Lincoln Funeral Train

[RJNorton]

I would be delighted if he took part in at least one of the Funeral Train events, especially as they will be taking place in his adopted home state of Illinois.

Toia, many events are planned.

[LincolnToddFan]

Wonderful...thanks Roger! Even more reason for the president to be able to attend at least one of them!

[Gene C]

I doubt he will be there, I don't really recall him showing much interest or appreciatin for American History, unless there is something to be gained politically. I understand his spare time is limited, and he seems to be more interested in filling that time with sports and golf. (and if that helps him in dealing with the pressure of being President, then that's what he needs to do)

[LincolnToddFan]

President Obama is actually quite knowledgeable in American history. He taught Constitutional law at the university level. He is the only president in recent history who has read the Federalist Papers in their entirety(perhaps Clinton has as well) and is able to discuss them on a level that impressed even conservative columnist George Will, which is really saying something.

I also don't begrudge him his time on the golf course. Why should we, when other Chief Execs have spent as much or even more time than he has spent there?

My suspicion is that he skipped out on the Gettysburg ceremonies due to his considerable ego. He knew that any speech he was bound to make would be compared to the speech you-know-who made there 150 years ago...and was bound to fall waay short. He wanted to avoid the inevitable unflattering comparisons, so he did not attend.

Just a guess.

[STS Lincolnite]

Here is another updated article on the Lincoln Funeral Train. Shannon Brown (interviewed in this piece) lives in town and I have gotten to know her so if anyone has any questions they would like me to ask of her just let me know and I will do so!

http://www.historynet.com/lincoln-funera...roject.htm

I think the kickstarter fundraising idea is great and I plan to contribute whatever meager amount I can...I hope some of you might consider doing the same.

[Rsmyth]

Were there ever plans to have this train or another recreate the funeral route back to Springfield? If so, is this the same train that will participate in the funeral recreation in Springfield next year?

[historybuff22]

It is this same train that will, hopefully, recreate pretty much the same route as the original and original dates i.e. April 21-May 3, 1865. 80% of the original route can be followed. For the other 20%, the train locomotive and cars will need to be hoisted by crane to long flat-bed semi trucks and make that portion VIA highway.

Rick Brown
Historybuff.com
A Nonprofit Organization

[STS Lincolnite]

Rick is correct.

Additionally, due to rail schedules as well as time it takes to load and unload, they will not be able to make stops in all the places the funeral train stopped even though they may be passing through them while on the "route". The article that I posted the link to explains some of this. They will have "stops" in Washington DC and Springfield IL for sure and sounds like they may return to some of the cities (at a later time) that they weren't able to stop at when re-creating the acutal funeral train route and timeline.

[Rsmyth]

If I would like to see the train "pass" where would be the best opportunity? I live in NE. PA.

[RJNorton]

Rich, here is a map of the 1865 route.

[Rsmyth]

Thanks Roger! I think I will venture out to Bew York's Hudson River Valley to see the train pass by. Nighttime would be ok too.

[L Verge]

Here is another updated article on the Lincoln Funeral Train. Shannon Brown (interviewed in this piece) lives in town and I have gotten to know her so if anyone has any questions they would like me to ask of her just let me know and I will do so!

http://www.historynet.com/lincoln-funera...roject.htm

I think the kickstarter fundraising idea is great and I plan to contribute whatever meager amount I can...I hope some of you might consider doing the same.

I have passed the fundraising information on to the executive board of the Surratt Society, and I suspect that they will make a donation to the cause - especially since the funeral train will be one of the topics at the 2015 conference with a presentation by Scott D. Trostel, who authored the book on the subject and is a consultant to this project.

[L Verge]

Here is another updated article on the Lincoln Funeral Train. Shannon Brown (interviewed in this piece) lives in town and I have gotten to know her so if anyone has any questions they would like me to ask of her just let me know and I will do so!

http://www.historynet.com/lincoln-funera...roject.htm

I think the kickstarter fundraising idea is great and I plan to contribute whatever meager amount I can...I hope some of you might consider doing the same.

I love my Surratt Society board - they just approved a $500 donation to the kickstarter fund.

I have passed the fundraising information on to the executive board of the Surratt Society, and I suspect that they will make a donation to the cause - especially since the funeral train will be one of the topics at the 2015 conference with a presentation by Scott D. Trostel, who authored the book on the subject and is a consultant to this project.

[RJNorton]

Laurie, that's wonderful!!

Rich, regarding timing, the train main a dinner stop at Poughkeepsie at about 7:10 P.M. (15 minutes ahead of schedule), and everyone disembarked for a buffet supper. The train resumed its journey at 8:10 (30 minutes behind schedule). (The printed schedule called for 15 minute meal stop!) Scott Trostel writes that as the train continued its journey it was constantly illuminated by bonfires and torchlight along the route. This was the evening of April 25, 1865.

[LincolnToddFan]

In my minds eye, AL's funeral train procession slowly making it's way West by torchlight and bonfires at night must have been haunting and beautiful....not even taking into account some of the hymns that were reportedly sung.

Nowadays, news helicopters would accompany it every step of the way. Can you imagine what that must have looked like from the night sky in the late spring of 1865?

BTW Roger...I remember reading somewhere that during the stop at West Point, the entire corps of cadets passed through the train in full dress uniform to salute the president's remains. I think it was James Swanson's "Bloody Crimes" book but I am not certain.