Three steam locomotives powered the American Freedom Train during its 1975–1976 Bicentennial tour.
The locomotives were Reading Company No. 2101, Southern Pacific No. 4449, and Texas & Pacific No. 610. Each engine handled different sections of the long national journey rather than pulling the entire route continuously.
Southern Pacific No. 4449 became especially famous because it was painted in a red, white, and blue scheme for the celebration. The train also used diesel power on some sections, including routes where track conditions or the train’s weight made steam operation impractical.
The American Freedom Train itself contained 26 cars and displayed artifacts connected with American history and culture. It traveled more than 25,000 miles and stopped in 138 cities during its 21-month tour.