Explore for 12/14/2007 #83 -- Thanks, everyone!!
We rode the Holiday Express today! I'm a real train freak, so this was a huge treat for me. This old steam engine has been beautifully restored by the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. Here's a blurb from their website::
"Southern Pacific #4449
Built in 1941 as a 4-8-4 GS-4 'Northern' type locomotive, she is 110'
long, 10' wide and 16' tall. With locomotive and tender weighing 433
tons and a boiler pressure of 300 psi, her eight 80" diameter
drivers and unique firebox truck booster can apply 5,500 horsepower to
the rails and exceed 100 mph. Retired to Oaks Park in 1958 for display
only, in 1974 she was completely restored specifically to pull the
1976 Bicentennial Freedom Train throughout the United States to the
delight of over 30 million people.
The only remaining operable 'streamlined' steam locomotive of the Art Deco era, this grand Lady of the High Iron pulled Southern Pacific 'Daylight' coaches from Los Angeles to San Francisco over the scenic Coast Route and then on to Portland until 1955. She is arguably one of the most beautiful locomotives ever built -- and kept that way by the all-volunteer Friends of the SP 4449."
Here's a link for more information: www.orhf.org/events/07holiday/index.html
Published at amanwithaphd.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/make-you-wonder/
and at thehospemag.blogspot.com/2008/09/from-coach-7-ideas-you-c...
and at blissfullydomestic.com/healthy-bliss/fitness/healthy-holi...
youngwarrior, Nancy Rose, melcir.meri, ferran pestaña, and 40 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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gmf52 54 months ago | reply
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Found in a search. (?)
Congratulations on making Explore.
Cool shot.
I too, love this train.
glasscase3 47 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Southern Pacific locomotives, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Tabbymom Jen 47 months ago | reply
I *love* this engine. I saw it in Sacramento, CA, running between Sac and Oakland in 1987, 1988 or 1989. I even went through the cab. I now live in Wisconsin and she's coming through our state this month - can't wait to see her again.
karin73 42 months ago | reply
Noel, I'd like your permission to use one of your Daylight images for a personal Adobe Illustrator project I'm making for a college class I'm taking. It's not being sold or distributed, but it will be viewed online by my classmates. I'll give you credit for the shot. You can reach me at mrswright@cox.net
My father (in his 60s) has been a HUGE fan of this train since he was a child. He's named his business after it, Daylight Sales, and sells jackets, hats, shirts & sweatshirts featuring this beautiful engine & many others from around the country. You can check his work out by searching Daylight Sales in the apparel section @ amazon.com. Beautiful artwork on t-shirts, for the railroad enthusiast you know (or are).
Karin