Roald Amundsen (railcar)


Named after the Norwegian explorer, the Roald Amundsen is a former Pullman Company private car; the last of seven Explorer-series cars built between 1927 and 1929 for the Pullman Company's pool of passenger cars. It was frequently used as the United States Presidential Rail Car, and was used for every president from Herbert Hoover through Dwight Eisenhower.[2]

Roald Amundsen Pullman car
The Roald Amundsen on display in Scottsdale, Arizona
ManufacturerPullman Company
Order no.Lot 6246
Constructed1929
DiagramPullman Plan 3972C
Specifications
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car
LocationMaricopa County, Arizona, USA
Nearest cityScottsdale, Arizona
Coordinates33°32′15″N 111°55′22″W / 33.53750°N 111.92278°W / 33.53750; -111.92278
NRHP reference No.09000582[1]
Designated August 6, 2009

During World War II, sister car Ferdinand Magellan was rebuilt as the official presidential private car; after the war, the Roald Amundsen was surplus to the Pullman Company's requirements and was sold, and became a business car for the New York Central Railroad. In 1971 it was donated to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1]

In 2009 the Roald Amundsen was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Salon
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car set for Christmas Dinner
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Bedroom

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System – Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car (#09000582)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  2. ^ Wrixon 2008, p. 26.

Bibliography

  • Klara, Robert (2010). FDR's Funeral Train: A Betrayed Widow, a Soviet Spy, and a Presidency in the Balance ISBN 9780230108035
  • Wrixon, Fred B. (2008). "FDR's wartime train travels". Classic Trains Special Edition No. 6: Railroads and World War II: 20–30. ISSN 1541-809X.
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