A photograph taken when the McKinley Funeral Train was entering Harrisburg, September 16, 1901. The train had begun its journey earlier in the morning at Buffalo, New York, and was proceeding to Washington, D. C. for the funeral. Enroute, the train stopped at Sunbury (where photographs were taken), then passed several towns in the Lykens Valley Area (Herndon, Millersburg, Halifax, and Dauphin) on the way to Harrisburg (where photographs were taken).
The Pottsville Republican, in its September 16, 1901 edition, gave the following information about the train:
THE FUNERAL TRAIN ENROUTE
By Our Own Special Wire
Buffalo, September 16 [1901] — The train that bore the President from Buffalo was a solid Pullman of seven cars, drawn by two locomotives. Fifteen minutes before the train was to leave an engine sped out through the yards with orders to precede the train by fifteen minutes and keep the track clear. The train was under the general charge of G. W. Boyd assistant general passenger agent of the Pennsylvania. Assistant Trainmaster D. M. Kinsey, who came here in charge of President McKinley’s special train from Canton, was the Pullman conductor today. Engineer George Woodward was in charge of one engine, and Frank Bishop the other. The train crew was made up of picked men in the Pennsylvania and Pullman companies.
Behind the engines were the drawing room cars “Raleigh” and “Belgrade,” both of which were devoted to members of the press. Next came the dining car “Waldorf,” the car “Naples,” intended for Senators, the “Hungary,” for President Roosevelt and the Cabinet. Next to the rear car was the “Olympia,” occupied by Mrs. McKinley, and last of all, was the observation car “Pacific,” in which the body rested.
The Casket in View
The casket was placed between the windows on the observation car, there it could be seen by the people as the train went by. Crepe was draped from the two locomotives and from the rear of the observation car, and the railings of the cars were shrouded in crepe. The only relief was in two tiny pilot flags of white on the leading locomotive. The station was absolutely clear. President Roosevelt entered the station with Secretary Cortelyou. The members of the Cabinet followed. The President raised his hat to salutation. Just before he boarded the train the President observed H. H. Kohlsaat‘s shoulder, whispered a few words to him.
Shortly after 8:30 it was announced hat everything was in readiness, and at 8:34 the train pulled slowly out, just four minutes later that was scheduled. The train will stop at Olean, Emporium Junction, Williamsport, Renovo, Sunbury, Harrisburg, York and Baltimore. These stops will be made solely for the purpose of changing engines.
The Train Enroute.
Olean, New York — The funeral train passed here at 10:30. Three thousand people were gathered at the Pennsylvania Station.
The following is the schedule of the funeral train giving the time it passed certain towns:
| East Aurora | 9:22 a.m. |
| Olean | 10:55 a.m. |
| Port Allegheny | 11:36 a.m. |
| Emporium Junction | 12:15 p.m. |
| Driftwood | 12:46 p.m. |
| Renovo | 1:25 p.m. |
| Lock Haven | 2:10 p.m. |
| Williamsport | 2:45 p.m. |
| Milton | 3:26 p.m. |
| Sunbury | 3:46 p.m. |
| Harrisburg | 5:00 p.m. |
| York | 5:55 p.m. |
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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