Uploaded May 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The National Railroad Historical Society held its 2011 convention in Tacoma Washington. One of the featured highlights of this gathering was Southern Pacific 4449, a 4-8-4 “Northern” type locomotive built in 1941. The engine has 80” diameter drivers and capable of 100 mile per hour operation. In service it was one of the locomotives assigned to pull the “Daylight” passenger trains linking Los Angeles and San Francisco along the scenic coast then on to Portland until 1955. It retired to a city park for display until 1974, when it was selected to pull the American Freedom Train throughout the United States. Today it is among the last operating “streamlined” locomotive in North America. It’s owned by the city of Portland and operated by the all-volunteer Friends of SP 4449.
NRHS Convention goers had a rare mileage trip on freight trackage owned by BNSF, beginning near sea level at Tacoma Amtrak station and then 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 4449 and the Amtrak unit were wyed for the return trip.
“Steamin’ Through the Seasons” from Yard Goat Images features all three NRHS Convention trips with 4449, and is available on DVD and Video On Demand! - yardgoatimages.com
Subscribe to TheYardGoat Channel - youtube.com/user/TheYardGoat?feature=mhee
The National Railroad Historical Society held its 2011 convention in Tacoma Washington. One of the featured highlights of this gathering was Southern Pacific 4449, a 4-8-4 “Northern” type locomotive built in 1941. The engine has 80” diameter drivers and capable of 100 mile per hour operation. In service it was one of the locomotives assigned to pull the “Daylight” passenger trains linking Los Angeles and San Francisco along the scenic coast then on to Portland until 1955. It retired to a city park for display until 1974, when it was selected to pull the American Freedom Train throughout the United States. Today it is among the last operating “streamlined” locomotive in North America. It’s owned by the city of Portland and operated by the all-volunteer Friends of SP 4449.
NRHS Convention goers had a rare mileage trip on freight trackage owned by BNSF, beginning near sea level at Tacoma Amtrak station and then 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 4449 and the Amtrak unit were wyed for the return trip.
“Steamin’ Through the Seasons” from Yard Goat Images features all three NRHS Convention trips with 4449, and is available on DVD and Video On Demand! - yardgoatimages.com
Subscribe to TheYardGoat Channel - youtube.com/user/TheYardGoat?feature=mhee
