Meet the Marco Polo: A railcar with a presidential past

Jun 24, 2026

As Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 steam engine rolls through the Norfolk Southern network this summer leading UP and NS’ joint celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, it’s bringing with it a special piece of NS history: the Marco Polo railcar.

Built nearly a century ago, the historic passenger car is best known for its connection to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who commissioned the Marco Polo for travel while governor of New York and utilized it as president to travel between Washington, D.C. and his personal retreat in Warm Springs, Ga., making whistle stops along the way to address crowds gathered along the route.

Why it matters:

As railfans, employees, and local communities gather to see Big Boy and NS’ America’s 250 locomotives, the Marco Polo helps tell another part of the story: how railroads connected presidents, dignitaries, industries, and communities long before modern highways and air travel linked the country. With Big Boy in the lead and the Marco Polo at the end, along with several more historic cars in between, the America’s 250 train tour offers onlookers a chance to experience American rail history firsthand.

A car built for America's travelers

The Marco Polo was built by the Pullman Company in Chicago in 1927 as one of a series of six luxury railcars named after world-renowned explorers. At a time when air travel was still in its infancy, and decades before the creation of Air Force One, the Marco Polo car provided Roosevelt with private accommodation, efficient travel, and a platform for engaging with members of the public.

A piece of presidential history

Between 1933 and 1940, Roosevelt used the car during whistle-stop tours and trips to Warm Springs, Ga., where he sought treatment and recovery from polio. The car was modified to accommodate his mobility needs, including additional handrails and other features designed with input from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, The president utilized a wheelchair on board custom made to fit the car’s narrow passageways.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with Eleanor Roosevelt on Marco Polo railcar in December 1933

A photograph displayed inside the car captures Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and their party departing Warm Springs in December 1933, preserving a moment in both presidential and railroad history.

Preserving a piece of history

Unlike many historic passenger cars that were extensively rebuilt over time, the Marco Polo retains many of its original features, preserving the car in nearly the exact same condition and design it had when it was transporting Roosevelt. After sitting stationary for the last 30 years, the car, which is on loan from the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga., was restored to travel-ready condition by NS’ expert team in Altoona, Pa. ahead of the America’s 250 tour.

What we're saying

"The Marco Polo offers a unique window into a time when railroads really were the primary means of travel for those needing to get from one place to another, connecting communities, leaders, and the country itself,” Kristin Wong, Director of Norfolk Southern Foundation & Community Impact. "Preserving historic equipment like this helps ensure those stories remain accessible for future generations."

Where to catch it

The car joined a historic consist accompanying Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 and select locomotives from Norfolk Southern's America250 series this month when the train began its East Coast Tour. A full schedule of stops the train will make this summer is available here.

Learn more about Norfolk Southern's America250 celebration here.