Lincoln Train Museum

General information

The Lincoln Train Museum, built in 1969 and recreated in 2013 by the late James F. Kralik, Sheriff Rockland County NY, shares a patriots love of America and those whose roles shaped and created our American story.

Within walking distance of the location where Abraham Lincoln, "widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents in United States history", shared "one of the most famous pieces of oratory in American History", dedicating the hallowed ground of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the American Civil War, you can explore the history and heroes of America from the days of the founding fathers through 911 with the spirit of President Lincoln. http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln

Museum collections include Americana from politics to sports, Hollywood, the wild west, Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, US Military, World Wars, The Medal of Honor and Purple Heart, as well as railroad history and memorabilia. Your rail journey with us includes the history of President Lincoln's funeral journey from Washington Dc to Springfield Illinois as well as a ride on our recreated Funeral Car United States upon which you journey with the Spirit of Lincoln as he shares his love of America with you.

Why a train museum you ask? Well, Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, savior of the union and emancipator of slaves was also instrumental in forging our American Rail Road system. His life adventures seemed to encompass this new transportation system built upon American ingenuity.

As an attorney in the early 1850's, Abraham Lincoln started dealing with railroad cases. By the middle of the decade he would be considered one of the most successful and sought after practitioners of railroad law. http://www.indianahistory.org/our-services/books-publications/railroad-symposia-essays-1/Abe%20Lincoln%20as%20a%20Railroad%20Attorney.pdf

In 1861 President Elect Abraham Lincoln gave his farewell speech to his town of Springfield from the back of a rail car. During that speech Lincoln 'foreshadowed that the great conflict brewing would claim him: "I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return..." And he was right, he never saw Springfield again'. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/jamie-stiehm/2011/02/14/abraham-lincolns-farewell-address-revealed-his-tragic-optimism

The rail adventure to Washington Lincoln would embark upon that evening would consist of "sneaking through Baltimore at night, in disguise foiling an alleged assassination attempt." https://worldhistoryproject.org/1861/2/22/the-baltimore-plot-to-assassinate-abraham-lincoln

As the bloody Civil War engulfed the nation, the transcontinental railroad would become "Lincoln's way of uniting our nation 'from sea to shining sea'. Our hero wanted to make America across the continent feel like one people and one nation". http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/lincoln/lincoln_rr/index.shtml

In 1863 President Lincoln would use the developing transportation system and arrive by rail at the Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station on the Carlisle Pike to dedicate the grounds of Gettysburg's Soldiers National Cemetery with some of the most memorable words in our American history.

During the Civil War the Federal Government would create the first private railroad car, a car for the President as a means to unite the nation after the civil war. That car would become the Funeral Car United States. The President never stepped aboard that car while he was living but he took his final journey home to be laid to rest in Springfield, accompanied by the remains of his son Willie upon it. Sadly, the Funeral Car United States would be destroyed by a prairie fire in 1911.

The Lincolns’ story of the American Railroad wouldn't end there however. President Lincoln's oldest son, Robert, would become the president of the Pullman Car Company. The Pullman Car Company would change their railroad cars from 60 foot varnished wood railroad cars to 80 foot riveted-steel design cars. In September of 1910, with Robert Lincoln as President, coach 895, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Business Car No. 101, would be manufactured for the Western Pacific Railroad. After complete restoration, today this car is available for use. It is now the oldest operational car in America and has been renamed the Abraham Lincoln. In July 1988, the Abraham Lincoln was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. http://www.pullman-car.com/history/History.html

We are delighted to invite you to operate a model Pullman standard gauge train on our interactive layout as well as explore American history with us at the Lincoln Train Museum.