(Be gentle, this is my first post. A search turned up nothing on ‘FDR,’ if I am using search properly.) I am pounding out a trash novel set in the 1930s and 40s. Parts of it take place in FDR’s official railcar. Can someone tell me the name (Columbia?) and its general layout? Next, for a sensitive mission, the President gives Our Hero another railcar so he can move about the country unnoticed. Any thoughts as to how how would do this? (I presently have the Oglebay’s loaning the Black Diamond to FDR who passes it along.) Incidentally, for your average millionaire, or secret agent, a ‘Private railcar’ is really two cars, one being a baggage/service car. Right? Would I attract too much attention if my guy had a PV and a service car with offices and so on? I told you it was dead easy.
I beleive it was the “Magelon” (spelling?) like the sailing ship. This car is at the Gold Coast Railway Musieum in Miami florida. They have a web site and should be contacted for details on interior layout. Today it is not uncommon for a classic Observation car without a kitchen or dinning area to be attached to a dormitory (for staff)/kitchen/dinning area car to accompany the OB car. Many business train have seperate cars for these funtions attached. There are self contained private cars that have been converted to have a small kitchen, dinning area, bedroom, sitting area in a single car. The FEC has a single business car.
The Ferdinand Magellan was a private car built for and used by the president of the U.S. I am not sure when it was built.
The City of Fort Myers Florida has a private car on display at the town museum. Currently named ESPERANZA, it was the last Pullman business car built for a private owner, on the eve of the Great Depression. It is totally self-sufficient, with galley and sleeping quarteres for the attendants.
Thank you all. Now how about another private car for our Hero? Any thoughts on that?
Why not give him his own engine too. James West/Secret Agent of the Wild Wild WEST had a steam engine, tender, office/stable(hosres) car and observation/sleeper. Just update it to your era. The president could give him his train to use. The FM that FDR used was twice the weight of a standard car as it was armoured. It was at the end of the train in the year 2000 that went to downtown Miami as part of the FEC 100 year celibration. It still can run on the rails but way not be up to Amtrak spec as that would change it’s historic acuracy.
I do have some ideas. First, why stop at just the “Ferdinand Magellan”? How about a dormitory car for support personnel, like security and staff for FDR. Then, an office/sleeper (6 sections plus an “office”) for staff and guests of FDR. Finally an E6A or DL109 for power. Steam would not be able to run far enough and go from railroad to railroad with impunity. Go for it! Have fun. And, on a serious note: be careful there. I do not think you need to be told why.
The the Ferdinand Magellan was so heavy (for protection and for comfort) that it required its own locomotive. The Signal Corps provided a radio car (all of the time? Some of the time?), The USSS had half of the baggage car. The President used the loading dock under the … Heck with it, here is the draft of the relevant passage, copyright me, enjoy: He was able to recognize E Street and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving Building. The car pulled past a guard who saluted and dove down a ramp first into a basement, and then subbasement, garage. The car crawled along a tall, but narrow corridor and reached a loading dock. Military policemen lounged in pools of light along its length. Tom leaned forward and grasped the professor’s shoulder, “Could you please open the door for me, doctor?” Tom led the way, and Winston followed across the loading dock and into the Presidential rail car, the Ferdinand Magellan. The light inside the plush dining room was even worse than outside. It was all Winston could do to follow his escort down the corridor to a small bedroom. “The President is asleep. He will meet you at breakfast. Everyone thought this was the most private venue. He’s on his way to New York, so we’ll have a couple of hours alone with him.” With that, Tom left Winston to explore his cabin. It was small, not much more than a tiny berth and a built-in desk and chair. Still, it was quite well thought-out, with the desk concealing a small sink and the chair a functional commode. A porter brought his suitcase and hung his clothes in the miniature closet and explained the train would be leaving in a few hours. With that, Doctor Winston Frederick put on his cotton pajamas and laid out on the firm mattress. He did not even notice the gentle bump as the locomotive pulled the train out of its secret station. The phone near his head buzzed gently, and a female voice said “Doctor Frederick, it is six o’clock. Breakfast will be served in forty-five minutes. The weather will be clear and cool in
Ah, the pot is boiling now isn’t it? How about a reference to the GG1 or (better) B&O P7 or his train’s E6A? You are having fun here that’s for sure. Keep us updated if you wish.
Do not forget the special baggage car that FDR had with extra wide doors. It was used to transport a special car that was designed so that FDR could appear to stand without support and fool the public about his disability. This was a real rail car that unloaded at a dock under the Waldorf Astoria in NY. You could substitute a modern/vintage Austin Martin DB5. Good luck and I will buy a book just for the RR tie ins.
No chance this dog will ever see print! It is my entry into the NaNoWriMo ‘Contest.’ (Do a Google!) In any case, you can find it here: http://paulinsaudi.livejournal.com/
A good background on the car and the museum:
Great link. Thanks.
In literature, authors are generally permitted a certain amount of license. Certainly, you wouldn’t want to take that leeway to the point of making your novel unbelievable. Several names for a second, or alternate presidential car come to mind. You could consider names like Columbia, National Treasure, or how about Jefferson? Washington? etc etc. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed novels set against a historical or currently factual background. It gives them a very strong sense or realism. Good luck in your efforts.
Keep in mind (as noted in TomDiehl’s link) that the FM didn’t officially become the Presidential car until WW2. Before that it was one of several Pullman observation cars that the president used to travel in. These cars were in general use, i.e. anyone with the money could hire them. If a Detroit autobaron wanted to take a trip to Florida, he could hire the FM or Roald Amundson or whichever car from Pullman.