Freedom Train - 1940's?

[nyandw]

Folks: Anyone with info on this? Patchogue friends seem to remember this as occurring... Thank you.

[bellstbarn]

Fortunately, it was a Sunday when the Freedom Train visited Jamaica. The New York Times of Monday, September 29, 1947, reported that an estimated 9,000 people (including Dad and I) visited the train while it was open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It was on Track 4. If memory is correct, the Alco diesel faced east. Looking back, I don't recall any sense of boredom looking at famous national documents protected by yellowish glass.

Link behind paywall: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesm ... geNumber=7

[nyandw]

Fortunately, it was a Sunday when the Freedom Train visited Jamaica. The New York Times of Monday, September 29, 1947, reported that an estimated 9,000 people (including Dad and I) visited the train while it was open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It was on Track 4. If memory is correct, the Alco diesel faced east. Looking back, I don't recall any sense of boredom looking at famous national documents protected by yellowish glass. Link behind paywall: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesm ... geNumber=7

Thank you... Now I/we have a place to start! Anyone else?

[bellstbarn]

"Anyone else?" says nyandw. I described to my wife my recollection, and she says her Dad brought her there also. Now I must ask her sister. They lived in South Ozone Park. It could have been an early courtship!

[BAR]

There was also a New York State Freedom Train which operated around the state during 1949 and 1950. I don't know if it got to Long Island or not but my P.S. 147Q elementary school class journeyed from Queens to somewhere in The Bronx on a field trip to see it. I distinctly remember that it had a steam locomotive at the head end but we could not get up close enough to get a good view. An article about the train with photos of a New York Central Pacific as the motive power can be found on the internet.

BAR

[bellstbarn]

Freedom Week and the State Freedom Train in Queens, according to Jan 22 1950 issue of NY Times:
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesm ... eNumber=63

Thursday and Friday in the Rockaways.
Saturday and Sunday in Jamaica.
January 30th in Flushing.

Someplace I saw the date for The Bronx, but I lost the page.

Both the national and the NYS trains had problems with extending the funding.

Joe

[BAR]

Thanks for the Queens information Joe. I am really curious as to the location where the NYS Freedom train was parked in The Bronx. It had too be on a siding somewhere and I recall descending steps to get to the train. Was there a siding at the Fordham station that they could have used?

Bill

[bellstbarn]

I must keep switching back and forth on sub-topics in disorderly fashion. Otherwise I could easily lose important links as this one.
The New York Times of September 21, 1947, page 5, ran an eight-column article on the national Freedom Train. Most importantly, it listed the 150 documents and flags aboard, in general chronological order. It also gave the schedule for visiting the Freedom Train in New York City.
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesm ... geNumber=5

September 25 & 26, 1947 -- at Grand Central.
September 27, at Vanderveer Park, Avenue H near Flatbush Avenue.
September 28 at Jamaica.
September 30 in The Bronx at Tremont Avenue and Bronxville Road (Van Nest shops?). (Bronxville Road? Maybe Bronxdale.)

Regarding the New York State Freedom Train in Flushing, the January 29, 1950, Brooklyn Eagle, page 3, reports that it "will be at Avery Avenue and Fowler Street" the next two days.

Bill, I will continue looking for the NYS Freedom Train in The Bronx.
Joe