Nostalgia & History > 5 AmericanFreedom Train in California Photos -- Roger Patelski

Did you know there were two Freedom Trains?  This one and one in 1947 - 1949.  Wikipedia will tell you all about them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Train

EDIT >>  Topfuel commented below, "That is not the Freedom Train, but rather Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion behind the 4449. This train was used to ferry the locomotive back to Portland after the Freedom Train tour ended. Amtrak did a great job marketing this train, offering one-day daytime-only segments for people to ride."

1. Freedom Train at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal (LAUPT) on April 26, 1977.

2. Freedom Train leaving LAUPT on April 26, 1977.

3. Freedom Train at Oakland, CA on April 29, 1977.

4 and 5. Freedom Train at Davis, CA on April 29, 1977.


Enjoy.
Marty Bernard


 



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/19 17:32 by MartyBernard.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/19 15:05 by MartyBernard.

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That is not the Freedom Train, but rather Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion behind the 4449.  This train was used to ferry the locomotive back to Portland after the Freedom Train tour ended.  Amtrak did a great job marketing this train, offering one-day daytime-only segments for people to ride.

Also, photo #4 sure looks like the northbound (or westbound on the SP) train at Glendale, CA.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/19 15:16 by Topfuel.

How can that dwarf signal in pic 3
be that close to the rail? Does it
govern the track 4449 is on?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/19 15:27 by timz.

timz Wrote:
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> How can that dwarf signal in pic 3
> be that close to the rail?
I think the despressed walkway make it look closer than it is.

Have copies of the official Amtrak fares notice covering costs between all stations.  send apprivate msg,  $3.00 postpaid.

He is right- not really the AFT. The last official day of the American Freedom Train was Dec 31, 1976. After that day it vanished- not unlike Brigadoon.
SR

SP had those dwarf signals all over the place.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

That orange Step-Box that the crewman is sitting on looks like the one or a likeness that Benjamin Biagianni had for his business car.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

I work with our volunteers and staff, not always successfully,  here at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center to distinquish between the Freedom Train and the American Freedom Train....two very different trains pulled by two very different locos.    Arlen

Pic 5 is Davis Ca. Pic 4 is not Davis. Could be Glendale not sure.

Yes, it's hard not to recognize the Davis mission style depot.   As for the date, 1977 would be a big clue it's not the AFT, because it toured on the 200th birthday of the US, 1776-1976.

Sadly I didn't photograph trains back in the 1970's but I did go to see the Freedom Train in 1976 when it was in Sacratomato for display.  I remember the funky talking heads in the cars.

Cheers, Jim

Pic-4 is definitly GLENDALE, CA. 

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Image 3 at Oakland with the "dwarf" type signal. That "dwarf" is really the Oakland Mechanical Facility "Blue Light". A blue light indicated MEN AT WORK do not enter/do not leave while a yellow light meant OK to enter/depart track.

JimBaker Wrote:
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> That orange Step-Box that the crewman is sitting
> on looks like the one or a likeness that Benjamin
> Biagianni had for his business car.

That appears to be Mike Manginnie(sp) sitting on that step-box.