Ferdinand Magellan, Presidential railcar at Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Miami, United States
The Ferdinand Magellan is an armored railcar at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, Florida. The car measures 25.6 meters (84 feet) and features four sleeping compartments, a formal dining area, and a rear observation section encased in steel plating.
The Pullman Company built this car in 1929 originally as a luxury coach for business travelers. It was retrofitted in 1943 and served Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman as an armored presidential transport until 1958.
The rear platform of this rail car became a symbol of American democracy when Harry Truman delivered 350 campaign speeches across the nation.
The museum opens between 10 AM and 4 PM, and visitors can step inside the car during those hours. Access requires climbing steps, so the interior visit may be limited for wheelchair users.
The car weighs 129 tonnes, making it the heaviest passenger railcar ever to run on American tracks. Truman delivered more than 350 campaign speeches from its rear platform in 1948, crisscrossing the country.
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