Something that caused a lot of patriotism to appear in the USA in 1975-76 was the AFT. Much more positive event(s) than crashing airplanes into skyscrapers. These two photos are quite old fashioned, black and white, taken in 1976 and from the collection of HAROLD K. VOLLRATH, one of the premier steam photographers. The former Texas and Pacific 610 and the former Reading 2102 in their AFT livery.
Fitz, Sorry their ole buddy I didn't even see that you had put up a post or topic I mean of the 2 AFT's loco's... The 4-8-4 from this point went on to be the Chessie Steam Special! Nice picture to model from! Being I am modeling the Chessie Steam Special that picture is a real good one to model from. Only the CSP was different colors from the AFT so.. But still a great picture to do the detail work!
I care!! http://www.freedomtrain.org/ Sorry I haven't been back to trainboard in a few weeks, Fitz.....got a bit sidetracked (pun intended). The Freedom Train is something I will always remember, the T&P 610 is the first operational as well as the first superpower steam locomotive I ever saw. The link above, for anyone who wishes to check it out, is a great site, with a timeline of the operation of the train, as well as a few sidenotes along the way. They have even saved two of the ex-AFT cars from the torch! Stuart B. [ 17 October 2001: Message edited by: SBTX ]</p>
I can recall standing in line for almost 5 hours, in 1946 I believe, to go through the original "Freedom Train" in downtown Los Angeles. It was then pulled by a set of 'futuristic' F7A&B units. I was only about 8 year old then, but I can still remember my entire Cub Scout Pac going through the cars and viewing the documents and other patriotic items that were contained within the train consist. In '76, I was surprised to see the AFT being pulled by the 4449. Happily, it seems that nostalgia does have it's place in histroy.
Good memory Ironhorseman. I think you may have seen PAs not F7s. I have an article on the original Freedom Train in "Marines" magazine that documented the Marines guarding the train. I remember them being PAs, but, I could be wrong. Either way, I would have loved to have seen it! Never did see the one in 76 either. I did however have the 33 1/3 LP of the 76 train that was offered. I used to listen to it all day as a kid. Now, if I could only find it.
According to The Railroad Press magazine, summer 1997 edition, the original AFT ran from Sept. 19, 1947 through January 22, 1949.. The power was a single Alco-GE PA-1, numbered appropriately 1776. In the article is a photo taken in Pasadena, Feb. 27, 1948, so it was probably close to that date that you saw her, Bill.
I still have the handout given to me when I toured the Freedom Train in '47 at Grand Central Terminal ... the photos show a big, beautiful white PA with red, white, and blue stripes (The stripe colors are from memory, since the photos are B&W ) [ 18 October 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]</p>
Hank, Fitz and Jeff - You are absolutely right. I can only recall that it looked alot like the F-7 to me as I can recall it today. Thanks for bringing me up to speed with the correct version. I did get to go through the bicentenial AFT while it was visiting Santa Barbara in 1977. Didn't have to wait in line nearly as long that time
