Calling all railfans! Step aboard a piece of American History at this railroad museum in Florida. The Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami is home to many unique railcars that show our history through trains, but the crown jewel of the park is this one and only presidential railcar.
Built as a private car for Pullman company in 1928, it was named after the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. After it was rebuilt, it was better known as U.S. Car. No. 1 and served as the Presidential Railcar from 1943 to 1958.
Upon entering World War II, officials felt that an armored railcar was necessary to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Pullman Company rebuilt the Ferdinand Magellan, adding all kinds of bells and whistles to make it fit for a president.
It would become the first presidential railcar that was actually used by a president. Abraham Lincoln had a special car, but it was only used to transport his body after his assassination.
Heavy, vault-style doors were installed at the rear to keep out unwanted visitors, and an emergency escape hatch was added in the president's bathroom and in the observation lounge. The car was also fitted with loudspeakers for presidential speeches. A wheelchair lift was added, as well, but it was removed after FDR's death in 1945.
In its refurbishment, Pullman added armor plate to the exterior and replaced the windows with bullet-resistant glass. The dining room/conference room had a large mahogany table that seats eight. With all of these additions, the Ferdinand Magellan went from 160,000 pounds to 285,000 pounds, making it the heaviest passenger railcar in the country.
Other presidents also took advantage of the specialty car. President Truman used the platform during his campaign to give his "whistlestop" speeches, and it can be seen in the iconic photo where Truman holds the newspaper that incorrectly declared his defeat.
President Eisenhower did not use the railcar often, and it was offered to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. The Smithsonian did not take the car quickly enough due to space, and the University of Miami acquired it. Today, it can be seen at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami. It made a brief comeback in 1984 for the re-election campaign of Ronald Reagan, when he gave his own "whistlestop" speeches on a one-day campaign stop in Ohio.
You can view the Presidential Railcar U.S. Number 1 at Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, along with lots of other fascinating historic trains. You will have to request special permission to see the inside, as unscheduled tours only view the outside, in an effort to preserve the interior.
Aren’t we lucky to have this awesome piece of American history right here in Florida? What’s your favorite historic attraction in the Sunshine State?
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