Lionel - 1927570 Defense Special 2 Pack B

Although war had not yet been officially declared, the Department of Defense was already preparing for battle in 1941. On November 10, three 8-car special trains left Washington DC on national tours to promote the thousands of items that would be needed to support the massive war effort that was feared soon to come. Each red, white and blue train contained six coaches filled with exhibits, and a pair of cars to provide accommodations for the staff of 36. At each city, manufacturing leaders and the public at large were able to tour the special train to view everything from ammunition shells to bandages to navigation equipment. After a day of meetings, the train rolled on through the night to the next stop. By the time the trains' 40 day scheduled trips had concluded, their mission was clearer than ever. Handled by multiple railroads across the country, this nearly forgotten train will be the perfect patriotic addition to any layout! These coaches feature exhibit panel recreations rendered from remaining photographs in the Library of Congress.