FREEDOM TRAIN 1975

[BrittJonzify]

Seen the train when i was 9 and got to go on it. I still remember the wizard of oz dress that dorothy wore and the chair that Abraham Lincoln was sitting in at the theater. My mom died the year of 1976 so it was a sd time. The train was neat because we got to see it go right by our school and got to go out and wave at it in North Sioux City, SD.

[919hornet4me]

I remember the Freedom Train in Greenbay WI. I was only 4 years old back in 1975 but remember it well. Thanks for the old video

[boinnng]

I remember back in the 70s, during the bicentennial year (1976) or possibly earlier (as your video dates it, 1975), "The Freedom Train" came to town. That year it went from town to town with a walk through museum of sorts with stuff from our nation's history. The ONLY thing I remember seeing in it was Dorothy's dress from "The Wizard of Oz". I wonder where that particular dress went after that onboard train display ended...or for that matter ALL of the displays and the train itself.

[BernHaggerty]

I was nine, and my class--probably 5th grade--rode the bus to see the Freedom Train in Sioux City. It was interesting, but more memorable was a day or so later when the train broke down in our town, Mapleton, Iowa, on its way to Des Moines. It blocked traffic on the highway, and we rode our bikes around checking it out.

[sf5700]

@Chase1609

The American Freedom Train was a 26 car train. 1 crew car, 1 baggage, 3 flats, 1 enter car/1 exit car, 10 display cars, 2 showcase cars, 2 power cars, 1 sleeper, 1 'pie' car, 2 coaches, and 1 observation, or 'Press' car.

[fredsbook]

I saw this train in Norfolk VA. I still have my souvenir coin from the trains souvenir car.

I don't remember what was in the cars for us to look at. It was over 30 years ago.

Great footage. I love the sound of that horn.

[myway43]

I reemmber this so weell. Folks came from miles around just to see it. Our Scout troop went. Now you can't get folks to come together for anything.

[airRail76]

Very nice! I love trains and Super-9 Film! Thank you!

[starfish50]

It was quite something for me, to actually stand in my own front yard and see the freedom train go by just as close as these folks are. SO FANTASTIC. to see roll by.

[cchan006]

Historic footage like this is the reason for YouTube! Great stuff.

[CNVRSKDAJW]

@cchan006 ...I absolutely agree...*The Freedom Train* was a tremendous deal to Springfield, IL (and my Childhood) when it rolled into town...this brought back wonderful Memories!

[lambj]

I think that's the first time I've seen the cars of the train. What were the portraits on the cars, Presidents? I was 6 and didn't get to see it in Los Angeles.

[rwundrock]

I actually never saw the cars closer than this footage, but only saw them through my viewfinder! BTW - that's my wife holding my then 2-1/2 year-old son at the end of the film.

[sf5700]

@lambj

The pictures on the side of the cars were different Presidents and events through-out the history of America. The cars each had a different theme from a different time in history, and the pictures on the cars were in relation to that with dates on the bottom of the pictures. One side was also more of a picture box, with different things in them also.

[8laneblacktop]

This is great - saw this at Ft. Lewis.

I'll never forgot those big sneakers.

I still have my ticket stub, I think.

[rwundrock]

That answer I do not know.

[67Tempest1]

I was 10 years old in '76 and a railfan. One afternoon I heard a whistle and knew it was the Freedom Train. Even though my bicycle had a flat rear tire I rode it the 6 blocks to 42nd and Hiawatha Aves in S Minneapolis and watched those towering drivers roll past me from a few feet away. I can not forget that! I toured the Train when displayed at Minnehaha Falls Park. Still have the tour book! 4449 is a Beaut!

[DYP1420]

nice!!

[zathras9now]

Nice film, but that was not the music we were listening to in1975!

[rwundrock]

The music was inserted because of its title: "Take the 'A' Train."

[zathras9now]

That's cool! Everybody chooses differently, but that's OK. Keep the great vids coming!

[gyjg6564167]

4449 will also becoming back through Wisconsin again this year! I can't wait!

[mathuetax]

I saw the AFT a mere few days later in Minneapolis on Aug 29th. Does anyone know if there is a route map of which roads she ran along during her whole tour?

[dplanefilms]

Thank you for posting this footage. I saw the AFT at its second to last stop in West Palm Beach

[PennsyPostwar671]

Thanks for posting this. My grandparents saw and filmed 4449 when she came to Columbus, but unfortunately my grandfather did not no how to work a camera, and all he filmed was the cement in front of the rails, so I've never gotten to see it in action.

[Manongjojo]

I saw this in my 7th grade school field trip in 1976. It was at Texas State Fair Park. The Cars was a rolling exibit. The floor was a movong convayor belt. I also remember Johnny Cash and the Kendals was spokes persons for the Freedom Train.

[KENDAWGZEROZERO]

cool old video.have pictures of me and my sister standing next to drive wheels while at angel stadium in 1976.nice to see video of it moving.

[trainboy94]

You what would be cool, if in 2026, our country's 250th birthday is if they take 610 out on loan and paint it in Freedom Train colors, they take 2101 out from the B&O museum and they repaint the 4449 to AFT colors,and since 610 and 2101 cant be restored,I think they could be dead in tow behind the 4449, and it would be pulling Amtrak Phase 2 cars, NOW THAT WOULD BE A SELLOUT EXCURSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WildGuy00000]

love the idea, but... lets cosmetically restore 2101, RESTORE 2102 (number it 2, rather than 1), and have N&W 611 fill in for 610

[DJGENEX71]

I saw this back in 1976 with my dad! I always wanted the HO scale model of it! Brings back some good memories! Thanks for sharing! 5*****

[CoastStarlight11]

No way!!!! This is amazingly hard core to the bone!!!! 5 stars!!!! Extreamly historical footage, something that should star in a Pentrex movie! I think a few years ago Halmark made a Freedom Train christmas orniment.

[steveott1969]

i remember that rolling into greenbay when i was a kid we watched it. very cool.

[placekicker]

Thanks for you awesome video! As a young boy, I had a chance to take a "ride" on the AFT as it sat for a couple days in Ogden, Utah. I still have the commemorative program from the AFT's visit and my only regret is that I wasn't older at the time to really appreciate the exhibits on board.

[fuzzbear6240]

Rwundrock, Thank you. This brings back some wonderful memories of the Freedom Train's Boston visit. Regards, J.

[MotoRooter]

Thank you for the memories and great film footage. My late father took our family to see the American Freedom Train over 31 years ago. I was totally in awe of that beautiful looking train!

[AZZ124567]

what kind of film cameras portable of course allowed someone to record pictures as well as real sound 32 years ago anyway? Andy Bowe

[rwundrock]

There were consumer 8mm and Super 8mm film sound cameras back in the 1960's. Sound was recorded on a magnetic strip along the edge of the film. The strip was of the same material used on cassette tape.

[boeingLL747]

did they scrap #4446?

[lostchord359]

Perfect with the music. Would've been nice to hear a little whistle though, but still nice.

[rwundrock]

Look up other more recent videos on YouTube of the 4449 to hear its whistle.

[neomrdo]

Sound, I need sound. Could you post with sound? I love it when people get freaked out and sorta run away from the tracks!

[rwundrock]

Sorry, this was filmed on super 8mm film 32 years ago. Typically that format had no sound recording capabiliies.

[janavk]

i saw the FT in San Jose back then. 4th grade field trip !!

[EvilFartHead69]

LUCKY!!!

[trainboy94]

I wish I would Have seen that but I'm 13 so I really can't see it if I had A time machine but I'll just get the model.

[rwundrock]

I started shooting photos of trains when I was 13. Get a camera and start shooting. By the time you're my age (57) you can share those photos with younger people.

[bluecloudvideo]

Beautiful transfer :)

[rwundrock]

That's my wife and (now 33 year-old) son at the end.

[gyjg6564167]

you are so lucky to see that!

[4449steam]

Awesome! Great Video!