In 1947, President Truman and his staff conceived of a way to keep the patriotic fires burning in the post-war era. They authorized a train to be run across America on a “Whistle Stop” campaign displaying our countries important historical documents and artifacts. This would involve the citizens in a rededication to our proud heritage of freedom. Included would be the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. The train was christened The Freedom Train. This turned out to be an extremely popular event and through 1947 and 1949, long lines of people greeted the train in large cities and small towns where it was put on display.

Newspapers and magazines ran feature articles about the train. We kids were not left out. Comic books and my "Boys Life" magazine all had pictures or drawings and stories about the train and its valuable contents. I even had a box of Kellogg’s PEP cereal with a printed cardboard cutout train that I assembled. It was on display on my bedroom bookcase.

When I arrived in Carbondale in July 1948 to visit my grandparents, the railroad employees could talk of little else. There was a lot of planning and a staggering amount of work to be done in preparation for the passage of this train. With all those original historical documents on board, there was a credible fear of sabotage. To combat any possible attempt to derail the train or switch an opposing train into its path, each switch had to be spiked so that it could not be operated. In fact, both switches on crossovers had to be spiked. A pilot train was run a few minutes ahead of the Freedom train to allow the careful inspection of the track. Train meets required all opposing trains be fully stopped with flagmen protecting both ends of each stopped train.

But I discovered some disappointing news. The train would not stop in Carbondale. It would be on display in Bellville, IL on July 20 and in Cairo, IL on July 21. The train would go through Carbondale at about 3:00 AM. That was also on the morning of the day I WAS GOING HOME! And it was confirmed that it would not stop. Grandpa knew all this because he was the first trick dispatcher on the mainline and the dispatchers knew everything about the secret movements of this train. I would be able to see the train, but I would have to get up pretty darn early to do it. I told Grandpa that I really wanted to see it even if it was at night. He said OK; he would get up with me. I knew that the Main Street crossing had a 15MPH slow flag for all trains. There would be no chance for pictures but at least, the train would be going very slowly.

The 20th arrived and by the middle of the afternoon, the Illinois Central had almost shut down. The track workers began spiking switches about 3:00 PM. There was a lot of excitement down at the tracks. This was something very special and I was about to see it!

About 9:00 PM, Grandpa and I finished our daily routine by checking on No. 5 the southbound Panama Limited and No. 205 the St. Louis connection. As our custom, we hit the New Era Dairy for a last chocolate soda before I went home. I had a hard time getting to sleep that night. Thinking about seeing Mom and Dad AND the Freedom Train tomorrow was really exciting.

Finally, the alarm rang. Grandpa and I got up in a flash, grabbed my little suitcase, and walked down to the depot. There weren’t many people there but that was all right by me. We were going to get a glimpse of something really special.

Grandpa talked to some officials and found out the train was running late. Maybe she would be here by 4:00 or 4:30. Still, my train, No.6, the northbound Panama Limited would not arrive until about 6:15. I still had plenty of time to see the Freedom Train.

One thing led to another, mostly more delays, but at about 4:50, here comes the pilot train! Everybody was pretty excited, even the old hands on the platform. Then we saw the headlight far off to the north by the coal chute. It seemed to take forever to get to the depot where we were standing. Finally, with an odd-sounding BLATTTT horn blaring, it crossed Main Street and rolled under the lights of the station platform.

She was white with red and blue stripes and it looked beautiful! The locomotive had a huge gold eagle on the side. After clearing the Main Street crossing, it started to slow down and came to a stop much to absolutely everyone’s surprise. I ran down the platform towards the locomotive as fast as I could. I wanted to see it up close! There in the cab was Mr. Rayburn, the Traveling Engineer that had given me a cab ride last week

“Billy, Come on up and ride with me to Cairo” he shouted.

A cab ride in the Freedom Train? I was stunned! I couldn’t speak. I looked at Grandpa but he shook his head sadly.

“Billy’s going north on 6 this morning” he shouted up to the cab.

“Is she on time?”

“She’s always on time!”

“We won't make it to Cairo in time. Sorry, Billy!”

I was one disappointed kid! But it still was a great experience to see this train up close. For me, seeing the train was better than seeing the Declaration of Independence inside anyway. I was surprised at the chugging sound the diesel made as Mr. Rayburn notched her up as they headed south towards Cairo. I had never heard an Alco before. Sounded like it needed a tune-up! But still, the train was impressive.

Grandpa walked me over to the depot restaurant where we would wait for 6 to arrive.

“I think he saw you and stopped to pick you up,” Grandpa said explaining the unscheduled pause at the station. That made me feel special and it helped a little I guess.

I had a reserved seat in the club car on the Panama Limited that morning. It was an all-Pullman train so that was the only place I could get a seat on the train. But that reservation would allow me to go back and sit in the rear-facing seat in the observation car. That was something to look forward to for sure. And my Mom and Dad would be waiting for me at 12th Street Station in Chicago. I had really missed them.

But wait. I had almost forgotten. We were going to spend the whole day at the Chicago Railroad Fair!

Bill Metzger