Obama's historic train trip

"We are here to mark the beginning of our journey to Washington," Obama said. "This is fitting because it was here, in this city, that our American journey began. It was here that a group of farmers and lawyers, merchants and soldiers, gathered to declare their independence and lay claim to a destiny that they were being denied."

Gov. Ed Rendell, introducing Obama, noted Pennsylvania was not just a battleground state during the revolution, but also in Obama's election.

"This was the battleground," Rendell said. "When the returns came back at 8:06 we all knew, and I bet Sen. Obama knew, that he was going to be the next president of the United States."

Rendell and the other elected officials introducing Obama noted all the Lincoln parallels.

"They're both from Illinois; he will use the Lincoln bible; He will speak at the Lincoln Memorial. I think he has a real sense of history," said Arlen Specter, the Republican senator from Pennsylvania , who is here to add a bi-partisan air to the send-off. Earlier this week it was Specter who harshly grilled Obama's choice for attorney general, Eric Holder, during his confirmation hearing.

"He's pretty much retracing the same route [as Lincoln]," Democratic Sen. Bob Casey said. Casey said he hopes Obama's inaugural speech Tuesday can help slow the economic downturn.

"Words matter -- probably more so in a time of economic crisis," Casey said. "His words throughout the campaign inspired people to believe that what was thought impossible is within the realm of possibility."

After the speech, Obama boarded a 1930 vintage Pullman car which is cruising to Wilmington, Del., to pick up Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his family. Obama will make a stop in Baltimore before arriving in Washington, D.C. tonight.

The "Georgia 300" train has hosted Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. It's also the same train Obama road through Pennsylvania in his unsuccessful bid to win that state's Democratic primary election. The train has a kitchen, two living-room areas and a small bedroom.

Lincoln took over the country at a time of war. Obama faces war on two fronts and an economic crisis.

"We recognize that such enormous challenges as we face today will not be solved quickly," Obama said. "There will be false starts and setbacks, frustrations and disappointments. We will be called to show patience even as we act with fierce urgency."

In addition to the historic Pullman car, there are nine Amtrak cars filled with press, staff and invited guests.

Obama is traveling with his wife, Michelle, who turns 45 today, his daughters Malia and Sasha, and friends Penny Pritzker and John Rogers, among others.

Along the route, Pennsylvanias bundled up and braved the 9-degree temperatures to wave American flags as the train rolled by.