FDR’s funeral train en route to Hyde Park, New York. April 15, 1945.
Whistle Stop History
The Ferdinand Magellan was the only private railroad car built for a President in the twentieth century. The car was 85 feet long and weighed 142 1/2 tons. The windows were made with three-inch bulletproof glass. The train had an escape hatch in the center of the car and in the ceiling of the observation lounge.
Originally created for Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Ferdinand Magellan transported Harry S. Truman across the country for his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign. Truman and his entourage traveled more than 21,000 miles, stopping in more than 250 cities, and delivered more than 300 speeches.
The code name for the train was “POTUS” and all other trains had to yield right-of-way. There was always another train running five miles ahead of the Ferdinand Magellan checking the safety of the railroad tracks.
In honor of election day and the many campaign miles traveled, here’s a gallery of Presidents on Whistle Stop tours. An exterior of the Ferdinand Magellan during Truman’s 1948 tour is at the top.
-from the Truman Library
Source: trumanlibrary.org
President and Mrs. Bush make a campaign whistle stop tour on the train, “Spirit of America,” across Ohio.
26 September 92
-from the George H.W. Bush Library
Franklin D. Roosevelt Whistle Stop Tour,
Campaigning aboard train “The Roosevelt Special” with son, James at New Albany, Indiana. October 22, 1932.
-from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library.
Source: facebook.com
Ohio Whistle Stop, 1984
President Ronald Reagan makes remarks in Ottawa, Ohio during his whistle stop tour through Ohio on the Ferdinand Magellan. 10/12/84.
-from the Ronald Reagan Library
Source: reagan.utexas.edu
“Look Ahead, Neighbor!”
Dwight D. and Mamie Eisenhower waving from campaign train, the Eisenhower Special.
September 14, 1952.
-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
Whistle Stop in Georgia
President Bush addresses supporters from the back of his “Spirit of America” railroad car in Cornelia during his whistle stop tour across Georgia. 10/20/90
-from the Bush Library
Source: bushlibrary.tamu.edu
Campaign Train Stop, 1936
FDR campaigns from back of railroad car “Pioneer.” October 1936.
-from the Roosevelt Library, Photo ID: NPx 61-393
Source: facebook.com
An early whistle stop campaign tour for Franklin D. Roosevelt. Morgantown, West Virginia. 9/29/20.
In 1920, the Democratic Party nominated Ohio Governor James M. Cox for President and Franklin D. Roosevelt for Vice President. They were defeated by Republicans Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge.
-from the FDR Library
Source: research.archives.gov
