I LIKE PASSENGER TRAINS, particularly those of the “streamliner era.” Southern Pacific’s red and orange Daylight trains spent part of their life behind the beautiful, semi-streamlined 4-8-4 of the GS-4 series. One of these, only 4449 still exists.

4449 still exists due to a bit of luck and American history. In 1975 she was chosen for restoration to serve as one of three locomotives used for the American Freedom Train* as part of the US Bicentennial Celebration. In 1999 I needed to go to Seattle, Washington. I flew to Portland, Oregon, on the way. I was able to get a ride to the roundhouse were 4449 was stored at the time. I peeked through the window, but that was as far as I got. I then road Amtrak’s then-new Talgo Cascade to Seattle where my brother Tom (1964-2012) picked me up.

Several years later 4449 was somewhere near Seattle with Union Pacific’s excursion train and 844 steam locomotive. Tom sent me these pictures. I’m pretty sure they are from a May 2007 excursion as described on the modern 4449 website.

Kato made a model of 4449 and matching Southern Pacific Daylight passenger cars. Someday I’ll have a layout to run it on! I’d love to go for an excursion on a train pulled by 4449…

*I saw the AFT pulled by the other locomotive in Columbus, Ohio, in 1975. It was the only day I ever skipped school. The school called my dad, who somehow knew exactly where I was and came to get me. I didn’t get into too much trouble and thankfully had already been through the exhibition cars!