All Aboard the GMA Train

An unlikely press conference location kicked off an even more unlikely occurrence. From aboard an antique train car (Little Juniata Rapids built in 1953 to be specific) at Grand Central Terminal in New York, ABC News’ new “50 States in 50 Days” journey began.

The partnership between ABC News and USA Today will see ABC News anchors and correspondents, as well as USA Today reporters, reporting from one state each day beginning September 15, as the 2008 election winds down. Reports will air on all ABC News platforms.

ABC News president David Westin said one of the goals is to, “Take a look at this election from the point of view of the voter, the citizen.”

The train used for the press conference will be one of those employed by Good Morning America next week, as it embarks on a five-day journey from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., with stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states. The train will be equipped with Wi-Fi and include a car used as a control room.

And, as Westin points out, it will be a first in television news. “No one has ever broadcast live from a train before,” he said.

Westin also reflected on the election as a whole. “Those of us in journalism were given a huge gift for the last 18 months and now we have 60 days left,” he said. “It has been a privilege for all of us in journalism to cover this.”

ABC News and USA Today have collaborated on multiple projects in the past, and Westin says the two have a, “wonderful relationship.”

“This is absolutely the most ambitious and looks like it’s going to be the most fun,” said USA Today SVP of news Ken Paulson of the project.

TVNewser caught up with Terry Moran on the train ride back from Yonkers to Grand Central Station. The Nightline anchor talked about his show’s role in the “50 States” tour, ABC’s upcoming Sarah Palin interview and more:



Click continued to see a GMA photo shoot on the train (with Westin)…

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