Special excursion of SP #4449 "Daylight" steam loco

B

BigJohn101

New member
I read in our local weekend paper about a special steam railroad excursion event in July and October, across the northern US, aboard a fleet of Vista-domes, lounge cars, sleepers, etc pulled by the Southern Pacific 4449 steam loco.

shapeimage_4.png


http://www.calzephyrrailcar.com/Site/Upcoming_Trips/Entries/2009/7/3_Twice_in_a_Lifetime.html
 
Isn't this the loco that pulled the American Freedom train for the bi-centinial?
If so when it was in West Palm Beach, Florida and I took my kids over to see it. Absolutely amazed them how big a steamer was. Beautiful engine.

Ben
 
bendorsey said:
Isn't this the loco that pulled the American Freedom train for the bi-centinial?
If so when it was in West Palm Beach, Florida and I took my kids over to see it. Absolutely amazed them how big a steamer was. Beautiful engine.

Ben
Click to expand...

Yes it is. I have never seen it in the bicentinial colors in real life but my dad got to ride when he was younger.

Matt
 
Hi,

I got to see it up close when it was parked in downtown San Jose about thirty years ago (gosh!). I can still hear the smooth alto sound of that whistle. I remember after listening to it up close a few times my suit got damp from the steam vapor. Quite an experience.

Bernie
 
Yup, I got to see her in 1976 when she came through Tucson. I was 10, and I remember being amazed at how huge the drivers were. She's such a beautiful loco :)

Todd
 
I may pass out after seeing the prices.
Still it is nice to see the old girl being put to use.
Kenny
 
One of the best trains, visually, ever built. Good to see it is still possible to see her working. Too bad I am 12000 miles away though, wont get the chance.
Cheers,
Mike
 
It was considered by many to be the world's most beautiful steam locomotive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so to many that will be true. To others it will be a bucket of rivets. To me, it would be the trip of my lifetime, but I guess I won't be there.
 
Imagine spending several days and nights on a steamer pulled train plus 1st class accomodations. A little spin around the US northwest. :)

Cheers

AJ
 
I saw her about 8 years ago, right after I moved to Portland. She was painted in the freedom train colors at the time; I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures. More recently, I saw her for National Train Day this year:

train_day.JPG


There was quite a line to go into the cab!
 
I seem to remember reading somewhere it was damaged on the way back to Seattle after the Freedom Train thing was done. Someone ran it thru a 20 mph crossover at 50 mph. Didn't derail but cracked the frame. Any truth to that?
Yo Prowler - I Know what your daughter means about big. My daughter was about the same age when the Freedom Train was here. I have a photo of her standing in front of a driver. Lot more driver then daughter, lol.

Ben
 
Here are some of the special excursion details and prices (ouch !) from the website, for anybody rich enough to be able to go:

California Zephyr Railcar Charters is proud to offer a ʻtwice in a lifetimeʼ opportunity to ride our ʻ Silver Fleetʼ, supplemented by former Pennsylvania sleeper-lounge Colonial Crafts, in first-class luxury between Portland, OR and Minneapolis, MN on a transcontinental train pulled by the sole remaining Daylight steam locomotive. We will have Silver Lariat, Silver Rapids, and Silver Solarium aboard the train, giving guests the opportunity to see the beautiful Empire Builder route from end to end in daylight, from two Vista-Domes.

Dates for this extraordinary adventure are:
Eastbound, Portland-Minneapolis July 3-9, 7 days
Westbound, Minneapolis-Portland October 13-20, 8 days (Fall Colors)

In addition, guests wishing to book with us on the following segments may do so:
Oakland-Portland June 30-July 1 (2 nights aboard the private cars)
Minneapolis-Chicago-Emeryville (Oakland) via Amtrak #5, July 10-13 (4 nights aboard the private cars)
Portland-Oakland October 21-22
Emeryville-Chicago-Minneapolis via the California Zephyr, train 6, October 9-12 (Fall Colors!)
Day segments on the Portland-Minneapolis portions of the trip are also available. The train will overnight for servicing at Spokane, Whitefish, Havre, Minot, and Fargo.
All guests will enjoy our famous superior service, with meals prepared fresh on board by our chefs and served in one of our Vista-Domes. Of course, our bar is complimentary. In addition, overnight passengers will stay aboard in our sleepers, and enjoy the attentive service that people have come to expect when traveling with us.

Pricing for this adventure is as follows:
Portland-Minneapolis or Minneapolis-Portland: $5,699/person, double occupancy (bedroom) or $5,699/person roomette. $6,999/person, double occupancy, drawing room.
Entire round trip (Oakland-Portland-Minneapolis-Chicago-Oakland): $6,699/person, double occupancy bedrooms, or $6,699/person roomette; $8,499/person, double occupancy, drawing room.
 
Pere Marquette 1225

The SP loco will be show with the Pere Marquette 1225 during its excursion in Michigan. The 1225 was the prototype for the "Polar Express" movie, and it remains the largest steam locomotive the general public has the ability to operate. I rented it twice (during "Engy in Training" sessions) for hour-long excursions along a closed track, and I hope to do so again. Plenty to do even at just 10 mph!
 
bendorsey said:
Isn't this the loco that pulled the American Freedom train for the bi-centinial?
If so when it was in West Palm Beach, Florida and I took my kids over to see it. Absolutely amazed them how big a steamer was. Beautiful engine.

Ben
Click to expand...
well yes 4449 pulled the the american freedom train on the west coast. READING COMPANY 2101 pulled the american freedom train east coast and teaxs and pacific 610 pulled the train in texas. :D
 
Actually 4449 did a lot of pulling out east. It ran thru Indiana during part of it's run. I saw it as a kid in Kendallville, IN on it's way to Fort Wayne.
 
READING 2101

mikeman said:
Actually 4449 did a lot of pulling out east. It ran thru Indiana during part of it's run. I saw it as a kid in Kendallville, IN on it's way to Fort Wayne.
Click to expand...
yea right the 4449 run west of the windy city. and the reading 2101 pulled the american freedom train east of the windy city it ran thourgh indiana.:p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
The North Eastern Railway BTP Steam Autocars
Replies
19
Views
5K
borderreiver
B
T
A list of good DLS content makers
2
Replies
30
Views
15K
justinroth
J
Back
Top