Uploaded June 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In May, 2001, my daughter and I rode behind the SP 4449 on a two day trip starting in Portland, Oregon, traveling up the Columbia River to Pasco and Yakima, Washington, where we spent the night. The next day we completed the round trip by riding through Ellensburg, over Stampede Pass, down to Auburn, then through Tacoma and Vancouver and back to Portland. The locomotive was still painted in black from the prior year when it pulled several trips on a BNSF employee appreciation special. You can also see a video of that excursion on my channel (SP 4449 in Black, July 2000). The next year, the engine was repainted in the American Freedom Train colors to honor those killed in the 9/11 attack in New York City. That video is also available on this channel (SP 4449 to Bend 2002).
In May, 2001, my daughter and I rode behind the SP 4449 on a two day trip starting in Portland, Oregon, traveling up the Columbia River to Pasco and Yakima, Washington, where we spent the night. The next day we completed the round trip by riding through Ellensburg, over Stampede Pass, down to Auburn, then through Tacoma and Vancouver and back to Portland. The locomotive was still painted in black from the prior year when it pulled several trips on a BNSF employee appreciation special. You can also see a video of that excursion on my channel (SP 4449 in Black, July 2000). The next year, the engine was repainted in the American Freedom Train colors to honor those killed in the 9/11 attack in New York City. That video is also available on this channel (SP 4449 to Bend 2002).
