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I saw a train with the presidents colors on the point locomotive. It was painted like Air Force 1, President written on the side. And George Bush written on the side. well?
Posts: 562 | From: Beaumont Texas | Registered: Jul 2005
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It's a specially painted Union Pacific locomotive. See this link: UP Loco
-------------------- Matt Visit gallery for photos of our train layouts Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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Presidential movements are referred to as POTUS trains, with the First Lady being referred to as FLOTUS. Right now, there are no special train cars set aside for Presidential use. During the past twenty years, Presidential trains have used cars from museums, such as the former POTUS car Ferdinand Magellan, now the property of a museum in Florida, and cars from the business fleets of the freight railroads.
There is a book you might be interested in, titled "The President travels by Train: Politics and Pullmans," by Bob Withers (TLC Publishing, Lynchburg, VA, 1996). That will have information in which you might be interested.
-------------------- "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's life." Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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I was actually just thinking about this the other day...
During Chris Guenzler's million mile slide show i recall a modern railcar apparently belonging to the President of the United States.
Can anyone confirm this? This is the first time I have seen this UP loco.
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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Anton, President Bush has no connection with that Private railcar even if it is painted in a livery similar to that of the B-747 that is usually designated Air Force One.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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The last Presidential train I saw was back in 1974 in Lansing, MI, when then-President Ford made a "whistle-stop" campaign tour around the country. But the cars on that train were mostly Amfleet (which were brand new then) -- I'll have to check my old slides, but the rear car had an observation platform where the President and First Lady came out to address the crowd, but I don't recall whether that was also Amfleet, or possibly one of the "POTUS" cars.
BTW, eventually (after my home computer comes out of the shop), I'll be adding some "Railroad Rich archive photos" of old trains from the 70's and 80's (including the presidential train) to my web site.
OK, so that was cheap and tacky way to plug my still under construction web site!!!!!! Please forgive me!......
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: The last Presidential train I saw was back in 1974 in Lansing, MI, when then-President Ford made a "whistle-stop" campaign tour around the country. But the cars on that train were mostly Amfleet (which were brand new then) --
Likely you mean 1976 vice 1974, Mr. Rich.
President Ford ran unsuccessfully for election during 1976; first Amfleet revenue service was during October 1975.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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After some research on another forum I was able to locate this thread which contains a bit of info on the car which has been nick-named "Rail Force One".
I would guess by now the Presidential livery has been replaced with FEC's rather generic Blue.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: Gilbert - I stand corrected -- yes indeed the "Presidential train" I saw in Lansing was in 1976, not 1974.
--Railroad Rich
I have a colleague who was a graduate student at Michigan State at that time. Being a history buff, he went down to the station and got pictures prominently showing President Ford on the rear platform. In the picture that hangs on my colleague's wall, the rear car is clearly an older business car from the era of what was not yet called 'Heritage Fleet'. The business car was painted platinum mist with the phase I Amtrak red and blue stripes.
Admittedly this photograph interested me for the business car in Amtrak livery rather than for the President of the United States.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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During the "Pioneer Days" era, which included when Gerry Ford was in office, Amtrak had an edict in place that any private car, including railroad owned business cars, WOULD be painted in Amtrak livery in order to be handled on Amtrak trains. This was even when Amtrak's own fleet still resembled a 'circus train'.
Obviously, they have since recanted from that position.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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