SilverRails.net

SP 4449 was most likely seen as the premier highlight of the NRHS 2011 Convention by many of the delegates. The 2011 convention was headquartered in Tacoma, WA, and had many options for NRHS members to experience steam railroading. Besides the three unique trips with SP 4449, attendees could also choose to ride behind Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade #15 at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Rayonier #2, a geared Willamette locomotive at Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad.

The history of SP 4449

SP 4449 is a beautiful 4-8-4  “Northern” type locomotive built in 1941 by Lima Locomotive Works. The engine is equipped with 80” diameter drivers and capable of 100 mile per hour operation.

During its glory days, SP 4449 was one of the steam locomotives assigned to pull the Southern Pacific “Daylight” passenger trains linking Los Angeles and San Francisco along the scenic coast route and then on to Portland. SP 4449 operated until 1955, when it was retired and  put on display at a Portland city park. Its second life began in 1974 when it was chosen and restored to pull the American Freedom Train throughout the United States. 

Today, SP 4449 is the last operating “streamlined” locomotive in North America. The locomotive is owned by the city of Portland and operated by the all-volunteer Friends of SP 4449.  

SP 4449 hosts three convention trips

NRHS convention goers had three opportunities to ride behind SP 4449. The first trip began in Portland and brought delegates on a speedy ride to the host city of Tacoma. Riders had the option to ride one way from Tacoma to Portland on one of Amtrak’s frequent Cascades trains, and return with SP 4449‘s train. This rail route is owned by BNSF. 

The next trip, in the final days of the convention, was a rare mileage event on freight trackage owned by BNSF. This excursion began near sea level at the Tacoma Amtrak station and headed east over Stampede Pass  at 3672 feet above sea level. After passing through 9844 foot long Cascade Tunnel, the trip ended at Easton, Washington, where the engines were wyed for the return trip. 

The next day, SP 4449 led the train and its passengers on its third trip, returning to Portland along the same BNSF/Amtrak route.

Our adventures capturing SP 4449

My wife Jan accompanied me on the Washington portion of my June and July journey, which also took me to three steam sites in British Columbia. The day before the SP 4449 trip from Portland to Tacoma, we explored the route to find possible locations for video coverage. Knowing this was certainly going to be very fast trip we were conservative in picking locations. We decided to start our coverage in Vancouver, Washington because we would be able to capture SP 4449 coming across the Columbia River from two different locations, and it would be quicker to get on I-5 than from Portland. 

We arose early the next morning and drove to Vancouver from our Tacoma hotel. Jan’s location was along the Columbia between the I-5 and the BNSF bridge, while I staked out the sweeping curved platform at the Vancouver Amtrak station. All went according to plan. Jan drove the car and picked me up at the station after the train had cleared the bridge. Rather than wait for it to leave, we headed to our next location which was at Castle Rock. We arrived to capture the Coast Starlight heading south, then SP 4449 roared through in the other direction.

Back on the highway, we made it to Centralia as the train was bearing down on the town. Jan stopped the car and I grabbed my camera and ran to the spot I had chosen the day before. Unfortunately there was a disorganized crowd there now and I barely had time to get the camera going when SP 4449 raced into view. I got a good shot as it was coming toward me but could not get it as it passed my position because too many people were in the way. Fortunately, Jan had gotten out of the car and was able to shoot several still photos as it passed. This was a challenging segment to edit!

Our next goal was to reach the Tacoma Amtrak station before SP 4449 did, which nearly worked out. As we drove up the special was gliding to a stop and there was so much traffic we couldn’t get close. So we found parking a couple of blocks away and tried to get some station platform shots, but security officers were directing everyone out of the area.

Later that week we scouted locations for the Stampede Pass trip. Again, we were conservative, knowing there are few close highways parallel to this mountainous rail line. We found two locations west of Auburn where we could each get separate decent shots close enough to drop one of us off and pick up after the special passed. We also tried to find back roads along the line but much of this area is off limits due to restrictions around a large municipal water reservoir. We might have been pushing the envelope on our rental car agreement too, as some of the roads we discovered were pretty rugged. We did find the road to the tunnel but determined we would spend too much time getting there and back again for the shot. If I had it to do over again, we would have rented a second vehicle for the day to give us more opportunities. 

We met SP 4449 and the train at Easton, where it spent a lot of time discharging passengers, turning the engines on the wye, doing one spectacular runby facing east, loading the passengers and servicing the locomotive. We split up on foot to get different angles of the action, which worked great at this large open location. While the passengers got back on the train, Jan drove me to the spot west of Easton on Cabin Creek Road we had scoped out on our surveillance trip. Then she drove back to the yard to shoot the train departure before retrieving me. See a short video of the train departing Easton here.

We raced back to Kanaskat where Jan got the train going over the Green River Bridge and I went to the same crossing as my morning shot. Then we drove to the Tacoma station just in case the train was delayed. It wasn’t. Sure would have been nice to get one of the Tacoma arrivals.

The following morning was the third trip, Tacoma to Portland. Jan took her position on the pedestrian bridge at the wonderful Museum of Glass, which delivered a great view of SP 4449 leading its train around a broad bend right after departing the Amtrak station. I set up about a half mile further down the line to catch the train going under Jan’s bridge toward me. The light that morning was bright as we caught the train going through an urban landscape of railroad tracks, freeways and buildings.

The next stop was Centralia, where we found the train stopped but ready to go....now! This was good catch for both video and audio as SP 4449 started out.

Back on the road, we headed straight to historic Portland Union Station to the two spots we had decided on earlier that week. Jan was on the pedestrian bridge over the station tracks while I set up at ground level with a view of the arrival location. There was an Amtrak train but it seemed to be back far enough that I could get a good view of SP 4449 as she pulled in. Jan would have a clear shot as well. 

Soon we heard a slow chuffing sound as the train approached.....very....slowly. Then it stopped....behind the Amtrak train. There went my shot. Jan’s was not much better, as SP 4449 came to rest in the dark shade of the train shed. Oh shucks!

In spite of a somewhat subdued finale, SP 4449 put on a great show for all three trips. This locomotive has become an American railroading icon, and deservedly so. The unique styling and colors given to SP 4449 and her sisters set them apart from other streamlined steam locomotives. SP 4449 became the only one of 26 Southern Pacific GS-4 class to survive the scrapper’s torch. After being stuffed, mounted, and neglected in a city park, it got its second chance to run; a chance few other locomotives get. And not just run anywhere! It was restored to pull the prestigeous American Freedom Train to celebrate the county’s Bicentennial. After being seen and photographed by millions, there is probably no way this locomotive will ever end up in a park again.

Your opportunities with SP 4449

Thankfully we can enjoy witnessing the beauty of SP 4449 in operation today and probably for decades to come, thanks to the partnership of the City of Portland and the Friends of SP 4449. If you enjoy seeing this locomotive in person or on DVD, consider joining the Friends of SP 4449. If you live near Portland, maybe you could even volunteer your time and talent with this wonderful organization.

You can see the video story of the three NRHS convention trips we took with SP 4449 on our DVD, Steamin’ Through The Seasons. I know you will enjoy buying this DVD for yourself or as a gift for someone special!

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images 

Comment (0)

The Black Hills Central Railroad is a for profit company which operates The 1880 Train over a 10 mile long route located between Hill City and Keystone South Dakota. Although it depends on the thriving family tourist industry in the region, the Black Hills Central is a must-see for any serious railfan. The original standard gauge line dates to the 1890’s mining boom and constructed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Due to its location close to Mount Rushmore, the line was used to haul equipment and supplies used in the carving of the iconic monument.

With declines in mining and rail traffic, the Black Hills Central Railroad’s tourist trains began running here in 1957, with the goal to preserve steam railroading. In 1972 a massive and deadly flood destroyed the last mile between Keystone and Keystone Junction. This portion was not restored until 2001.

Currently Black Hills Central Railroad  has four steam locomotives and two diesels. GP9 number 63 usually handles the first round trip of the day with one of several steam engines handling the rest of the schedule.

On the day we visited, Baldwin 2-6-6-2T #110 pulled three trips. This unusual engine is articulated to handle tight curves found on logging railroads. It was built in 1928 and, according to the Black Hills Central website, is the last operating locomotive of its type. Its original owner was the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and later went to Rayonier Lumber. It was sold to the Black Hills Central in 1999 by the Nevada State Railway Museum. Since it is the most powerful steam locomotive on the railroad, it's often used during the heavy summer tourist months.

Shortly after leaving the station in Hill City, the train begins to climb the 4-6% grade on Tin Mill Hill. If you are fortunate enough to be there when #110 is in charge, you will witness one of the LOUDEST steam locomotives I’ve ever heard as it works its way up the grade!

Once at the top, the line passes through beautiful forest and meadow areas, along with some family farms. Some of the land is administered by the National Forest Service. Much of the Black Hills Central follows Battle Creek, once the home of gold prospectors in the earlier days of the railroad. At Keystone Junction the engine runs around the train and operates tender first for the return trip. The entire round trip is about two hours and fifteen minutes.

Hill City is also the home of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum (SDSRM), a not for profit operation located right next door to the Black Hills Central depot.

SDDRM has collections which include memorabilia, rolling stock, and other items relating to various railroads that served South Dakota both in the past and today. There’s also an HO railroad layout depicting South Dakota scenes.

You definitely should plan to make a trip to the Black Hills Central and the South Dakota State Railroad Museum. 

You can see a short video of 2-6-6-2T #110 here. If you enjoy that, then you might be interested in my 27 minute video documentary of 110 and the Black Hills Central, one of four chapters found on the Steam in the Mountains Volume 1 DVD from Yard Goat Images.

Thanks,

Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

Comment (0)

January 5, 2012

Maybe I sound like a broken record about the days we worked on the Steamin’ Summer DVDs, but one of the hottest, most unbearable days I’ve ever experienced was the day I attempted to follow NKP 765 Travel to the Rock Island Train Festival across Indiana and Illinois. I say attempted because the extreme heat put a temporary end to the locomotive’s journey just short of the Illinois border.

My day started in northern Indiana near the Michigan border where I was getting footage of the three tank engines (Flagg Coal 75, Lehigh Valley Coal 126, and Viscose 6) in their truck convoy to Rock Island. The convoy had started late due to a problem with one of the rigs as they were leaving the Little River Railroad in  Coldwater, Michigan. I was set up in LaGrange, Indiana for quite some time to record the trucks passing through town. The owner of 75 and 126, John Gramling, was advising me of progress by cellphone.

I finally caught them when they passed through LaGrange, then I was able to get ahead for a freeway shot near South Bend. Because of the delay and the probability of getting caught in Chicago sprawl before I would get ahead of the trucks again, I decided to break it off to see NKP 765 Travel to the Rock Island Train Festival.

Finding NKP 765

Comment (0)

Recently I had the pleasure of spending a day with the folks at the Laona & Northern Railway in woods of northern Wisconsin. The railway operates the Lumberjack Steam Train to bring passengers from the tiny town of Laona to the Camp 5 Museum.

My day with the Lumberjack Steam Train Crew

They were expecting me as I rolled up to the big green engine house at 7 AM on a hot summer morning. Inside,  #4, the Vulcan 2-6-2, built in 1916, sat over the inspection pit, waiting for another day of work. 

Pete, the engineer, and Davey, the fireman, quickly got started. Davey invited me and my camera into the cab as he began the firing process. First, newspapers, then cardboard entered the firebox, then kindling wood from a pile outside the building. A torch was used to light the newspapers, and soon dark smoke was traveling through the smoke vent on the roof of the building. Davey shoveled the first of the coal into the firebox. As the fire consumed its fuel, the smell changed from paper and wood to the unmistakable smell of coal. 

While waiting for steam pressure to build, Davey continued the morning ritual by greasing and lubricating the engine. Working around the engine, grease was forced into fittings to keep the locomotive’s parts operating efficiently.

Shovel more coal.

Now it’s time to clean the engine. Hoses and brushes were used from top to bottom. The cab was hosed and wiped down. The water being sprayed inside the building onto the the hot locomotive made for a pretty sight through the large open door.

Shovel more coal. Pressure’s coming up.

More lubrication. More wiping.

Time to move out into the sun. Pete slowly backed the engine from the building as my cameras recorded the scene. Back inside the engine house I set my camera at the far end of the pit. The pit, the water on the floor, and the engine just outside in the sun....wow!

As #4 basked in the morning sunlight, more wiping, ash was cleaned, and the first visitors began arriving. Soon a crowd gathered to see the locomotive, pose in front of it, and to the delight of the kids, pull a cord strung outside the engine to blow the whistle.

Riding the Lumberjack Steam Train

Finally, train time. The locomotive pulls a short train of coaches and cabooses to Camp 5. Camp 5 is an interactive museum which interprets the logging industry of Wisconsin. Visitors will see historic logging equipment, railroad equipment, buildings and structures, all relating to what would have existed at a typical logging camp. There are also farm related exhibits, including a former slaughterhouse, because logging camps were largely self sufficient. (Vertically integrated in modern terms). Kids will enjoy the farm animals, tractor pulled wagon rides to the outlying areas of the site, and the food stand. The grown ups will be interested in the museums, exhibits, short film presentations, and some shopping opportunities. 

Meanwhile the Lumberjack Steam Train comes and goes all day, and the sounds contribute to the atmosphere.

Pete and Davey were gracious hosts, and truly love their jobs. The day was very hot, and they were quite covered with soot by the last trip. I set up one of my cameras through the rear door of the engine house to record #4 as it rolled over the pit.

Beautiful!  See a sample from our video here. Our entire adventure with the Lumberjack Steam Train is documented on the Wisconsin Steam Stories DVD.

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

Comment (0)