Bicentennial on Tour: The American Freedom Train

The social and political challenges of the 1970s set an awkward stage for America’s 200th birthday. With no national events being planned for this major milestone, a dedicated group of people set out to create a traveling showcase of American historical artifacts. This documentary explores the story of the American Freedom Train, the nation’s largest Bicentennial event that brought together millions of Americans at a time when they needed it most.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
2:09 - Chapter I: A Postwar Predecessor
8:53 - Chapter II: A Handshake With the Duke
17:24 - Chapter III: A Race Against the Clock
25:11 - Chapter IV: The Journey Begins
31:36 - Chapter V: Daylight in the West
37:21 - Chapter VI: Keep On Keepin’ On
44:09 - Chapter VII: End of the Line
47:51 - Epilogue
53:22 - Credits

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[pi-sxmb]

In 2017 I was riding the Lake Shore Limited from Boston to Chicago and ended up sitting in the dining car across from a super nice guy who was telling me all about this fascinating train tour he'd done with a steam locomotive. It was Ross Rowland! What a unique special person he is.

[TheUnluckyTug_official]

No. 1 steaming in right as the train was about to leave is something straight out of a movie!

Fantastic documentary. Learned so much from this! What a sight it must've been to see 4449 and 844 double heading. If only we could go back in time...

[OutaTimeFPV]

14:50 This was due to the efforts of a man by the name of Jack Holst. He would go to the park and oil the journals on the locomotive as it sat. Sadly, he would pass before they got the 4449 operational again, but he left behind an incredible legacy.

[chesapeakedproductions]

It's always a good day when Peter Dibble uploads a documentary on his channel, and I've been looking forward to this one. The American Freedom Train, while covered in the past by others, is still a greatly undertold story. Kudos to you for deeply researching this historic event in American history.

[Arbiter]

I'd love to see another run in 2026. What a nice, wholesome, and inspirational project and video. Thanks!

[CrossOfBayonne]

The High Iron Company led by Ross Rowland somewhat is one of my preservation heroes, The fact that he restored a locomotive within 30 days and also create the traveling museum was a miracle.

[bmwpetes]

My class was able to tour The Freedom Train in Wichita in 1976. I recall it was amazing and our country could sure use something like this to bring us back together again.

[danieltorgerson]

A bit of trivia. The entire month we traveled through the State of Texas, the Lone Star Brewery provided unlimited free beer, and every city we set up for display welcomed us with a big BBQ. Setting up at the Lone Star brewery in San Antonio was like the "Greatest show on Earth". I was only 17 years old and was hired by Frank Kora to run the Hot Dog Concession from Yuma to Kansas City. Hot dogs were 60 cents in those days. This was a great adventure for a kid prompting me to join the U.S. Navy and travel the world. This is a great documentary, thank you.

[trezjr]

What a treat to find this treasure on the 4th of July!

[andrewkessinger]

Excellent as ever, Peter. I think a Freedom Trin would be just the thing for 2026. With 4449 at the head and even 4014 where it can be used as a backup.

[zsoren]

I love how 4449 became Doyle's baby after this. I loved growing up with him and his engine. Same with Steve Lee and 844

[g_e_o_m]

The best part of this video is learning that the 250th will not pass without a freedom train, if there is one thing that the US will need it's that.

Best of luck to all involved.

[kickthesky]

I was seven years old when I saw the Freedom Train with my parents in Madison, WI. My dad especially loved it because he was also a huge rail fan. A few months ago he passed away and in going through pictures the Freedom Train pictures came up and a flood of memories opened up. Also in the picture album was one of our ticket stubs from the exhibit. Thanks for this great video showcasing this. Always wondered why we went to Madison to go see it and why it never came to Milwaukee. Now I know!

[RedViperACe]

Ross is very close to making this happen again for our 250 anniversary in 2026. We could use something like this, especially nowadays, more than we ever did then.

[thesudriana]

I've seen the American Freedom Train many times on my I Love Toy Trains #12 VHS, but seeing this full documentary gave me a new experience and has so many things I learned from that I never knew about. A few parts of it remind me a bit of Flying Scotsman's USA Tour which feels like a British version of said-train a few years later.

Out of all the engines that pulled the Freedom Train, I think Daylight stood out among the rest as it really is glamorous in its patriotic paintwork.

[MetDaan]

I am not from the US and I have never heard of this before, but what an amazing story! Incredibly told and put together. Such a cool idea as well to have a museum train touring the country with some of its most precious items aboard. 🚂🗽

[marcellocolona]

Saw the Freedom Train and went through it when it came through New Jersey. I was out of the Marine Corps about 3 years and in my second year at Georgetown.

[raven]

I still, to this day, have my ticket stub from when it came to our town. Unfortunately we never got to see the steam engine, as it had broken down along the way and had been transported to the yards for service. The Freedom Train rolled into our town pulled by a plain freight engine. I was 9 years old at the time and had broken my left ankle (hairline fracture) and had to visit it on crutches. There was no handicapped accessibility to speak of, so, much to my surprise, a U.S. Marine, in full dress uniform, picked me up and stuck me on the train :) I still have the picture of me standing beside him on my crutches just before he picked me up. :)

[someslavaboo]

Peter Dibble delivering us another absolutely fire documentary, and as a fan of the AFT it was really cool to get an in-depth look into what was one of the most memorable moments in American railroading history.

[roberthoffhines]

I was 11 when the 2101 brought the train to Columbus Ohio. The displays were cool, especially the moon rover and moon rock. And Dorothy's ruby slippers! On the departure, 2101 pulled her out of Columbus about 5:30 AM going west on the Panhandle. Laying in bed from about 1.5 miles away, I heard the whistle wailing continually in farewell to us all as the chuff rate increased and she picked up momentum. I Never heard anything like that! I remember I got chills, then overwhelmed, I teared up. 48 years later and it just got dusty in here...