This April 1 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Freedom Train starting its cross country journey. On the heels of the Yellow Ribbon Express, I am putting this out there for discussion.
The American Freedon Train (AFT) came to my home town of Des Moines, Iowa in Sept 1975. I was seven years old. The 4449 was the first main line steam engine I had seen in person. Earlier in July that same year, I had my first passenger train ride on the D&RGW Silverton. While I thought the Rio Grande 473 was a large engine, I was amazed at the size of 4449. From that point on I was hooked on steam.
Many years later I wound up getting involved with the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad to learn about running and maintaining their Chinese 2-8-2 JS8419. Then years later I became a crew member of the Iowa Interstate QJs and went with them to Rock Island for Trainfest 2011.
It was there that I met Al Phillips who was part of the QJ crew for the event. While Al might not remember, we had a conversation over dinner about his AFT experience and if he remembered being in Des Moines which he did.
I also met Ross Rowland, which he might not remember either, and thank him for his AFT efforts.
So after all my ramblings on here I guess my point is the AFT was a special moment that impacted me and was wondering if anyone else could share their stories or pictures on the Impact the AFT had on them.

Dan

I saw the Freedom Train in Bradly Beach NJ. I grew up in nearby Belmar and I remember being there it seemed like the whole time it was there from the time it pulled in till the time it left. I was already a budding foamer at the age of 5 or 6. It was also about the same time the Blue Comet came down the Jersey Shore pulled by FEC 142. I remember like it was yesterday standing by the rails all day to watch it come by. I spent a lot of time at Pine Creek and New Hope growing up. There was a lot of opportunities to see steam in that area those days. It would be great if Mr. Rowland could get something going again like the AFT. Might spark a new generation of steam fans and for a great cause. I`ve had the chance to meet Mr. Rowland and take a cab ride with him in #40 at New Hope a couple times recently and it took me right back to those times.
Great Memories, Drew Young

I saw it just before my 7th birthday in Tallahassee, Florida as it rolled it for a stop over Thanksgiving, 1976. That stop wasn't even on the original tour and was added later.
My Mom took my brother and I out of school that day to see 4449 come into town with the train. I didn't know then that most staging moves were at night, but the train rolled in during daylight hours (pun intended) and was several hours late. I'll never forget the sight of Doyle at the throttle as 4449 rolled past the SCL depot. We toured the train a day or two later. We never took one photo, though, as my Mom said postcards would be better than any photo we could get with the 110 camera. And as far as I know, there are no photos of the train on display around Doak Campbell stadium at FSU (the tracks are gone now) as I've spent the better part of 25 years searching every collection and archive I can think of with no results.
I still have the program we bought that day, though.
I thanked Doyle for that memory a few years back, standing next to 4449. I also saw 4449 in AFT colors again, re-enacting that scene of it rolling by me a few years ago.
Would love to meet Ross in person to shake his hand and thank hm for one of my brightest memories of that part of my life...

I just read the Freedom Train Article in TRAINS. I noted on the map that the train stopped in Dover, DE and Salisbury, MD. Did AFT 1 run on the trip down the Easter Shore?

Thanks!

Wesley