Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942

THF148028 / Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942
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Artifact Overview

By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

12 November 1942

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.P.188.70777

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in
Width: 10 in

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  • Edsel and Eleanor Ford, Henry and Clara Ford, and Mina and Thomas Edison on the Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," circa 1923
    Set

    Fair Lane: The Fords' Private Railroad Car

    • 25 Artifacts
    By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it difficult to travel by railroad. Henry Ford was widely recognized -- pestered by the public and hounded by reporters. The Fords purchased a private railroad car they called Fair Lane, so they could travel conveniently and quietly across the extensive American railroad network. The Fords made more than 400 trips with Fair Lane from 1921 to 1942.