Anyone have photos of SP 4449's first trip under steam when it was restored in the 1970's? I heard it Pulled a freight through the columbia gorge as its first assignment. Also I'd like to know if there are any photos of the engine in the Feather River Canyon in 1999. Thanks for anything you can provide.
How about these... http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=71194 http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=35388
Thanks for the links but I'm talking about before the Freedom train. As in its first move under steam on the Columbia River Gorge route.
Joshu, there is a booklet about the restoration of 4449 and it's history, probably for sale on the Friends website or on Daylight sales. I'm not at home (visiting kids) or I could give you the title of it. It's full of photos. The earliest ones that I have are in 1984. By the way, when it was restored in the 70's, it was specifically FOR the Freedom Train, so any first runs would be in AFT colors, not Daylight.
As already pointed out, her first runs would be in AFT colors. I'm not sure about this pic, however the first trial runs were done with relatively light loads, and given this pic was snapped in 75 this could be one of the first runs? it's the only pic I've been able to find of that timeframe with a non AFT consist: Courtesy Espee.Railfan.Net Good luck with your research! -Mike PS. Here are some Feather River pics from 99 [ 25. December 2004, 22:28: Message edited by: SLSF Freak ]
Thanks for the photo. BTW I knew it wouldn't be in Daylight colors when first run after restoration. I just was wondering if there were any photos of its first run because I'd read a promo for a video on 4449 that it was tested in the Gorge on a freight following its restoration. I Hope to someday see it in action.
Actually, the first break-in run was only from Portland to Skamania on May 8th, 1975. Then on May 14th, it hauled a 1875-ton train to Wishram and back before embarking on the Preamble Express to Chicago. In the photo with the snow-capped mountains, that looks like the rockies for sure, so that's likely the Preamble Express. The first run was the steam locomotive, tender, and a caboose, nothing else. There's a photo of it posted under American Freedom Train at http://www.4449.com ~Chris
Hey Chris! Welcome to the best railroad site on the net. Glad to see you here. We need more 12 inch to the foot scale folks. Almost everyone is N gauge oriented. That's fine, but you and I like the big guys. For you folks who don't know Chris, look at his "handle" F40PHR231. Chris OWNS that locomotive, saving it from scrapping (as opposed to "scraping") by Amtrak. Chris is a regular volunteer at the Brooklyn Roundhouse in Portland, and the new Webmaster for the 4449 home site. He has added hundreds of photos in the last few days alone. A super welcome addition to this place!!
Man, that looks like Amtrak technology in 1977 anyways. Are you sure that that isnt an Amtrak locomotive? Man, I hate those "Freedom" colors that 4449 wore.
Welcome aboard sd70macman. I remember standing in line for hours in Los Angeles to enter the original freedom train in the mid or late 1940s. The power unit was one of those 'streamliner' locos that I now believe to be F units. The entire train was painted in the same design then.
Bill, The original Freedom Train was pulled by a PA and PB when it was traveling through New York and New England in 1947. Although when I went through it at Grand Central Terminal it had a pair of NYC Juice Jacks.
