The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Train

T h e  H i s t o r i c R a i l r o a d  E q u i p m e n t  A s s o c i a t i o n
1 3 2 5  S p a u l d i n g R o a d , E l g i n ,  I L 6 0 1 2 0
  Info@The2015LincolnFuneralTrain.com

In early 1865 the United States Military Railroad delivered the 1865 equivalent of Air Force One to President Lincoln, a private railroad car. Lincoln never used the railroad car, named The United States, while he was alive. On April 21st, 1865, President Lincoln’s body and the body of his son, Willie, left Washington D.C. in The United States, which had been modified to serve as a funeral car. Over 12 days, The United States traveled about 1,600 miles, through more than 160 communities, carrying the martyred President back home to Springfield, Illinois. In 12 major cities formal funerals were held and many more memorial services were organized in communities along the train’s route.

Today, as we approach the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination and funeral, a dedicated group of people are recreating the funeral car, The United States. The funeral car, when completed, will be joined together with an already existing period locomotive, The Le- viathan (viewable through the website listed below), and a recreation of a period passenger car. The train will again travel along the route taken by Lincoln’s funeral train.

Local communities and organizations are lining up to participate and support this en- deavor. Much work lays ahead and now is the time for you, your organization, or community to become a part of this historic recreation.

You can get a quick peek at what is currently going on at the Historic Railroad Equip- ment Association (A Tax Exempt Charitable Organization) and the Period Locomotive, The Leviathan, at www.The2015LincolnFuneralTrain.com.

You can also direct inquiries about the Funeral Train project to
 info@The2015LincolnFuneralTrain.com .

Join us, along with thousands of other Lincoln Scholars, history buffs, train enthusiasts, and ordinary folks on this journey back into an important period in our country’s history.

      Info@The2015LincolnFuneralTrain.com           www.The2015LincolnFuneralTrain.com