Lincoln Funeral Train
Monday, May 18, 2015-
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Address:
Ashland County Fairgrounds
2042 Claremont Avenue
Ashland, OH 44805
Presented By: Ashland Bicentennial Committee
www.ashland200.com
On May 18 and 19, 2015, as part of Ashland’s Bicentennial Celebration, a full-scale replica of the Lincoln train car that carried President Abraham Lincoln’s body home for burial will be on display at the Ashland County Fairgrounds.
The event, sponsored by Americarb Inc., will include a number of events during the two days, including a grade school program from 8 a.m. to noon on both days. The school children, who will be riding the train, will receive an engineer’s cap, compliments of Fin, Feather and Fur.
From 1 to 5 p.m. on both days, the Lincoln Train will be open and available for viewing and tours, while from 5 to 9 p.m. on both days, the train and car will be open to the general public for evening tours. Donations will be taken at the site to help defray the costs of bringing the train to Ashland.
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 21, 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, Ill. In 12 major cities formal funerals were held, and many more memorial services were organized in communities along the train’s route.
The event also is a fundraiser for The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Train, a unique railroad tribute to Abraham Lincoln. Historic Railroad Equipment Association (HREA), an Elgin, Ill., nonprofit, built the 48-foot-long replica with private donations under the direction of master mechanic David Kloke. “This is a great opportunity for people – especially young people – to see and experience what it was like to pay their respects to Abraham Lincoln,” Kloke said.
The original coach, built by the U.S. Military Railroad at Alexandria, Va., was intended to be used by President Lincoln as his state car – it was the 19th century equivalent of Air Force One. But Lincoln’s only journey aboard the car named “United States” was his journey into history.
The City of Ashland is celebrating its 200th year anniversary during 2015 and will be hosting many different events as part of the year-long celebration, which is sponsored by Donley Auto Group. For more information on these and other events, please go to the Bicentennial website at http://www.ashland200.com/ and watch for many other new and exciting events to be announced.
Media Contact for Interviews: SHANNON BROWN, Media & Public Relations Director for The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Train, at (812) 325-0374 or sbrown@the2015lincolnfuneraltrain.com.
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