Presidential Funeral Trains - A Look Back

On June 8, 1968, a funeral train carried Robert F. Kennedy from New York City to Washington, DC. He may not have achieved the presidency, but there would not be another funeral train until 2018 -- when President H.W. Bush took his final journey through Texas.

[@laurie1288]

I'm starting to feel sad right now.

[@ChessieCat65]

the SR 1401 in the Smithsonian was one of the engines that pulled Roosevelt's funeral train from Warm Springs GA to Washington DC.

[@bevsmith748]

Thank you

[@jefflong3200]

I watched Bush’s full final train ride and wow that was tough to watch.

[@noahdavidson8733]

Very informative and great pictures. Thank you, guys. There really was no better way for presidents to travel; unfortunately Garfield was assassinated at the B&O station in D.C.

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Nice Video
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@traingalaxy]

awesome

[@ChadSimplicio]

Good look into train history w/ presidents, given out current one is a frequent Amtrak rider.

[@darkwatch3399]

Very nice video, thanks

[@bridgediscovery1011]

Awesome video

[@railfanmiguel4422]

Great vídeo!

[@thelongislandplanesandtrai3638]

Wow I haven’t seen the old logo in a while

[@coolrails2600]

Thank you. Looking fwd to Virtual Railfan providing more views of railroads & their role in U.S. history! Thanks..

[@nc_railfilms2533]

I wonder if Thomasville is on today’s grab bag

[@vignesh2492]

RIP 😭

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

Love to see the, run with pride.

[@railfansbizarreadventure7458]

Sad :(

[@jackulmen5791]

2:56 The George H W Bush Funeral Train is my favorite because I think there use to be the UP 4141 in service.

[@Step-DownSensist2011]

Theres none of the funeral train for franklin piece

[@MichaelMitchRailfan2009]

Abraham Lincoln was still alive in 1865 but he ride on that train To Springfield, IL

[@dangeissinger4906]

Is the Lincoln car still around? Where is it?

[@CaseyJones-qp2tc]

In 1911, a prairie fire near Minneapolis, Minnesota, destroyed the train car that carried Lincoln’s body to its final resting place.
After being passed between the military and a couple railroad companies, Twin City Rapid Transit Company President Thomas Lowry bought it in 1905.
Lowry's intention was to fully rehabilitate the car and find a place to display it so that people could finally visit this car and see it in all of its former splendor.
Lowry died before he could restore the car and it was passed to the Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs which kept it in Columbia Heights near the intersection of 37th Ave NE and Jackson St.
In 1911, the Federation planned to move it for exhibit. Months before the move, a grass fire erupted March 18 and engulfed the car.
Historians were able to salvage only a metal coupling from the ashes, but there are photos of the burnt out car and it seems to be more intact than that, the photos show a shell a framework all burnt up.
Rumors have it that a Minnesotan is in possession of a window frame from the car, but hasn't found it yet.

[@dangeissinger4906]

@@CaseyJones-qp2tc Thanks

[@CaseyJones-qp2tc]

you bet, you're welcome

[@rztrzt]

Do they also have to stop and give way to freight trains?

[@andrewwatkins4852]

all freight trains had to halt to give way to presidential funeral train

[@frankpierce2008]

First

[@railfansbizarreadventure7458]

Actually you’re not also it’s not important

[@youraveragejoe2]

I wonder how the train crew feels about this kinda stuff

[@youraveragejoe2]

@@AbelG8781 true. I mean what goes thru their mind when they're asked to do this. Someone should interview them on this.

[@youraveragejoe2]

@@AbelG8781 where'd you get that info?

[@youraveragejoe2]

@@AbelG8781 oh ok.