FREEDOM TRAIN BOX CARS

Ray,

The Freedom Train, which ran from Sep 1947 to Jan 1949, is sometimes confused with the Friendship Train, which ran for 11 days in Nov 1947.  As you mentioned, the Friendship Train collected foodstuffs from American donors for transport to the people of France while the Freedom Train was a campaign to sell America to Americans as some believed that Americans had begun taking the principles of liberty for granted in the post-war years.  The Freedom Train had no boxcars.

At one time I thought about collecting the Friendship Train freight cars, as well as the cars from the Merci Train.  The problem was the Friendship Train had over 700 cars, although not all were painted with some sort of identifying logo.  Too many to collect. 

In O gauge, I believe there is only one other car for you to get.  Its the SP Friendship Train car, 20-93523.

Ron,

Thanks for the info. I did a search and did find prototype photos of only a couple of cars. One was a CNW that just had a banner over the box car.

As for the SP car by MTH, I found several on ebay and was able to pick one up (NEW) for $24, a great price! Do you know if that is an accurate representation of the actual car? I could not find any prototype photo of it.

I'm thinking of running these cars with my Lionel Legacy GS4 Freedom Train with a K-Line Freedom Train observation on the rear. I know it is not accurate, but for my taste, this would look better than hauling the 1975/1976 consist. 

RAY

Ray of sunshine posted:

Ron,

I'm thinking of running these cars with my Lionel Legacy GS4 Freedom Train with a K-Line Freedom Train observation on the rear. I know it is not accurate, but for my taste, this would look better than hauling the 1975/1976 consist. 

RAY

Ray,

Go for it; its your railroad.  I think those Friendship Train cars would look good behind that model of the GS4 which pulled the American Freedom Train (AFT) from Apr 1, 1975 to Dec 31, 1976. 

I have no idea how accurate any of the MTH cars are, but they do look good.  I was thinking of getting some or all of them because I think they were still painted that way in 1949, the year my layout is set in.

Ron,

I do know that the CB&Q is correct per the prototype, see my photos above. The NP is also correct.  I don't know about the SP car.

RAY