I toured the train car presidents used for travel before Air Force One. Climb aboard the 'White House on wheels.'

The car was last used by Ronald Reagan during a commemorative whistle-stop tour in Ohio in 1984.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

In 1984, Reagan brought the Magellan out of retirement for a one-day whistle-stop tour through Ohio during his reelection campaign.

The president traveled from Dayton to Perrysburg and stopped at five locations to give speeches from the rear platform of the presidential car.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The car, which is 84 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 15 feet tall, was covered with over 1/2 an inch of nickel-steel armor on its sides and featured 3-inch-thick bulletproof glass windows.

It was also the heaviest train car built in the US. After it was refurbished for presidential use, the train car weighed 285,000 pounds, making it much heavier than modern-day war tanks, which often weigh around 100,000 pounds.

The car also had its name, Ferdinand Magellan, removed from its sides in an effort to conceal the president's presence, although its design often stood out.

Other security features included two escape hatches and a complex security protocol, which included diverting traffic on the rails to ensure that no train traveled ahead or behind the president for at least 30 minutes. Operating under the code name POTUS, the president's train always had the right of way.

Passengers boarded from the front of the train, which housed the staff quarters and kitchen.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The entrance through which presidents and their guests would've entered is at the front of the car.

In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The train's dedicated chef prepared the president and guests' meals inside this kitchen.

On the other side of the kitchen, the staff had pantry space to plate the dishes.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The kitchen was also equipped with a pantry and a full-size metal sink.

The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

Near the kitchen, a chef and a porter had sleeping quarters that featured an upper and lower berth.

The dining and conference room was in the main cabin of the car.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The presidential car's main cabin featured a 6-foot solid mahogany table where the president and his guests — often diplomats or foreign leaders — could gather for dinners or meetings.

The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The first of two guest bedrooms aboard the US Car No. 1, Stateroom D, included an upper and lower berth, where guests could sleep, and an in-room bathroom.

In these guest rooms, Truman welcomed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during his visit to the US in 1946, during which he delivered his iconic Iron Curtain speech.

The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

Designed to accommodate Franklin D. Roosevelt's wheelchair, the president's room included a full-size bed, a dresser, and an in-room toilet.

Like most rooms in the car, it was also connected to a telephone, which was extremely rare at the time.

The first lady's room paralleled the president's.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

Inside the first lady's quarters was a bed and a dresser, although she didn't have an in-room bathroom.

A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

A slim, wood-paneled hallway led from the four staterooms to the observation deck at the rear of the car.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

The observation room was also enlarged during the refurbishing of the car, allowing it to function as a secondary gathering room for the president and his guests.

During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

Part of the car's security modifications included the addition of escape hatches, like this submarine hatch on the observation lounge.

Traveling presidents could address crowds from a podium on the car's rear platform.

To carry the president, the unique armored car had enhanced security features., In the kitchen, an onboard chef had access to ovens and refrigerators., The car housed two staff members: one chef and one porter., The car included two guest bedrooms along with a presidential suite., The presidential suite included the president's sleeping area., The first lady's room paralleled the president's., A narrow hallway led from the staterooms to the observation deck., The observation lounge featured some of the presidential car's original furniture., During the refurbishment, a submarine escape hatch was added to the car.

At the end of the presidential car was an exposed podium from where the president often addressed crowds.

During Truman's whistle-stop tour, he spoke from the podium repeatedly, often addressing crowds in different cities within the same day.

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