The 1975 - 1976 American Freedom Train

The 1975-1976 Bicentennial American Freedom Train


	3rd Rail American Freedom Train GS-4 in O Scale Brass In 2011, 3rd Rail Division of Sunset Models announced that they would be producing an O scale Southern Pacific GS-4 in Daylight, Black, and American Freedom Train paint -- in both 2 Rail and 3 Rail. The models shipped to customers in September 2012. Image: Todd Schannuth collection
	The AFT GS-4 as it arrived at 3rd Rail in August 2012. Image: 3rd Rail Division of Sunset Models
	Initial advertisements for the model featured a lightly 'Photoshopped' image of Bill Gallagher's excellent custom-decorated brass O scale model of the famous GS-4.
	Only 20 3-rail versions and 15 2-rail versions were produced -- an extremely limited run of 35 -- and coincidentally just a single example for each state the real locomotive has ever turned a wheel in!
	The models featured: -All Brass Construction -Fully Detailed Backhead -ERR Cruise in 3 Rail -GS-4 Whistle and Chuffing By Lionel Compatible with Legacy, DCS, TMCC, Conventional Control -Coil Couplers The massive locomotives need 072 3 Rail Track or 56" Radius for 2 Rail Track. The MSRP was $1499.95 3rd Rail item # 3RSPGS4FR
	The detail and accuracy of paint far surpassed any previous American Freedom Train model in any scale. From the "Pepsi blue" paint (Pepsi was a million-dollar sponsor of the AFT), to the decoration behind the number board, to the paint on the back of the cab, the 3rd Rail designers expertly reproduced the real AFT paint scheme.
	The detail afforded by handmade brass yielded detail that wasn't feasible in plastic or die cast metal.
	The locomotive came with engineer and fireman figures.
	The alignment and separation of the stars on the tender was spot-on.
	Detail of tender with working back-up light. The locomotive also has an oscillating Mars light up front. Back to memorabilia...