I've been wondering about the progress that Ross Rowland has made regarding the 2026 Freedom Train. Any status updates? Has it been cancelled?

I've been working for 3 years on the AFT 2.0 project which will be a sequel to the highly successful AFT 1.0 project we did for America's 200th. birthday.

The " secret sauce " that made that AFT 1.0 train a smash it with the American people were the 512 ORIGINAL artifacts we were able to borrow from 285 museums across America that helped tell the 200 year America story on the 10 display cars.

President Nixon in January 1974 called the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and the National Archives and instructed them to " give the Freedom Train whatever artifacts they want for displaying on the AFT. The strength of that opened the doors to the rest of the American museum community.

I am trying to get an appointment with President Biden to make a proper AFT 2.0 presentation to him and hope to have that soon. He is the only one who can get us the priceless ORIGINAL artifacts we need to again be sure that the AFT 2.0 will be a smash hit across the land.

Time is now our big enemy as there's at least 2 years worth of work to build the consist, finalize the route of march, get the 10 co-sponsors needed to fund the $ 125M DBOM cost etc. and be ready to open Memorial Day 2026 for the 3 year, 125 display cities, 25,000 mile steam powered tour.

I will of course keep you informed should I be successful in getting a date with POTUS.

Thanks for asking, Ross Rowland

The big problem I see with carrying around the artifacts like in the 1970’s is simple; this isn’t the same world as it was back then.

I think there’s a legitimate cause for concern that a hypothetical AFT 250 train becomes a target for protests, and worse, potential attacks, which could result in damage to the locomotive in charge at the time, the train, and the artifacts. Even if proper precautions are taken place to protect the train and the artifacts i’m not sure that would be enough. Putting the real US constitution for instance on the AFT could make it a political target.

If the hypothetical train carried replicas, or had a digital walkthrough of American history (yea I know it wouldn’t be the same) then I don’t think there would be nearly as much of a cause for concern. In my opinion at least, I don’t think historic artifacts should be viewed as integral to the train.

Now as for motive power, that’s another discussion in itself, and that’s of course dependent on how the people in charge want to run it. There’s a fair number of locomotives out there that are capable of hauling said train both currently operational and also being restored. I could see a world where we have the train changing hands several times across state lines like how T&P 610 took the train over in Texas. But if it’s operationally easier to stick with just a few locomotives like with the previous AFT then that’s perfectly reasonable (in my opinion).

If we allow fear to stop us then the bad guys have won !! We intend to always be pulled by double headed steam so as to eliminate the need to have a diesel in the consist and so that with staggered boiler wash dates at least one steamer is live on site.

Ross Rowland

I tend to agree with Ross that a train full of replicas would lack the impact of having original artifacts on display, although I do understand the concerns. The general dumbing down of society in general (tourists carving their initials into the Roman Coliseum, etc.) would definitely give pause when planning such an exhibition.

Ross, I was wondering about potential motive power choices. Would coal burning steam be considered, or would any potential candidates be converted to liquid fuel, if not already oil burners?

John

Assuming this thing could really become reality why not try something different than the rolling museum concept? As I recall, the original centennial celebration in 1876 was the first official world's fair which focused on technological advancements. Why not allow prominent U.S. manufacturers to design their own displays within the given parameters. You would end up with a variety of exhibits including everything from original artifacts from their own archives, to state of the art audio-visual/virtual reality experiences. The selected/approved businesses get their advertising and in turn they pay for the privilege based on the amount of car space they occupy.

As much as I love the idea of a Freedom Train 2, I feel like the concept is based more on the nostalgia of re-creating what was done 50 years ago rather than looking forward to a something new.

Who is the target audience of the 2026 Freedom Train? Ross, if you hope to attract the younger generation, as well as young families, the display of artifacts probably won’t be enough to draw the crowds you need to the display sites. This is the reality of 2023, like it or not.

I’m a fan of museums. I like artifacts and I appreciate looking at things under glass. But I’m also 48. If your target audience is people my age or older, the approach you took in 1976 may work. However, there are plenty of folks my age that won’t set foot in a museum and don’t care about artifacts.

My daughter is 14. She is growing up in an era of Tik Tok and Instagram. We recently took a trip to Michigan and Ohio and visited several prominent museums, including the Henry Ford. She had little interest in static displays of historic artifacts, but relished interactive exhibits, especially those with video and audio. When we visited the Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo she spent over 30 minutes immersed in an interactive exhibit that lets you “dive” on the Edmund Fitzgerald, but walked right past the “real” artifact from the Fitz (a life ring). 2026 is light years from 1976, and perhaps original artifacts – while certainly cool to people like myself – aren’t the draw today that they once were.

Also (don’t shoot me, I’m just asking) is having steam power on the head end critical to the mission, message, and success of the 2026 American Freedom Train?

Jeff Terry

I have many concerns about this prospect; primarily, the many controversial statements of Rowland on this forum and elsewhere. You don’t think a corporate sponsor for a potential AFT 3.0 (it is the third American Freedom Train by the way, let's not erase the 1947 event from history) would discover the “South Africa was better during apartheid and the blacks can’t self-govern” comments or the “women don’t belong in the steam locomotive cab or in the engine shop” comments? Those have been repeatedly stated here, on TrainOrders and other public forums Ross Rowland has been active in these last few years. While I do believe in forgiveness, self-bettering, and change; so far Ross has not demonstrated any critical awareness on why those statements were so inflammatory to begin with. Effectively, before this project has even hit the rails Rowland has drawn a giant target on his back saying in bold letters “Cancel Me.”

The internet never forgets either, and those comments South African politics and women are recorded, screenshotted, and regularly floated around Twitter, Facebook and Discord among young railfans. They will surface if Rowland moves forward as the head of AFT 3.0 (along with commentary that borders more-so on hearsay regarding thin white lines, speeding tickets and urinating on locomotive back heads). While this can be seen as character slander, the fact remains that Rowland is not a popular person among many younger railfans; and the failure of the Greenbrier Express and the Yellow Ribbon Express are also effective votes of “no-confidence” among many who have not witnessed a successful Iron Horse Enterprises steam venture in their entire lifetime.

This is not to say there are not prominent railroad preservation groups who I could trust to lead an AFT 3.0 project, if Ed Dickens came out tomorrow saying Union Pacific wanted a 2026 train special and he was working on preparing 4014 and 844 for it, I would not hesitate to throw my support behind it. If CPKC said they would want to join in with their “Diesel free PTC” technology they are demonstrating, I would be ecstatic. The idea that Reading 2100 is going into Freedom Train colors, even if not for a national tour but at least local events is awesome, and I would love to see SP 4449 follow suit to bring some Freedom Train spirit to the Pacific Northwest. We have locomotives such as NW 611, ATSF 3751, ATSF 2926, SPS 700 in steam and ready to stretch their legs and UP 3985 rapidly approaching its own return to steam in Silvis as well. Rather than count the “what we could haves” if we do an assessment of “what we already have” I see an industry that is skilled and ready to take on the challenge if they so desire, even if none of them lack the prior name association with the 1976 Freedom Train attempt. Even then, we should question if a national Freedom Train tour is in the best interest of the steam industry or if these individual organizations focusing on localized events with their own equipment is a better net positive than attempting to strong-arm a nation spanning tour at all.

This is without even broaching the larger questions of artifacts or insurance or permitting steam to travel host railroads; but those are known quantities that could be solved by many of the experienced people at countless organizations across the nation, be it corporate steam programs such as UP or CPKC, or operations like the ORHF, Silvis, Kentucky Steam, etc. Without serious attempts to reconcile with past statements, accusations, and a serious demonstration of management skill that has been lacking in past projects in the prior 20 years; I cannot trust Rowland’s efforts to end in anything other than another farcical attempt that does nothing more than create titillating by-lines of “what might be” in Trains Magazine. I know I sound rude saying this, but the best thing for a new American Freedom Train is if Mr. Rowland hangs up the hat and steps aside to allow a new player in the ring. Call me a hater or a critic, but I am just stating the obvious elephant in the room.

I actually think that real historic artifacts like that would be a big draw for anyone. But that should be mixed in with video and virtual displays as well to further their importance. That’s what many museums in Washington DC end up doing: they’ve got little presentations that go along with several artifacts and it adds to the experience. Being interactive is the name of the game.

But like I said: I think in today’s world you risk the potential of the train being a political target by bringing along a ton of major historic artifacts like that. The world isn’t the same as it was 50 years ago, and I think it’s fair to say the train could attract a bit more negative attention than it would’ve when the US was a bit less politically divisive.

As for motive power, yeah that’s always a fun topic. So many options today, so many locomotives that could pull the train.

Times have changed since '76, and I do believe things would have to be done a certain way to make this a viable draw for people. One big advantage is the increasing amount of people who are homeschooling their kids nowadays. Many of our friends have switched over to this and they are always looking for places to take their kids to for "in the field" education credit. The biggest complaint I hear is the cost and time to travel outside of a day trip. Here in Michigan we have Henry Ford/Greenfield Village, Chicago and some smaller, more locally focused museums that you can hit in a (long) day, but to get out east, or out west to see some of the bigger, more historical collections can be a monumental task. If parts of those collections were brought closer to families, and promoted, it could be very beneficial.

Another consideration is that all the artifacts used in the AFT2.0 are will be another 50 years older when AFT 3.0 would hit the rails.

That's 50 more years of deterioration and the associated fragility that many responsible curators understand and might not be willing to consider acceptable risk.

I have pictures of my family standing in front of 4449 at the Minnehaha depot from it's 2.0 visit. I'd like to think that another tour has the potential to give railroad preservation a much needed boost but there are many obstacles in today's world that would need to be over come.

Historical preservation is also very different today than it was in the 70s. Now it's all white gloves, climate controls and nothing touching with any acid content. Not so much this in the 70s.

There are a couple aspects to consider beyond the very valid ones raised by "xboxtravis" and others here.

My father sold advertising for a living. He used to remark that, when it came to selling advertising for special 1976 Bicentennial editions of our newspaper and other publications, he enjoyed enormous success with the quip, "Hey, you know, I'm not going to be around to bother you again like this for another 100 years! This is your one chance to represent yourself in history!" This allegedly got anyone who had two nickels to rub together in their cash till on board, in even a minimalist fashion.
The exact same tactic was also used for such things as town and county centennial publications as well. We need not descend to outright flag-waving, chest-beating patriotic jingoism, simply an acknowledgement of being part of the larger picture.

I well remember the somewhat annoying--but probably critically necessary--"moving sidewalk" belts that transported visitors slowly but forcefully through the AFT's ex-NYC baggage car exhibits. Woe be to you if you missed spotting an exhibit important to you and tried in vain to backtrack. I'm sadly picturing a 2026 version with teens and wannabe "influencers" glued to their cell phones the entire passage, and/or outraged that they can't spend the entire visit posing for selfies for whatever replaces TikTok by 2026. And using some "captive audience" scenario to effectively pound messages of "patriotism" and "America is great" into their heads, no matter how much said audience may need and deserve such a message, is going to go over as well as a Trump "MAGA" rally: attracting love from the sheeple "followers," and contempt and hatred from the unconverted.

I believe that, in the past, we have also discussed here the then-daunting logistics of finding and preparing display locations for the 1970s AFT and the similar near-impossibility today. As an example, I was made to understand that the Union Pacific could not find an acceptable display location for its Big Boy display train anywhere in the Phoenix area (basically the nation's largest metropolitan area), having to make do with a wayside stop in further-off Casa Grande and a full day in Tucson instead. I'm racking my brains trying to think of a decent location there for a next-gen AFT and coming up empty. (Maybe the piggyback yard on the BNSF way northwest of the city, away from mass transit......)

Why not have a travelling display go via truck(s) and stop at participating railroad museums? Set up an "American Freedom Train" display using the railroad museum equipment. Give you 52 weekends to host events travel /set up / break down time in between.

I know its sacrilege on this list to suggest such movement by truck, but this would allow items of national historic interest to be rotated in / out for display and items with a state or local interest to be added to the exhibits.

It can be set up in box cars or passengers cars that the museums own or an event space at each museum.

Gives a nice shot in the arm for revenue to the many museums.

Its not as fancy as the 1976 version, but in today's political climate, the need to get so many of the national railroads involved, concerns over the safety of artifacts it may be a viable alternative.

Also remember any such train, if it comes to fruition, will be competing with many local events. The county I work for in NJ is already planning on exhibits and historic re-creations in Morristown, NJ, where Washington and his troops spent two winters.