Valley Girl Views: The 1975/6 American Freedom Train

The American Freedom Train In Williamsport, July 14-15 1976

Three years before the Nations' Bicentennial, Ross Rowland Jr, a business man and locomotive engineer, began planning a repeat of the 1947 Freedom Train excursion.

Between April 1 1975, and December 31 1976, three different steam locomotives led 26 cars, including the 10 display cars, across the 48 continental United States. Named The American Freedom Train, it made stops in 138 cities - including Williamsport Pa.

Williamsport was the Trains 97th Stop

"Williamsport - Between 35,000 and 36,000 persons visited the American Freedom Train here Wednesday and Thursday.

The first man on the train at Williamsport was Robert Sam of Williamsport, who lined up at 6:15 am. The display opened at 8am.

About 17,000 persons saw the train Thursday while 18,141 persons tours the train Wednesday.

At midday, an official welcoming ceremony was held. A number of local officials participated, the city police color guard advanced the colors, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the large crowd.

The Train was open for viewing from 8am to 10 pm each day, along Little League BLVD in downtown Williamsport.

Little league boulevard was closed to vehicular traffic between Hepburn and Walnut Streets, to create a pedestrian area for the public during the trains visit.

The American Freedom Train was the first steam engine to come through Williamsport in more than a decade.

The round house was long gone by 1976, but here's a photo of what it would have looked like years ago, along this stretch of Little League blvd.

Visitors stood in line for an average wait of 1.5 hours but some waited as long as three hours." - The Daily Item

"I thank God I had the courage to endure" - Milton Wildermuth of Northumberland, thought the wait was worthwhile.

"Freedom Train backing into Williamsport under the 220 bridge at Antlers Lane in July 1976"

The stop in Williamsport was the only stop the train made in North Central Pennsylvania.

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Exhibits
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"Drawn by a steam locomotive, the 25-car train is carrying a large number of historic documents, priceless objects, and memorabilia that have never before been displayed together. "

The aisles of the cars were only 27 inches wide, so if a person stopped to browse, it would block the way for others and lead to longer wait times. The moving walkway was designed to move the people past the exhibits at a pace slower than walking, yet eliminated tie ups.

The "Talking Heads" of the mannequins on the Origins car were mare by filming close ups of actors and actresses delivering their dialogue. The film was then projects onto the faces, giving the illusion of moving lips and changing facial expressions.

Each exhibit car was equipped with environmental controls to maintain humidity at proper levels.

"The Freedom Train Bicentennial Exhibit consists of 10 daringly designed exhibit cars and two spectacular show case cars"

"Among the array of items recalling the historic moments of the American Revolutionary War is a well designed replica of the Old North Church lantern. The lantern placed in the belfry of the church was signal that the British were coming."

One of the highlights in Car No. 1 devoted to "The Beginning" was an oil on canvas portrait of George Washington done by Rembrandt Peale.

The external windows lit up at night, and could be viewed by those watching the train go by.

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THE ENGINES

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Three different Steam Engines were used on the 975/6 American Freedom Train Tour.

1. A Reading #2101 was pulled from the scrap line and restored in just 30 days time. "Built by Baldwin in 1923, the locomotive was converted to a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement at Reading’s shops in 1945". This engine pulled the cars through the eastern portion of the United States, including the stop at Williamsport. This engine has been repainted to the AFT1 paint scheme and is on display at The Baltimore and Ohi0 Railroad Museum in Baltimore MD.

2. Texas & Pacific #610 was a "2-10-4 Texas Type Locomotive built by Lina in 1925". This engine was selected to pull the train through Texas - only through Texas. After the tour, this engine continued to be used in Excursion service.

3. A Southern Pacific, #4449, was pulled from a Portland City Park and restored into operating condition, to be used through the western half of the United States. This engine was also then used in excursions, after the tour.

In 1977, The National Museums of Canada purchased 15 of the cars from the American Freedom Train, repurposing them as the "Discovery Train" that toured Canada for three years between 1978 and 1980.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Southern Pacific #4449 was once again repainted in the Red, White, and Blue American Freedom Train Design.

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