Tag Archives: Christmas

1970 National Christmas Tree in Georgetown

History, Prototype

I stumbled on this image on eBay and had to snag it. Yes, I know it’s not great with “A-OK” Paddy taking up most of the frame, but these things are hard to come by so I’ll take what I can get. 🙂 Anyway, this depicts one of the most cursed shipments I’ve ever heard of on the Georgetown Branch.

November 28, 1970. Caption on the back: “Giving the okay sign is C.L. “Paddy” Ingvalson, president of the Keep South Dakota Green Association, who was on hand Friday when the National Christmas Tree was unloaded after a trip from Rapid City, S.D. The closely-guarded train was twice-derailed on the journey. The tree will be erected in the Ellipse, south of the White House. Lighting is scheduled for Dec. 16.”

Since 1954 the National Christmas Tree was shipped via rail from destinations far and wide across America, often arriving in Georgetown to be transloaded by crane to a flatbed truck, driven across DC to the Mall, and erected in front of the White House for the Pageant of Peace. In 1970, a 78′ spruce in Nemo, South Dakota was selected. The tree was felled on Nov 10th and loaded onto a truck for the 22 mile journey to Rapid City, SD. There it was loaded onto Chicago North Western 132577, a 70-ton 65’6″ gondola, to begin its journey to the Nation’s Capital on Nov 16th.

CNW 132577 with the National Christmas Tree, Proviso yard, Chicago, IL. Chicago North Western Historical Society

Unfortunately the train derailed twice along the way. The first was two days after departing Rapid City near the town of Beemer, NE on Wed Nov 18th when the train took a siding and derailed.

Train Derailment Slows Nations Christmas Tree – Fremont Tribune – Fremont, NB – November 18, 1970

The ill-fated train would derail again, this time outside of Pittsburg, PA. It arrived a bit early to DC and had to layover from November 24 to 27 on the US Army Map Agency siding, adjacent to the south entrance of Dalecarlia Tunnel. The train would continue on to Georgetown on November 28, where it would arrive in the yard to be transloaded onto a flatbed truck and head to its final destination, the National Mall, where it would be the centerpiece of the Pageant of Peace.

December 6, 1970. After erection, the tree was blown over by high winds over 50mph. Historic Images photo.
December 7, 1970. The next day, the tree was righted and repaired. Historic Images photo.
December 15, 1970. The lights were tested on the tree. “President Nixon will officially light the tree on 12/16 to open the Pageant of Peace.” Historic Images photo.