I've recently read references to Presidential movements to Florida on both SAL and ACL (mainly Franklin Roosevelt on ACL during late 1930s.) Typically the trip would be by special movement in a private Pullman Observation, a car for Secret Service and a communcations car. Does anyone have specific information regarding specific consists, locomotive assignments, etc? I think POTUS (President of the United States) train movements are very interesting in terms of the extensive planning and accomodations made by the various railroads. I've read the book "President Travels by Train".

-- Mark Hennaman (mhennaman@bbandt.com), December 21, 2002

Answers

Not a POTUS, but a FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States), the LADY BIRD SPECIAL operated during October, 1964. A heavy weight observation was painted red, white, and blue. Believe this car had been Wabash CITY OF LAFAYETTE. The special came to Norfolk on the N&W behind three "red bird" GP-9's. The special was preceeded by a light unit consist on the N&W. After an appearance in Norfolk by Lady Bird Johnson, the special went west to Suffolk where it was interchanged to ACL and became Extra 547. It went to Rocky Mt. WITHOUT the benefit of pilot engines. There were no Secret Service people, no railroad police -- nobody at the gate-protected SAL crossing at Kelford. Had the Lewiston local showed up and set the gates against the ACL, that would have been a real show.

-- Harry Bundy (Y6B@aol.com), December 28, 2002.

When Bush Sr rode in 92,there were three trains involved.He was on the 2nd train.It was a extremely big deal,all the engineers and conductors had background checks done by the FBI,and all main line switches including power switches were spiked and locked down for the route desired (usually for the main)and most importantly you could not take pic's because if the saw you doing it while going down the track,they would call the Secret Service agents riding beside the train and your film was confiscated.I found out the hard way!!!

-- Vic Lewis (TrkInsp5F33@aol.com), December 24, 2002.

Seem to recall my grandfather (ACL dispatcher) saying that a POTUS special was run in multiple sections so there would be some doubt as to which train the president was on.

-- Buddy Hill (palmettoLTD@hotmail.com), December 22, 2002.