The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore unveiled the restored American Freedom Train No. 1, the locomotive that pulled the American Freedom Train during the U.S. Bicentennial, presenting it as a gift to the nation to kick off the America250 celebration.
Once a centerpiece of the 1976 Bicentennial, the locomotive has been restored to serve as a modern symbol of national unity.
The unveiling ceremony included remarks from Martin O’Malley, the former two-term governor of Maryland, representing the Maryland 250 Commission. He reflected on the Freedom Train’s enduring power to connect Americans through shared history and the fact that the railroad was Maryland’s gift to the nation.
Bruno Maestri, vice president of government affairs and corporate communications for Amtrak and a B&O Railroad Museum board member, spoke about the railroad’s impact on the country’s history. The program culminated in a ribbon cutting to officially debut the restored locomotive.
As the American Freedom Train No. 1 was revealed, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner’s song “Here Comes the Freedom Train” filled the Roundhouse, stirring memories of the train’s original journey and its impact on millions of Americans. Additionally, original engineers from the 1975–76 Freedom Train returned to stand beside the locomotive they once guided across the nation.
The AFT No. 1 was one of three locomotives that pulled the American Freedom Train, a traveling exhibition that brought over 500 pieces of Americana to 7 million Americans during the U.S. Bicentennial in 1975-76. It was unveiled following a meticulous cosmetic restoration.
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