US Car Number 1, the Ferdinand Magellan, sits in the Gold Coast Railway Museum in Miami. It’s 120 tonnes of bulletproof, armoured railcar.
source/image: Tom Scott
A train carriage designed to move the President of the United States around the country in safety and style.At least, it was, until other transport came along to do a better job.
source/image: Tom Scott
Constructed as a private railcar by the Pullman Company in 1928 and named for the legendary explorer, the Magellan was withdrawn from service in 1942 in order to be completely rebuilt and customized for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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Though only 84 feet long, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide, it encompassed separate bedrooms for the president and First Lady, two guest rooms, a dining room/conference room and an observation lounge.
And not only had it had its sides, roof, floor and rear door sheathed in steel armor-plating and its window frames sealed with bullet-resistant glass, it had been provided with two escape hatches.
