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Portland’s 4449 to Bend and Back
Enjoy a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning and some railroad history. Take a trip through the Columbia River Gorge and the Deschutes River Canyon.
The Southern Pacific 4449 is a “GS-4” class of 4-8-4 “Northern” type steam locomotive. There are only two GS type locomotives that exist today. The SP 4449 is the only GS-4 locomotive left that has survived a scrap yard.
The 4449 was gifted to the City of Portland and was placed on static display in Oaks Park. It was vandalized and had many of its external parts stolen, including its builder’s plates and whistle. The following photo is of the 4449 as it was towed from Oaks Park on its way for restoration.
Restoration
Jack Holst, a Southern Pacific employee and member of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, looked after SP No. 4449 along with two other steam locomotives, Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700 and Oregon Railroad and Navigation 197. Holst kept the engines’ bearings and rods oiled in case they were ever to move again. Holst died in 1972 and did not get to see No. 4449 return to operation.
In 1974, No. 4449 was evaluated for restoration after becoming a candidate to pull the American Freedom Train, as its size, power and streamlining made it a good fit for that Bicentennial train. After the evaluators determined that 4449’s bearings and rods remained in good condition, they selected the locomotive for that task.
No. 4449 was removed from display on December 13, 1974 and restored at the Burlington Northern Railroad’s Hoyt Street roundhouse in Portland. The locomotive returned to operation on April 21, 1975 wearing a special paint scheme of red, white and blue. – from Wikipedia
The SP 4449 in the present day displays its original livery when it was in service with Southern Pacific Rail Lines.
Published in History
Really cool, Doug.
Thank you, Holst! A hero of technology.
There is a certain type of person who views technology with an eye toward duty. Whether in solidarity with and as offering to those who went before and created these marvels, or through a more direct devotion to a particular object; these people are motivated to stoke a flame that most can not see.
Another restoration in Portland, OR – PT Boat 658:
At least that’s what I tell my wife as she disdainfully surveys my nascent Museum of Obsolete Technology, aka “my network”.
I really enjoy watching steam power at work. A few years ago I saw Union Pacific 844 go through my town. I’m waiting patiently for the Union Pacific 4014 to travel this direction.
This locomotive is about six months older than I am. It went into service in May, 1941. I followed in October. I rode the Daylight once as a boy, traveling from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco. I saw them in operation many times until steam on the SP ended in 1956. I have been able to ride with her in 2009 and visit the Portland engine house several times since. We kind of go together…
The Southern Pacific Daylight locomotive is often called “the most beautiful locomotive in the world.”
A little trivia for you . . .
I did Cumbres & Toltec years and years ago. Only SL under my belt.
I did the Tweetsie as a child. We’ve done the Tennessee Railroad, the Black HIlls Central Railroad, and the Georgetown loop three or four times. Steam locomotives are cool . . .
Can’t wait to share with my (train crazy) grandson and (only slightly less train crazy) granddaughter. She has sort of had to become train crazy if she wants to play with her brother. A long time ago we took our son on the steam engine in West VA. Hope to do it again as the grandkids get older. Thanks again for this.
The only time I rode behind a steam locomotive was at a little tourist line at Cripple Creek, CO with my grandmother. I was about 10 years old and I wanted to ride in the front car so I could see the engine. Grandma was not impressed as the engine ran on fuel oil and the smell was very strong. The passenger car was open, the weather was cold, and the heat from the locomotive wafted back to us, which soon became appreciated by Grandma.