine to its owner, the city of Portland. To help pay for the trip home, the locomotive went on two public excursions for Amtrak, covering approximately 4,500 miles on its journey from Florida to Oregon.

After this point, the future of the engine was unclear. Local enthusiasts wanted to create a new museum to display it, but the engine would ultimately remain in storage for the next four years. Fortunately, starting in 1981, the locomotive began making excursions and special appearances around the country. His celebrity status increased in 1986, when he traveled to Hollywood to star in the action comedy film Tough Guys. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the locomotive went on a commemorative excursion through Oregon, reprising its appearance on the Freedom Train for the first time in more than 20 years. In 2012, the engine was finally given a proper home at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.

The museum houses a small but impressive collection of locomotives and equipment. 4449 is, of course, the crown jewel of the collection, and Doyle McCormack remains one of its primary caretakers. While opportunities to run the engine have diminished in recent years, it remains in operational condition to this day. In the years since the Freedom Train's journey, many of the crew members have made it a priority to stay in touch. Every two years since the completion of the train in 1976, the crew has met every two years in one of the 138 cities in which we have been present. To me, it's a telling fact that at the average reunion, between 40 and 75 crew members still show up 40 years later.

Ross Rowland himself remains a respected member of the railway community. Over the years, he has channeled his ambitions into many other ventures, although none have been as successful as the Bicentennial project. He now looks ahead to America's 250th birthday in 2026 and hopes to revive the Freedom Train for a new generation. It will basically be a clone, very much a clone, or a sequel, of the Bicentennial Train with some improvements from the many lessons we learned doing it. In the current climate, because our country is so isolated, so divided, on so many issues, that... if we are given the opportunity to go out and celebrate all the great things that we have been able to accomplish in our 250 years, despite Despite our differences, I believe the overwhelming majority of our 330 million people will consider this a welcome change.

Rowland hopes to gain support from Washington and corporate sponsors to get the project off the ground. It remains to be seen if he can pull it off, but he is in the rare position of saying that he has done it once before. Even if the Freedom Train never travels again, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who experienced it. He managed to unite Americans at the most unlikely of times and in a totally unique way. And in the process, he told the classic story of America itself: that of ordinary people coming together to achieve extraordinary things.