I love how big and majestic steam locomotives can be. They are like Mythical Creatures. None express this more than the SP 4449 and the N&W 611. The way they bellow when departing, roar when gliding through the fields, sing when reaching a crossing, its amazing.
What a GORGEOUS Locomotive! My Dad was a railroad man and I wished he was here with me to enjoy TH-cam and see this. I'm his daughter and seeing these steam trains and hearing the whistles blow makes me cry thinking of my dad and his love of trains.
I know exactly what you mean. My late Dad loved steam trains and he took me all over the preserved steam places here in the UK. He died in 1990 this technology didn't exist then. He would have loved seeing all these powerful US locomotives. Hey and we'd be coming to see them for real. I've yet to do that myself. Hope to soon though. Savour your happy memories.x
Look at her run. Sheer power. She's beautiful. It is good to see some of these old beauties still around and being restored. Even better that they are not stuck in a museum but are out on the rails doing what they were built for.
+Whitewater Guy Well, not totally what she was built for.. This is an excursion, not a true revenue passenger trip. And she does spend a lot of time idling at a museum, though not as a static display. She gets plenty of maintenance. But yes, this is her hauling a streamlined passenger train at high speed, showing the world that she's still very much equal to the task.
Love watching the steamers run; I grew up at the turn of the era from steam to diesel electric, and have fond memories of both types, but mainly the steam locomotives. We lived a block from the Southern Pacific main line running east out of Los Angeles, and I had to cross the line twice on my way to school and home again, and always stopped to wait and watch the trains go by. This video reminded me of my trip from Memphis, Tennessee back to the west coast in December of 1960. I was in the Navy, and being transferred to San Diego, with a two week leave at my home in Twentynine Palms, California. In Memphis, they put together a group of cars that they added to a train that was set up to be completely military. I don't know where it originated, but they stuck the six or so cars that were boarded in Memphis into it, and we headed on west, a whole train full of all branches of the military. And, the significant thing about it was, the train was powered by a double headed set of steam locomotives. Along the way, they would come through the cars and call for people going to certain places to go to certain cars, and they would stop and switch those cars off at some spot, or stop and pick up cars at others. The train resembled that one in the video, only somewhat longer. When the train left Phoenix, Arizona, heading toward Los Angeles, the conductor came through calling for me by name, and moved me to a certain car and told me to be there at a certain time, because they were going to make a stop at Palm Springs to put me off and they wanted to be sure I got there. At straight up midnight on December 23, 1960, the train whistled the stop, and they put me off at a closed station out in the desert about ten miles from anywhere. There was a pay phone booth on the station platform, and I called my folks to tell where I was, and my dad made the hour and some drive to get me. I spent a great quiet hour and a bit looking at the clear desert sky, sucking in the clean winter desert air, and singing with the coyotes.
Great story and thanks for remembering. I had the luck to climb up into the cab of a 4.6-2 Pacific, under steam as a kindly engineer invited my dad and me about 1954 up into the cab. He was waiting about noon time in the rail yard of CR in St. John, N.B. near the round table. HE let Dad push the big lever forward on the right side of the cab, to move a few yards. Crazy feeling as 100± tons of ponderous iron simply moved forward with no jerk or jarring.
@@loftsatsympaticodotc Have a picture of me, my twin sister and baby sister on the front of a 4-6-2 Pacific with the engineer -- in Richwood WV probably about 1952 or 53. Brought there by a coal mine owner from Pennsylvania just for us. I don't think it made regular trips through there. He let us "drive" her a while and back. A thrill.
@E. M. Fish Thanks for a wonderful story of what train travel used to be like. Nothing like it now. The conductor calling for you by name to move you, etc., was pretty typical of those days. My twin sister and I made a trip to Washington DC from Bluefield WV -- stopped in Roanoke to add or subtract cars not sure why -- we told the conductor we were going to go up into the station but would be getting back on the train. We dawdled around a bit, finally ended up primping in the "ladies room" which didn't really have a door, per se, it was just at the end of a long wide hallway off the main lobby of the station. We hear a man's voice calling "Pat 'n Pam? Pat 'n Pam?" We followed the voice to the nearest entrance to the hallway -- it was the trainman, I think -- or maybe the conductor (I'm old and memory fails) -- he said "C'mon, girls, the train's leaving." We ran with him and made it -- just barely. Where can you travel today that they know your name, know where you're going, and will come looking for you if you're on the verge, so to speak? Your description of your trip -- even your wait at the station looking at the clear desert sky is evocative of my train travel experiences. Thanks for a beautiful rendition. It's almost music to my ears. Same kind of music as the conductor coming through the cars, calling off the names of the upcoming stops in a musical cadence. Sometimes, there really ARE good old days. Train travel in the days of steam is one of 'em. My last train trip -- I was at American University taking two heavy courses in the first summer session. Had an equally heavy second session coming up and was wiped out. My regular college roommate came and got me and took me "home" to Abingdon VA by train and back -- to sleep a few days before I got back into the grind again. Only a train could have served up a calming effect. It did. I've got the grades to prove it.
Welded rail, excellent laid tracks, being able to run at speeds she is capable of running, priceless. I'm happy for her. They are the closest thing to a living machine. Was able to see her in Michigan. Teared up, just so beautiful.
Before videos of this train, I had only seen steam trains actually operating in movies...old movies. I am 52 and this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen...and I have seen and done a boat load of cool things in my life. Just an amazing machine. Just realized thus video is almost 10 years old. Wtf?
That was a great trip. My wife, son and I rode in the last 2 cars, plus standing taking video on the Katy business car porch. We rode from Havre to Spokane, 2 segments. Once in a lifetime trip. Unless we get a new administration that’s pro-Amtrak, and get new leadership in Amtrak, we will probably never see this kind of special trains again. Thanks fo posting this video, as it brings back great memories of 11 years ago. Boy, how time flies by. Dave
As a child, I used to run alongside these 4-8-4s (the Daylight train) when they were leaving the stations in Pomona or Ontario (both in California). Of course, the trains would soon pass me by.
All the active steam locomotives today certainly have their charm, but the 4449's clean lines & stunning paint job make her the sleekest and most beautiful of them all.The 4449 may not be faster than the others, but she sure looks like she oughta be.
GuyGenie73 - I believe both 844, 2926 can match her in top speed and 611 could surpass her even! And if/when 5550 ever gets done; that monster should theoretically even be able to surpass Mallard.
Love that chuff, chuff as it pulls away from the station. It brings back memories of the early 1950's when my brothers and I would race to the tacks when we heard a steam whistle on the B&O east of Olney. If it was slowing down, we'd race west on East North to the station, a mile or so, two or three minutes on our bikes. I think they were using fuel oil by then, but they often needed to take on water.
TrainFestival 2009 is Americas Largest Celebration of Railroading and will include 8 steam locomotives under steam, This family event is being held as a fund raiser to keep operating Pere Marquette steam locomotive no. 1225. This locomotive owned by the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, MI is due for FRA re-certification in 2010. This locomotive is best known as the steam locomotive portrayed in the animated movie The Polar Express.
Another five stars from Germany for the beautiful loco in the sun. I like also the dirty car at 1:45. It took a very long way to met the trainfestival. At 3:00 there is a old lorry to be seen, nice to put it on a modelrailroad-layout!
this is just beautiful if only everyone could see this THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF OUR COUNTRY also i HATE that the amtrack is behind it!!! i know its there for help but these trains have been around for years there relible just let it go byitself!!
Fun video, pacing a big steam locomotive at passenger speed is very fun. I got to pace the 4449 back in about 1992 or so between the Yolo causeway and Davis CA on the frontage road parallel to the Old Sacramento-Oakland main line and the 4449 was going 79 mph.
What a striking vehicle, one of my all time favourites. This is the type burt lancaster and kirk douglas stole in tough guys. They refetted to it as the gold caost flyer. A couple of years ago a purchased a bacchman double o replica. Beutiful peice of equipment.👍
Gave me goosebumps, just by thinking in all the history behind this beauty. It is crazy to see how we had advanced technologically and how we moved from steam to the trains we have nowadays. Its crazy.
They're like ghosts on the line. As a kid my dad had a 8 track of Merle Haggard called My Love Affair With Trains. I listened to that all the time. Makes me want to hear Silver Ghost as I watch these.
OMG that was awesome!!!!! nothing like a steam engine thundering and vibrating at a high rate of speed. You can feel the vibrations in your body when watching up close.
9 ปีที่แล้ว +5
Thumbs up for the guys keeping this lagecy beauty alive. And thumbs up for sharing this vid. Personally I am a two stroke low RPM marine diesel enthousiast, but oh man....isn't this beautiful.....
Please forgive me, I'm using my wife's YT account to post my comment. I'm a retired Army Infantryman (1983-2009) and was in the Gulf War and OIF 1. Skip, thanks for posting this and other great videos, many of us are unable to do what you do and I thank you. SP 4449 and I have a long history, I grew up in Northern California and Southern Oregon (Dunsmuir and Klamath Falls) and the first steam engine I ever saw running was when the Freedom Train came to Dunsmuir in 1976 when I was 11. We lived next to the mainline tracks and I saw a huge cloud of white steam off in the distance and then heard its whistle, it made the hair on my neck stand up, never heard anything like it. Then later on in 1993 I was assigned as the Army Recruiter in K-Falls for a couple years and I was down in Dorris, CA which is on the border with California and Oregon on Hwy 97. The gate guards came down while I was driving and I was the front car waiting for the train. Same thing happened when I was a boy, off in the distance I saw a huge billowing cloud of steam getting closer and I told myself, no, this can't be and she flew by me at 70 MPH! I was in my uniform so this time I got out of the government car and rendered a proper salute to her. Made me feel proud that our country made that amazing locomotive. I now live in San Antonio and I'm a member of our local model railroad club (SAMRA) and you're welcome to stop by if in town.
I think 4449 was the nicest looking locomotive.... Don't know why some of the others weren't dressed up. And that bad boy is Huge. I saw it once in Berkeley, and the drive wheels were taller than me.
Leander Williams The ones that were not dressed up were ordered during WWII, and the War Production Resources Board determined that the dress was not essential for the war effort, and did not significantly contribute to the speed or efficiency of the locomotives. There is a documentary about the restoration of 4449, which was digitized from VHS, on here that discusses the whole series in some detail.
i used to ride this sp4449 between L.A. to S.F. back in the '50's.. it was on a regular schedule back then { the daylight} & we thought nothing of it.,.
Once again Skip I must say you have some of the best steam pacing videos out there. You've definatly covered western steam as good as anybody out there and I thank you for doing so.
The steam engines are a thing of grand beauty, an awesome projection of power and grace.... may they forever cross the American landscapes, bringing us sounds and thrills... best described by poets... and lovers of trains..
I see the California Zephyr dome cars & dome-observation are in the middle of the consist. When the train was eastbound through Minnesota, those cars were on the rear with the dome-observation's neon tail sign clearly visible.
it is clear that he loves the simple mechanics, can not ignore the high technology in times that ignored certain countries, these advances have been unusual due to lack of information, knowledge that today we can enjoy thanks to TH-cam, this must never leave out and we must have recognition. I admire people with their high experience and professionalism difficult, complicated prática that time was evidently giving these men that we observe in the video already have an age where other countries would be retired or retired. Our thanks go to those with patience and dedication filmed these videos are very instructive in order to show our grandchildren as it came to translate success in these great engineers, technicians and workers of level because not everyone although perhaps not possess expertise , they can not but be highly trained to compañar large assembly and repairs following accidents, failures, etc. WONDER THIS CRUISE IS MORE THAN AN ART PRESENTED TO THE WORLD FOR ENGINEERS ....! tito Christian researcher nonprofit //
Very fine and powerful locomotive Engine and the speed with which it perfectly runs is really appreciable. I think these are not in use. Really very pleasent to see such heavy powered Locomotives. Kindly go on relay such other Locomotives also. S.A.Munawar. Deputy Controller , Retd.
Absolutely marvelous. What a beautiful monster she is. Pity they couldn't have the whole train in the same livery, and a shame they had to use an AMTRAK diesel as backup, just spoilt the effect.
Still she did the job the PR gang wanted I suppose, and that whistle, gives me goosebumps just listening to that unique sound, that's the sound of "don't mess with me" if ever I heard it.
Henry Flagler was a pioneer in his day. They actually do have one of his business rail cars from the Pullman company at the Whitehall house museum in Palm Beach, FL. They've done a marvelous job restoring it, but unfortunately, I don't have a video of that as it's been a few years since I was last down there.
Amazing high tech and cutting edge high style at the time these models were developed. Caused a lot of excitement. Still very compelling to look at today just like certain classic cars and trucks.
this is the most beautiful american steam engine ever built. this is why 4449 ranks at number 1 on my list of fave american engines. Just hearing this speed and power of her is like magic. I bet that she could go at 100Mph. Here she sounds like she's going at 60 or 75 here.
I am a retired S P locomotive engineer, 1950 -1996, and I had the pleasure of running the 4449, one time.
Jxjdkdjdkdjdnzjzj4449
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to work this engine before I retired from my job as a locomotive engineer with SP, before I retired
I love how big and majestic steam locomotives can be. They are like Mythical Creatures. None express this more than the SP 4449 and the N&W 611. The way they bellow when departing, roar when gliding through the fields, sing when reaching a crossing, its amazing.
What a GORGEOUS Locomotive! My Dad was a railroad man and I wished he was here with me to enjoy TH-cam and see this. I'm his daughter and seeing these steam trains and hearing the whistles blow makes me cry thinking of my dad and his love of trains.
mpompadour...tambien siento mucha nostalgia por los trenes antiguos, su sonido inconfundible.
Greeting from a Tennessee grandson of another Railroad man.
Grandaddy was a Carman our of the Memphis Yards.
I know exactly what you mean. My late Dad loved steam trains and he took me all over the preserved steam places here in the UK. He died in 1990 this technology didn't exist then. He would have loved seeing all these powerful US locomotives. Hey and we'd be coming to see them for real. I've yet to do that myself. Hope to soon though. Savour your happy memories.x
@@alan_mythicalgnome Welcome!
*Railway
The Queen's spelling!
Saw the 4449 one time in person .I think it is so great to be running for people to see .
Look at her run. Sheer power. She's beautiful. It is good to see some of these old beauties still around and being restored. Even better that they are not stuck in a museum but are out on the rails doing what they were built for.
+Whitewater Guy Well, not totally what she was built for.. This is an excursion, not a true revenue passenger trip. And she does spend a lot of time idling at a museum, though not as a static display. She gets plenty of maintenance.
But yes, this is her hauling a streamlined passenger train at high speed, showing the world that she's still very much equal to the task.
I almost rode her Christmas train this past year with my wife and daughter. We went to the zoo instead, but hopefully this year.
Give some credit to the diesel helper.
That is true
@@danjones9007 when they run these steam trains the diesel electric trains are for aux power and brake assist
Love watching the steamers run; I grew up at the turn of the era from steam to diesel electric, and have fond memories of both types, but mainly the steam locomotives. We lived a block from the Southern Pacific main line running east out of Los Angeles, and I had to cross the line twice on my way to school and home again, and always stopped to wait and watch the trains go by. This video reminded me of my trip from Memphis, Tennessee back to the west coast in December of 1960. I was in the Navy, and being transferred to San Diego, with a two week leave at my home in Twentynine Palms, California. In Memphis, they put together a group of cars that they added to a train that was set up to be completely military. I don't know where it originated, but they stuck the six or so cars that were boarded in Memphis into it, and we headed on west, a whole train full of all branches of the military. And, the significant thing about it was, the train was powered by a double headed set of steam locomotives. Along the way, they would come through the cars and call for people going to certain places to go to certain cars, and they would stop and switch those cars off at some spot, or stop and pick up cars at others. The train resembled that one in the video, only somewhat longer. When the train left Phoenix, Arizona, heading toward Los Angeles, the conductor came through calling for me by name, and moved me to a certain car and told me to be there at a certain time, because they were going to make a stop at Palm Springs to put me off and they wanted to be sure I got there. At straight up midnight on December 23, 1960, the train whistled the stop, and they put me off at a closed station out in the desert about ten miles from anywhere. There was a pay phone booth on the station platform, and I called my folks to tell where I was, and my dad made the hour and some drive to get me. I spent a great quiet hour and a bit looking at the clear desert sky, sucking in the clean winter desert air, and singing with the coyotes.
Great story and thanks for remembering. I had the luck to climb up into the cab of a 4.6-2 Pacific, under steam as a kindly engineer invited my dad and me about 1954 up into the cab. He was waiting about noon time in the rail yard of CR in St. John, N.B. near the round table. HE let Dad push the big lever forward on the right side of the cab, to move a few yards. Crazy feeling as 100± tons of ponderous iron simply moved forward with no jerk or jarring.
@@loftsatsympaticodotc Have a picture of me, my twin sister and baby sister on the front of a 4-6-2 Pacific with the engineer -- in Richwood WV probably about 1952 or 53. Brought there by a coal mine owner from Pennsylvania just for us. I don't think it made regular trips through there. He let us "drive" her a while and back. A thrill.
@E. M. Fish Thanks for a wonderful story of what train travel used to be like. Nothing like it now. The conductor calling for you by name to move you, etc., was pretty typical of those days. My twin sister and I made a trip to Washington DC from Bluefield WV -- stopped in Roanoke to add or subtract cars not sure why -- we told the conductor we were going to go up into the station but would be getting back on the train. We dawdled around a bit, finally ended up primping in the "ladies room" which didn't really have a door, per se, it was just at the end of a long wide hallway off the main lobby of the station. We hear a man's voice calling "Pat 'n Pam? Pat 'n Pam?" We followed the voice to the nearest entrance to the hallway -- it was the trainman, I think -- or maybe the conductor (I'm old and memory fails) -- he said "C'mon, girls, the train's leaving." We ran with him and made it -- just barely. Where can you travel today that they know your name, know where you're going, and will come looking for you if you're on the verge, so to speak? Your description of your trip -- even your wait at the station looking at the clear desert sky is evocative of my train travel experiences. Thanks for a beautiful rendition. It's almost music to my ears. Same kind of music as the conductor coming through the cars, calling off the names of the upcoming stops in a musical cadence. Sometimes, there really ARE good old days. Train travel in the days of steam is one of 'em. My last train trip -- I was at American University taking two heavy courses in the first summer session. Had an equally heavy second session coming up and was wiped out. My regular college roommate came and got me and took me "home" to Abingdon VA by train and back -- to sleep a few days before I got back into the grind again. Only a train could have served up a calming effect. It did. I've got the grades to prove it.
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful steam engines ever created !!!
Welded rail, excellent laid tracks, being able to run at speeds she is capable of running, priceless. I'm happy for her. They are the closest thing to a living machine. Was able to see her in Michigan. Teared up, just so beautiful.
What a wonderful sound! "Comin through!!-move over!!"
Before videos of this train, I had only seen steam trains actually operating in movies...old movies. I am 52 and this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen...and I have seen and done a boat load of cool things in my life. Just an amazing machine. Just realized thus video is almost 10 years old. Wtf?
One of the best looking locomotives ever! Love that whistle!
What a gorgeous machine. Look at those drivers dance. It's something to see, for sure.
Thank you to whomever was so diligent in filming MY engine SP4449 so I could ride along with her!
Must be the most beautiful locomotive ever built. Great video.
That is the best looking steam locomotive I have ever seen
That was a great trip. My wife, son and I rode in the last 2 cars, plus standing taking video on the Katy business car porch. We rode from Havre to Spokane, 2 segments. Once in a lifetime trip. Unless we get a new administration that’s pro-Amtrak, and get new leadership in Amtrak, we will probably never see this kind of special trains again. Thanks fo posting this video, as it brings back great memories of 11 years ago. Boy, how time flies by. Dave
As a child, I used to run alongside these 4-8-4s (the Daylight train) when they were leaving the stations in Pomona or Ontario (both in California). Of course, the trains would soon pass me by.
These are like living animals. Breathing and whistling. They have soul.
Exactly
indeed they have a soul..treat them well...and you get your bread and butter and even jam..I'll treat them...the list of consequences long
Co39V8
Yt?
Not just an animal - a beast! A mighty bellowing beast of iron with a fiery heart.
If I was the engineer on that locomotive I'd be blowing that exhilarating whistle at every crossing even if I was the only human left of the planet.
kinda have to, actually
LOL
Don’t worry Doyle McCormack does. He has been the chief engineer on her since her restoration as the freedom train
All the active steam locomotives today certainly have their charm, but the 4449's clean lines & stunning paint job make her the sleekest and most beautiful of them all.The 4449 may not be faster than the others, but she sure looks like she oughta be.
she'll do 110..... not slow
actually, her top speed is rated 110mph. How many of the existing heritage locomotives can do that? I thought she was one of the fastest.
GuyGenie73 - I believe both 844, 2926 can match her in top speed and 611 could surpass her even!
And if/when 5550 ever gets done; that monster should theoretically even be able to surpass Mallard.
@@rucarnuts13
844 has a theoretical top speed of 134mph. And the goal for 5550 when it's finished is to go over 140mph.
This is certainly a beautiful locomotive but I think the most beautiful of the engines running today is N&W 611.
This is kinda what I imagined "orange blossom special" would look like when I heard that song.
Beautiful locomotive. 👍
Excellent video.Mother of all Rail Engines, thank you for uploading from India
Love that chuff, chuff as it pulls away from the station. It brings back memories of the early 1950's when my brothers and I would race to the tacks when we heard a steam whistle on the B&O east of Olney. If it was slowing down, we'd race west on East North to the station, a mile or so, two or three minutes on our bikes. I think they were using fuel oil by then, but they often needed to take on water.
TrainFestival 2009 is Americas Largest Celebration of Railroading and will include 8 steam locomotives under steam, This family event is being held as a fund raiser to keep operating Pere Marquette steam locomotive no. 1225. This locomotive owned by the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, MI is due for FRA re-certification in 2010. This locomotive is best known as the steam locomotive portrayed in the animated movie The Polar Express.
Another five stars from Germany for the beautiful loco in the sun.
I like also the dirty car at 1:45. It took a very long way to met the trainfestival.
At 3:00 there is a old lorry to be seen, nice to put it on a modelrailroad-layout!
That’s a very beautiful video. Good job. I am glad I got to see it.
this is just beautiful if only everyone could see this THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF OUR COUNTRY also i HATE that the amtrack is behind it!!! i know its there for help but these trains have been around for years there relible just let it go byitself!!
Oh why are American trains so gorgeous? With the best sounds ever! xx 😊💖
american railroad companies learned about art deco streamlining on their passenger locomotive, good years before cars ruin every good things on trains
EXTREMAMENTE VÊ-LOS COM CORES FORTES E IMPONENTES!!! MARAVILHA DE MÁQUINA.
Fun video, pacing a big steam locomotive at passenger speed is very fun. I got to pace the 4449 back in about 1992 or so between the Yolo causeway and Davis CA on the frontage road parallel to the Old Sacramento-Oakland main line and the 4449 was going 79 mph.
My first and still favorite looking steam locomotive of all time
What a striking vehicle, one of my all time favourites. This is the type burt lancaster and kirk douglas stole in tough guys. They refetted to it as the gold caost flyer. A couple of years ago a purchased a bacchman double o replica. Beutiful peice of equipment.👍
I've got this train with all 8 of its original cars as an electric HO scale motel😄
The baleful whistle so unique and the beauty of this run is there is no Diesel pushing at the rear.
Wrong, there was one diesel after the coal car & one other car, water I think.
Gave me goosebumps, just by thinking in all the history behind this beauty. It is crazy to see how we had advanced technologically and how we moved from steam to the trains we have nowadays. Its crazy.
Daylight and the Big Boy. Legendary Machines until to this day. Period
They're like ghosts on the line. As a kid my dad had a 8 track of Merle Haggard called My Love Affair With Trains. I listened to that all the time. Makes me want to hear Silver Ghost as I watch these.
Thank you for the upload this locomotive is a beautiful machine.
OMG that was awesome!!!!! nothing like a steam engine thundering and vibrating at a high rate of speed. You can feel the vibrations in your body when watching up close.
Thumbs up for the guys keeping this lagecy beauty alive. And thumbs up for sharing this vid. Personally I am a two stroke low RPM marine diesel enthousiast, but oh man....isn't this beautiful.....
We just do it for the youTube viewers
& were Glad to hear that you like 'em
Thank You
Gorgeous locomotive with Art Deco lines. Possibly the most beautiful steam engine ever built.
Please forgive me, I'm using my wife's YT account to post my comment. I'm a retired Army Infantryman (1983-2009) and was in the Gulf War and OIF 1.
Skip, thanks for posting this and other great videos, many of us are unable to do what you do and I thank you.
SP 4449 and I have a long history, I grew up in Northern California and Southern Oregon (Dunsmuir and Klamath Falls) and the first steam engine I ever saw running was when the Freedom Train came to Dunsmuir in 1976 when I was 11. We lived next to the mainline tracks and I saw a huge cloud of white steam off in the distance and then heard its whistle, it made the hair on my neck stand up, never heard anything like it. Then later on in 1993 I was assigned as the Army Recruiter in K-Falls for a couple years and I was down in Dorris, CA which is on the border with California and Oregon on Hwy 97. The gate guards came down while I was driving and I was the front car waiting for the train. Same thing happened when I was a boy, off in the distance I saw a huge billowing cloud of steam getting closer and I told myself, no, this can't be and she flew by me at 70 MPH! I was in my uniform so this time I got out of the government car and rendered a proper salute to her. Made me feel proud that our country made that amazing locomotive. I now live in San Antonio and I'm a member of our local model railroad club (SAMRA) and you're welcome to stop by if in town.
Old gal finally finish her boiler inspection now
I was like 10 yo when I saw this engine roll through it made my day lol and hearing it whistle in real life omg beautiful
What a beautiful train! Really pretty color scheme too. Would be awesome to see it for real. It looks huge. Great sound too. Thanks for sharing.
I think 4449 was the nicest looking locomotive.... Don't know why some of the others weren't dressed up. And that bad boy is Huge. I saw it once in Berkeley, and the drive wheels were taller than me.
Leander Williams
The ones that were not dressed up were ordered during WWII, and the War Production Resources Board determined that the dress was not essential for the war effort, and did not significantly contribute to the speed or efficiency of the locomotives. There is a documentary about the restoration of 4449, which was digitized from VHS, on here that discusses the whole series in some detail.
I could watch these all day,goose bumps!!!!!
👑ONE OF THE 👑 QUEENS OF THE RAILS 👑
i used to ride this sp4449 between L.A. to S.F. back in the '50's.. it was on a regular schedule back then { the daylight} & we thought nothing of it.,.
Me too. With my family at least twice a year and sometimes, as I got older, by myself.
She is one of my favorits trains over the world, a fast beautiful beast.
Once again Skip I must say you have some of the best steam pacing videos out there. You've definatly covered western steam as good as anybody out there and I thank you for doing so.
Fantastic! I would like to experience this. Love trains and seeing one like this working, is a dream come true.
I showed this video to a friend of mine who doesn't care much for trains and asked him what he thought of 4449's whistle
"Haunting...but beautiful"
Man that loco can sing! Beautiful. Thanks for posting.
It’s a great locomotive love it I’m glad for it to still be around
LOVE this Locomotive, I had the experience to go on it in Oregon, unbelievable footage you got. I subscribed 👍😎
Que padre se ve este tren!, gracias 🙏 por subir este video!. ❤️❤️❤️😊😊😊💕💕🇲🇽
Awesome engine! Thank you!
The steam engines are a thing of grand beauty, an awesome projection of power and grace.... may they forever cross the American landscapes, bringing us sounds and thrills... best described by poets... and lovers of trains..
Beautiful machine, look at her run
I see the California Zephyr dome cars & dome-observation are in the middle of the consist. When the train was eastbound through Minnesota, those cars were on the rear with the dome-observation's neon tail sign clearly visible.
it is clear that he loves the simple mechanics, can not ignore the high technology in times that ignored certain countries, these advances have been unusual due to lack of information, knowledge that today we can enjoy thanks to TH-cam, this must never leave out and we must have recognition. I admire people with their high experience and professionalism difficult, complicated prática that time was evidently giving these men that we observe in the video already have an age where other countries would be retired or retired. Our thanks go to those with patience and dedication filmed these videos are very instructive in order to show our grandchildren as it came to translate success in these great engineers, technicians and workers of level because not everyone although perhaps not possess expertise , they can not but be highly trained to compañar large assembly and repairs following accidents, failures, etc. WONDER THIS CRUISE IS MORE THAN AN ART PRESENTED TO THE WORLD FOR ENGINEERS ....! tito Christian researcher nonprofit //
Very fine and powerful locomotive Engine and the speed with which it perfectly runs is really appreciable. I think these are not in use. Really very pleasent to see such heavy powered Locomotives. Kindly go on relay such other Locomotives also. S.A.Munawar. Deputy Controller , Retd.
Magnificent is an understatement!
That is the best looking and sounding steam train in the world
She’s a beauty! I love the fact that Doyle left the bell on.
Blowing the horn in Montana big sky beautiful mountains great picture keep it up
Absolutely marvelous. What a beautiful monster she is. Pity they couldn't have the whole train in the same livery, and a shame they had to use an AMTRAK diesel as backup, just spoilt the effect.
The Diesel is essential to provide the electric power for the cars. And is a backup of course, in case of breakdown. Also for braking and breakdowns.
Still she did the job the PR gang wanted I suppose, and that whistle, gives me goosebumps just listening to that unique sound, that's the sound of "don't mess with me" if ever I heard it.
Fantastic ! Thank you very much
Henry Flagler was a pioneer in his day. They actually do have one of his business rail cars from the Pullman company at the Whitehall house museum in Palm Beach, FL. They've done a marvelous job restoring it, but unfortunately, I don't have a video of that as it's been a few years since I was last down there.
What a car at 1:45 lol, great video, thank you so much Skip :)
1:45
great pace video of 4449 my favorite heading back home after days of the Owosso train Festival
nice whstle action too
Great job filming and keeping vehicle speed just right.
All train sound the whole time.
Thank you for your efforts.
What absolutely beautiful machine . 👍
It sure is!
Watching this beast NEVER gets old..
Incredible... love the horn.... a sweet oldtimer
Wow! Majestic and king of the rails!
Amazing high tech and cutting edge high style at the time these models were developed. Caused a lot of excitement. Still very compelling to look at today just like certain classic cars and trucks.
Fabulous to see them doing what they were built for.....running free!
That sure looks like an old Milwaukee Road Hiawatha parlor car at the end. Beautiful!!
What a Beautiful train.old is gold.
There is so much about a steam locomotive that makes it so much more impressive and so much cooler than a diesel electric.
this big guy has an awesome whistle
what a beauty this engine is. would love to see it in action for real
A
Where does 4449 going
Maxpp
Jgrfs
😰🤔😰Juli uj1
Zn67
What a beautiful looking locomotive.
these engines need to get run as much as possible.
After successful of TrainFestival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan, 4449 was on her way home to Portland, Oregon.
this is the most beautiful american steam engine ever built. this is why 4449 ranks at number 1 on my list of fave american engines. Just hearing this speed and power of her is like magic. I bet that she could go at 100Mph. Here she sounds like she's going at 60 or 75 here.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ENGINE & COLORS!
Thank you so much for these shots!
Great video as always...I like IT!!!! ..... Regards from Romania
I grew up in the diesel era, but those are such fascinating machines!
ITS MY TRAIN FAVORITE...!🤩😍
Simply fantastic.
Mov'n pretty good ! It looks like it's happy !!
This is what used to be, "Made in America." Now America can't even make a good, family sedan for a fair price.
The SP passenger train was so colorful.
the older trains have more attitude
Jeff Worthley
Jeff Worthley
🇺🇸💪🏻
Nice romantic locomotive! Wonderful film!