4449

[Mickey]

Was sitting down in the living room watching the news and all of a sudden there was that sound one can never miss knowing what it is.

Walked outside, sorry guys, forgot the camera. Heard that sound again and could see the smoke not too far away. I knew what it was the only question was which one. In a couple min I could see her as she came into sight. Yes, it was 4449 the famous SP steamer slowly rolling down the tracks. She couldn't have been moving any faster than about 10 mph. She was looking great just like she had just gotten a spit shine. Total of 3 cars, the engine, the tender and one convientional looking car that wasn't so clean with the name little Boy.

Must have been others that heard her coming as there were 3 cars stopped at the tracks waiting for her to roll by. She'll be coming back this way but who know if later this evening or tomorrow.

For those not familiar with this engine, it was the one used in 1976 to pull the Freedom Train all across the country for the bi-centinial. First and last stop on that yr long journey was Woodburn Or. More common today she will be running on the BN-SF tracks here by the house.

Does the sound of these old steam whistles bring back fond memories for anyone else?

[Ingersoll444]

One of the most stunning steamers EVER goes by and no pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would have loved to be there!!!!!!!

[Mickey]

Sorry Paul. I've seen this engine so often and taken pics many times, it didn't cross my mind. She comes by the house at least once a yr.

Didn't hear it come by later yesterday so maybe today. If I hear it coming I'll try and grab a pic.

Not sure why the engine was out. Only saw one guy in the cab but surely there must have been more on board. Also wondered why it was going so slow. Maybe the engineer knew there would be people out looking so by going slow we all could get a good look and see how nice she was looking.

Paul, this is not 4449 but it is as large and she came by the house last yr and we had quite a few on-lookers at a couple RR-crossings.

[Ingersoll444]

I live right near the main line, [on the old B&A line] and keep hoping I will see some steam one day, but no luck.

[bblalocksr]

Just barely remember going to the depot and walking thru clouds of steam as they would heat them up. :trink39: But I guess I'll never forget the sound of the trains pulling out of the depot. :congrats: Nothing like the elect engines of today.

[lt230s]

Almost 10 years ago there was B&O 614 used to run excursions from Hoboken to Port Jervis several times during the summer months. A few times NYS&W 142 would accompany it. Nothing like a steamer blowin' smoke when they did the run-bys for all the photo fans. Got some good pics myself. Here's a pic of her on the Moodna Viaduct at about the halfway point (Photo Courtesy of Ardneil Systems, Inc.).
Kids were very young and got a great kick out of seeing these monsters up close. Shame they don't run anymore.

[TheHUTMan]

Ack! No pictures! Well, I guess for most of us that's not the first thing we think of when something cool goes by. We just want to see it :D

I'm pretty close to a rail line (Norfolk Southern and CN), and it had to be over 10 years ago when they had a steamer go through the area. Lots of people came out to look, and I remember going out to watch. No camera either :P

Now, the only place I get to see them often (and running), is at the Illinois Railway Museum http://www.irm.org/. I take my boys up there usually once a year, and we have a great time. You get to take rides on them, as they have some track to go down and around. The boys (and dad) love it.

[Ingersoll444]

Here are a few shots from the web for you guys that dont know what this beauty looks like

[Mickey]

Thanks Paul, I was in the middle of providing some additiona info when the site went down several hrs ago.

There are a number of sites with info about this steam engine. Do a search on SP 4449 and you'll find quite a few including pics.

Paul's pics show the surrent paint scheme.

[Ingersoll444]

As a aside, I remeber as a kid going to Albany and seeing the Freedom train. I was young, but still rememebr it like yesterday. Same as the trip I made to SteamTown as a kid. Trains have pretty much always been in my blood.

[Mark / Ohio]

About 10 years ago a steam engine rolled through town here. I was at a customer's home up on a hill unable to go see it but I could see the smoke rise as it went through town. I sure could hear it too. It had to cross streets about 6 times inside the city limits. Sure was great to hear the old whistle blowing. I was a very small child at the time but remember a couple of them going past on the tracks behind my grandparent's home. I recall dad talking about how my grandmother hung out more than one load of washing only to have to rewash it after one went past the house while loading the boiler. She'd have been using a wringer washer yet during that time period. I'm sure she must have been amused. :D

[Mickey]

Well, she was making her return trip from where ever. SHe didn't give much notice and by the time I grabed the camera anf got outside, she was already passing. Only got a shot from the rear.

Looks like she took on 2 more cars and I can see several setting off the back of the rear car.

Sorry I wasn't quicker guys.

Sorry, it seems like there is something wrong with the site as I get several error messages when trying to upload my pic. Will try again later.

[Ingersoll444]

Hey thanks for trying!!!

[Mickey]

Just saw a message from SJ and he's looking into the"post" problem. When fixed I'll post the pic I took today.

[Mickey]

Now that I can post pics again.

[Mark / Ohio]

Thanks for the picture Mickey. :thThumbsU

Looks like he was just idling along with the light load by the steam plum. Sure wish I was riding along in the engine with them. Dad has some videos with engines climbing long hills under full load. I love the to listen to them when their under load.

[Steamguy]

Sorry Paul. I've seen this engine so often and taken pics many times, it didn't cross my mind. She comes by the house at least once a yr.

Paul, this is not 4449 but it is as large and she came by the house last yr and we had quite a few on-lookers at a couple RR-crossings.

Hey, that's 700! :thThumbsU

Looks like the Northern Pacific A3 series that used to roll through town. Here's a great story for one of my first posts:

My grandpa used to work for the NP as a rear brakeman, and he had something like 30 years of seniority. He must have been friends with everybody up and down the line that worked for the railroad. Anytime something interesting was going on, he used to know about it in one way or another. So one afternoon, he calls my dad up and says, "Grab the kids, and swing by to pick me up!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal!" My brother was nowhere to be found, so he gets me and we hop in the '53 Ford pickup. Down at my grandpa's, he's standing out in the street, waiting for us. My dad doesn't even get stopped, and suddenly grandpa with practiced grace is on the running board, and has the door open. He sits down beside us, and off we go.

This story is a little long, but I'll cut to the chase: It was the last run of NP steam, and there was this special train. There were photographers all over, and people dressed in early-century costumes, and we followed grandpa in through the freight door at the station.

The guy at the desk sees people come in, and springs up to stop us, but he recognizes my grandpa, and they share a handshake and a couple of words. So after my grandpa sweet-talks the guy a bit, we go out onto the platform. It's all roped off, with the rope separating where the engine is from the rest of the train. But we're on the engine side of the rope! And here we are, next to this giant, living machine! I can still remember the noises and smells. It takes only a moment, and the engineer leans out to shoo us off, and suddenly he recognizes my grandpa. They talk for a moment, and the engineer says, "Hey, how would you like to see the inside of the cab??"

Talk about a moment that changes your life...

I get to the top step and am looking around when suddenly I hear this referee's whistle from somewhere. The engineer says, "Well, sorry you can't come in, sport, but we gotta go. Tell you what, I'll make a nice show for you..."

And show off he did. That Northern's steamboat-style whistle echoed and echoed off the hills of our little valley, and suddenly the whole behemoth began to move. Then there was this dragon's breath of exhalation from the stack, and as he began to roll, we were momentarily enveloped in steam. And it was almost quiet in a way that the locomotive made power. And WHAT a display. By the time the observation car cleared past us, he must have been rolling 30 miles per hour or better.

There were crossings every block, most of the way out of town. And that guy played that whistle for every one of them. I now realize that he was having his last chance at the cord of a steam whistle, and he was making the most of it. I'm just glad I was there to see it.

Steamguy

[Bill Kapaun]

Since this thread "popped up"-
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2007/04/06/news/top_story/3aaa01_train.txt

[Bill Kapaun]

And more-
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2007/04/14/news/local/2aaa02_4449.txt
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2007/04/14/news/local/1loc01_engine.txt
http://www.sp4449.com/03photos/menatwork/2007driver/index.html

[Ingersoll444]

Great story, and welcome to MTF steamguy!!!

[Edward]

GREAT STORY!! Thanks for sharing and welcome to MTF!Hey, that's 700! :thThumbsU

Looks like the Northern Pacific A3 series that used to roll through town. Here's a great story for one of my first posts:

My grandpa used to work for the NP as a rear brakeman, and he had something like 30 years of seniority. He must have been friends with everybody up and down the line that worked for the railroad. Anytime something interesting was going on, he used to know about it in one way or another. So one afternoon, he calls my dad up and says, "Grab the kids, and swing by to pick me up!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal!" My brother was nowhere to be found, so he gets me and we hop in the '53 Ford pickup. Down at my grandpa's, he's standing out in the street, waiting for us. My dad doesn't even get stopped, and suddenly grandpa with practiced grace is on the running board, and has the door open. He sits down beside us, and off we go.

This story is a little long, but I'll cut to the chase: It was the last run of NP steam, and there was this special train. There were photographers all over, and people dressed in early-century costumes, and we followed grandpa in through the freight door at the station.

The guy at the desk sees people come in, and springs up to stop us, but he recognizes my grandpa, and they share a handshake and a couple of words. So after my grandpa sweet-talks the guy a bit, we go out onto the platform. It's all roped off, with the rope separating where the engine is from the rest of the train. But we're on the engine side of the rope! And here we are, next to this giant, living machine! I can still remember the noises and smells. It takes only a moment, and the engineer leans out to shoo us off, and suddenly he recognizes my grandpa. They talk for a moment, and the engineer says, "Hey, how would you like to see the inside of the cab??"

Talk about a moment that changes your life...

I get to the top step and am looking around when suddenly I hear this referee's whistle from somewhere. The engineer says, "Well, sorry you can't come in, sport, but we gotta go. Tell you what, I'll make a nice show for you..."

And show off he did. That Northern's steamboat-style whistle echoed and echoed off the hills of our little valley, and suddenly the whole behemoth began to move. Then there was this dragon's breath of exhalation from the stack, and as he began to roll, we were momentarily enveloped in steam. And it was almost quiet in a way that the locomotive made power. And WHAT a display. By the time the observation car cleared past us, he must have been rolling 30 miles per hour or better.

There were crossings every block, most of the way out of town. And that guy played that whistle for every one of them. I now realize that he was having his last chance at the cord of a steam whistle, and he was making the most of it. I'm just glad I was there to see it.

Steamguy