SP #4449 Blows Off Her Steam
Getting ready for her 2016 Holiday Express run!
Nothing could be better than watching this beautiful steam engine go through her paces getting ready for an excursion!
It is a rare opportunity to see her on the mainline since insurance costs have gone up causing excursions to be cancelled due to increased ticket prices to cover costs.
Her permanent home is the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC) in Southeast Portland.
Rolled out for numerous Holiday Special runs in the past, this one is the 2016 version. She also had an excursion run in June of 2017 from Portland to Bend, Oregon and back.
Back in her heyday, her runs included the coast route along the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to San Francisco and on to Portland, Oregon. Called the Southern Pacific “Daylight“, she could make this 470 mile run totally during daylight hours due to her ability to go 100 mph!
Quick Facts
- Rail Line: Southern Pacific
- Train Name: SP steam engine 4449 Northern Type
- Power type: 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive GS-4
- Builder: Lima Locomotive Works
- Maximum speed: 100 MPH
- Locomotive and tender weight: 870,000 lbs
- Nickname: The Coast Daylight – Los Angeles to San Francisco and Portland
Let us know if you have ever had the chance to take a SP4449 excursion run! We would love to hear about your experience!
