The freedom train's website called it the "only nationwide celebration of the bicentennial."
More than 7 million people visited the train during its tour of all 48 contiguous states, and millions more stood trackside to see it go by, according to the website.
Pallos was also at the Glendale station earlier that year when U.S. Treasurer Francine Neff came through Glendale by train.
"It was the summer of 1975 and she was promoting the sale of savings bonds."
The train that brought her had an engine and caboose painted in patriotic colors. Pallos snapped several shots of Neff schmoozing with people at the station, he said.
"I think I still have a $1 bill autographed by her," he said.
KATHERINE YAMADA can be reached by calling features editor Joyce Rudolph at (818) 637-3241. For more information on Glendale's history visit the Glendale Historical Society's web page: www.glendalehistorical.org; call the reference desk at the Central Library at (818) 548-2027; or call (818) 548-2037 to make an appointment to visit the Special Collections Room at Central. It is open by appointment only.READERS WRITE
George Natsume came to Glendale in the early 1920s with his parents and lived near the corner of San Fernando Road and Grandview Avenue.
"When we went out the backdoor, we would see acres of vineyards. Looking toward Griffith Park, San Fernando Road was lined with huge eucalyptus trees and across the railroad tracks was an airport. I remember seeing them build the Slate dirigible — Kinner Motors was there, too. One day there was a fire at the airport so they had to attach the fire hose to a hydrant up on San Fernando Road and laid it across the tracks and ran the hose as close as they could to the hanger. A few minutes later, a freight train came along and cut the hose into pieces."
Natsume also recalled watching pilots high in the air, skywriting the words "Lucky Strike."
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