if i where to build the Abraham Lincoln funeral train.
that took him to his resting place.
how would i go about this?
i have the funeral car already.
now what other HO cars do i need to complet this historic train ride in the 1860’s
i need directions to sites that can help me build this train set.
thanks
Try this: http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/news/train.htm
A simple search revealed it.
Looks like you’ll need a colorful 4-4-0, a standard passenger set (MDC Roundhouse’s 36’ boxcar, 34’ baggage, 34’ coach, 34’ observation, and 34’ combine are what you need, but are in kits, you’ll have to paint them to fit the funeral train’s line. ). Since this was a special train, complete with lots of diginatries, you’d probably want 2 coaches. the special funeral car would be in the middle, so it was probably Boxcar-Baggage-combine-coach-Funeral-coach-observation.
If you look at this picture: http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/8887/mcms.html you’ll notive there was a boxcar as the first car of the train, not sure what it’s purpose was.
Then there’s this site that’s selling a book explicitaly on it: http://www.goldenspike.us/index.html?target=p_215.html&lang=en-us
Hope that helps.
Jay
There are at least two books avalable on the Lincoln funeral train. Here is one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0925436216/qid%3D1074883488/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr_11_1/103-2310326-2116654
I am sure that you mean from Washington to Illiois. I was watching the History Channel the other night, and discovered to my surprise that Lincoln’s body was moved “13” times before it reached the “final” resting place. This should be an interesting bit of research, and car building… good luck on your project.
And 29 different Locomotives pulled the train across that distance.
Jay
I am a brand new member. I am a senior citizen. I do not have a train. I am interested in beginning to start a train hobby. I am extremely interested in finding a complete Lincoln Funeral Train, HO GAUGE. Am I in need of a reality check? What are the chances of finding this train?
What is the best way to start looking for it?
First off, welcome to the best hobby in the world, that being said, let’s look at your questions.
I know of no one making a set based on Lincoln’s funeral train, as it’s not a super popular item to be mass produced. usually Set’s are not the best in quality anyways, so if you wanted a Lincoln Train, the best would be as i’ve stated above to build one yourself. I believe someone manufactured the Special 6 axle car Lincoln rode in, try Ebay to see if anyones selling it.
In reviewing other pictures of the Train, it contained a 4-4-0 (several different railroads on the east coast PPR would probably be the easiest to find), a 36’ boxcar (presumably holding the Presidents personal goods from the Whitehouse), probably 2 baggage cars (there were more passenegers than a normal train, one could be a combine holding the guards), 2-4 coaches the special funeral car and the oberservation car on the end. The passenger cars can all be get from MDC in 34’ or Concor’s oldtime passenger cars will work as well. The box car would be a 36’ oldtime, available from a few sources, including MDC and concor.
Jay
AHM made the actual funeral car in HO – it was a four truck car, so 8 not 6 axles. My recollection is that it did not run at all well.
Obviously the consist did not remain constant for the entire trip since it went over several different railroads. There are many photos of the train but you will see differences. The engines were draped in black crepe as were many of the cars.
Wayne Wesolowski, once of the best craftsman in the hobby, has built a funeral train in large scale and MR had an article and photos. I believe it is now in a museum unless it is still on tour.
For those with a taste for the macabre … due to some flaw in the embalming, Lincoln’s face began to turn black during the long long process of taking his body hom to Illinois. The morticians rectified the problem as best they could using white chalk. There is one and only one photo of him in his casket – it was supposed to be destroyed by order of the government but someone hid it for years. The face looks oddly white.
What is little known is that his coffin was not actually buried at the memorial until around 1901, and for 35 years crowds of people were paying homage to an empty grave site while the actual tomb was planned and constructed. After an unsuccessful attempt to steal the body and hold it for ransom, for a while the coffin was actually hidden under a pile of rubble. When the tomb was finally ready there was a moment of panic – what if the scheme to steal the body had actually been successful? So they called in a welder who cut a small opening in the metal coffin and Lincoln’s body was viewed for the last time by a small crowd of people, including a small boy whose father brought him out of school for the event. The face was recognizable down to the mole on his face, but the white chalk gave it a bizarre appearance. They noted that Lincoln had been buried wearing gloves, which he hated to wear in life. And they noted that he had been buried with a small American flag in the casket against all
Boy, there sure is a lot of partial information on this thread! I guess it’s time for a Illinois citizen and American Civil War nut to chime in.
Looking at the photo of “the engine” and “boxcar”, posted above, it’s pretty obvious that the car behind the 4-4-0 is actually a BAGGAGE CAR. Boxcars don’t have doors and windows.
I did a search on the US Library of Congress site, the Illinois Historical Society site, the Lincoln Association site, the Chicago Historical Society, and the Denver Public Library photo archive. As usual, the Chicago Historical Society had the best online photo of the Lincoln Funeral Train:
http://www.chicagohistory.org/AOTM/apr00/graphics/funtrain.jpg
As everyone can clearly see, the train is made up of one baggage car and several coaches. One period flyer I found on the LOC site indicated that the official train was to be made up of eight coaches for dignitaries and Lincoln’s own car. This train WOULD HAVE been left together for the entire route from Washington to Chicago, at least (and possibly from Chicago to Springfield, but I’ve heard that the Alton assembled a new train for that leg of the trip). The engines would have been changed every 100 miles or so, or whenever the train entered another railroad’s territory.
As for modeling the Funeral train, your best bet is to find the AHM Lincoln car, which pops up on Ebay once in awhile. The engine will have to be either a Rivarossi or Bachmann 4-4-0 that’s been repainted (it will need a Russia Iron boiler, NOT a red or silver one!). The coaches and baggage car will have to be kitbashed out of Roundhouse (not MP or IHC) 50’ old time Pullman cars (the ones with the “duck bill” roofs, not the 50’ Overlands with the normal celestory roofs). Remember, 1965 was the days before railroad diners, sleepers, lounges and Pullmans, so ONLY get coach bodies! Some one will have to dig through one of the Lincoln Funeral Train books to see what railroad the cars actually came from (defin
Ray hate to counterdict you, but 50’ passenger cars were not around in 1865, 34’ would have been the closest available, 50’ cars didn’t appear for another 6-10 years.
Jay
Then why was Lincoln’s car 64 feet long, and why does the B&O museum have two 50 footers in their collection that date from the 1850s? The cars that accompanied the General on tour in the 1960s, both original 1860s cars, were in the 50’ range. The 34’ cars sold by Roundhouse are ONLY correct for two cars for the Sierra RR, and they’re pretty goofy looking. And take a look at the photo link I provided. The cars are longer than the 4-4-0, which is at least 40 feet long. Pullman’s first diners and sleepers were in the 60’ range, and they were the cars that came out 6-10 years after the war. Yes, the Roundhouse cars are actually of 1870s prototypes, but they’re the best models available (especially considering the roof profile).
Man, am I empressed with these responces. I am the originator of the questions and cannot believe how everyone has go generously responded. I certainly have a lot to learn and again, thanks to you all. To tell you the truth, I’m a tad bit overwhelmed by it all. Don’t know the first thing about all this…maybe I’ll stick to raising Newfoundland dogs. Thanks again
Gary Biehl
About two months ago, the History Channel had a special on the funeral, and the
video was offered for sale ($19.95). There was a wealth of information, and file
photos incorporated in the film. It might be worth checking out. I hope this helps…
Iron Goat
As stated it was a special car built for the president before he was killed, it was 6 axled and rumored to be armored as well. it was touted as to be the Airforce One of it’s time. the AHM model is not prototypical in appearnace as it only has 4 axles.
Not sure of this, but very doubtful, there were a handful (less than 10) 50’er’s pre 1870, that were in various feasibilty testings. it’s highly unlikely that they’d have been pulled from all over the country for the presidents train.
Yes goofy looking but semi-accurate of the time.
Photo can be decieving as it’s taken on an angle and from a distance, with the engine in front, thus making the engine look shorter. I’m betting the cars are more likey the 40’ cars (thus i recommended the 34’ cars as they’re closer than 50’) more typical to the era in question.
Pullman was a visionary, he thought big and built big. but he didn’t become a true powerhouse till the mid 1870’s.
I have the MDC 50’s and placing them next to my 4-4-0 definatly puts them out of proportion to your picture, as stated above a 40’ would probab
Ok Gents, it’s the novice again. What is the difference between these Brass Engines and all the different makes of engines. I’ve been looking at an IHC engine on Ebay for $54.00, a 4.4.0 with all sorts of brass stuff on it. Is this a good engine. They say it picks up electric from both tracks thru wheels of tender and engine. Don’t they all do that? They say it is smoother at low speed. It’s not about money here…I just want to not be so stupid. By the way, can’t find a Lincoln Funeral Car anywhere. Called 16 Hobby shops all over Ohio…no luck. Gonna build it one way or another.
Thanks for all your help
gary
The IHC 4-4-0 is a very good entry level Locomotive.
Not all pick up from both tender and Loco, some will only have 1 set of drivers pick up left and the other pick up right, some use the leading pilot wheels to pick up left and the drivers to pick up left. having both loco and tender pick up is optimal.
Jay
Thanks for the advice Jay. How difficult is it going to be for me to find same era cars for this engine? Or should I buy a complete boxed train set? I see old timers on Ebay but don’t know about quality. Prices for these sets are cheaper than the price on the engine I am looking at.
Thanks
gary
Gary,
try ConCor’s (not the best looking but passable) http://www.all-railroads.com/instock/hootpass.htm (4 cars at $ 42.88) or MDC’ has 2 different Types, the 34’ Overton Old Time Passenger car or the 50’ Overland Cars with Clerestory Roof car, in individual cars. http://www.mdcroundhouse.com/
If you want frieght cars, MDC has the widest selection of ones available for you (36’ boxcars, old time tank cars) there are others IHC has some Oldtime MOW and frieght cars (http://www.ihc-hobby.com/) available, Concor has a few old time freight cars as well.
best bet is to talk to your Local hobby shop and see what they can get you, it’s usually cheaper than ordering it online. although that’'s not always the case on some items.
Jay
Gary,
There is a huge book on passenger cars “The Amercian Railroad Passenger Car” by John H White, I think it was published about 1980 by the Smithsonian. I’m sure it gives some useful data on the cars in the train. It is likely to be in a library somewhere that you can find.
The funeral car did have eight axles, as shown correctly in the model. I beleive that Pullman’s first new car, “Pioneer” was also on the train for accommodation. At the time, it was also fitted with eight axles and looked a lot like the funeral car. Pioneer was later modified to look like later cars, and most photos show it with four axles and a “duck -billed” roof, like the Roundhouse kits.
But I think he two big cars visible in the bridge photo are the funeral car and Pioneer, and they were both about 50 feet long.
But keep checking books and photos - there are better shots than listed here around somewhere.
Peter
Jay and Peter,
Man am I glad I joined up here. You guys are great. Thanks a lot. Jay those sites you sent me save me a whole lot of time wandering around lost. Again, thanks.
Gary