Roald Amundsen (railcar)

Last updated
Roald Amundsen Pullman car
SD-Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car 1928.jpg
The Roald Amundsen on display in Scottsdale, Arizona
Manufacturer Pullman Company
Order no.Lot 6246
Constructed1929
DiagramPullman Plan 3972C
Specifications
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car
Location Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Nearest city Scottsdale, Arizona
Coordinates 33°32′15″N111°55′22″W / 33.53750°N 111.92278°W / 33.53750; -111.92278
NRHP reference No. 09000582 [1]
Designated August 6, 2009


Named after the Norwegian explorer, the Roald Amundsen is a former Pullman Company private car; the last of six Explorer-series cars built between 1927 and 1929 for the Pullman Company's pool of passenger cars. It was frequently used as the United States Presidential Rail Car, and was used for every president from Herbert Hoover through Dwight Eisenhower. [2]

During World War II, sister car Ferdinand Magellan was rebuilt as the official presidential private car; after the war, the Roald Amundsen was surplus to the Pullman Company's requirements and was sold, and became a business car for the New York Central Railroad. In 1971 it was donated to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, Arizona. [1]

In 2009 the Roald Amundsen was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Salon Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Salon.jpg
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Salon
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car set for Christmas Dinner Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car set for Christmas Dinner.jpg
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car set for Christmas Dinner
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Bedroom Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Bedroom.jpg
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car Bedroom

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System  Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car (#09000582)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  2. Wrixon 2008, p. 26.

Bibliography