Got Steam? The Mighty SP4449

[Jezibels]

This is entirely "Off Topic" but I wanted to post it just in case there are a few steam train fans out there (Rail Fans).

Here is the vid I shot of the SP4449 steamin thru last summer. We had heard from my uncle she was coming so we hopped in the car on the double and got there just in time! One of the highlights of the summer for sure!

Sorry it jumps a little, it was my 1st time with the vid camera!

YouTube - SP4449 July 18th 2009 SUPER WHISTLE SOUND!

[Minno]

Cool!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Chris

[Tom Nugler]

Still looks and sound great. Saw her when she came to town on the American freedom train during the Bicentennial.
The UP 3985 came through a few years ago.

YouTube - UP Challenger 3985 Runby

Thought I could chase her to Milwaukee and she made a fool out of me.
I’m most familiar with the Frisco 1630 at the Illinois Railway museum. Illinois Railway Museum.
She was our main line stream engine for over a decade.

YouTube - Bells and Whistles! FRISCO 1630 Steam Train Union Station IL

Had the privilege of a cab ride one day. Fantastic.
If you have kids or grand kids one of the things they need to experience is to stand next to a living and breathing steam locomotive. Words and pictures alone cannot convey the essence of the “Most Human of Man’s Machines.”

Tom

[stephenh2]

Wow, those are awesome, thanks for posting them. The sound of that steam whistle just sinks into my soul... Kinda like pulling up next to a Harley-Davidson and having em rack their pipes at me. I love it!

Stephen

[vswingfield]

Very cool!

The Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff is currently restoring The St. Louis Western (Cotton Belt) 819, a 4-8-4. This is not the first restoration, 819 was running and this in an update. 819 was built in the building where it is being restored, and was the last steam engine built in Arkansas. There are some photos, but no videos at the website. Nice museum with more to see, too.

[FreshAir]

Ah, yes, as a boy I heard the steam engines in Michgan. Now when the 'big boys' come to the Calif. Railroad Museum in Sacramento....I'm there!
Neil

[Mexray]

Gosh...I just love those SP Daylight engines...I grew up in San Mateo County below San Francisco when the Daylight's were still in service and they gave me chills whenever I got the chance to watch them steam by headed for SF or LA...

Such a beautiful Steam engine combo chugging by was definitely hard to ignore, even when they were an everyday common occurrence...

Those were the days when we'd sneak out onto the tracks and lay our pennies on the rails to find after the highball rolled by to see how flattened they had become...!

Isn't it great to replay those 'innocent' days when everything seemed so much simpler and uncomplicated...we've come a long way since then, but I'm not really convinced we're any better off...thanks for the memories...long may she live to ride the rails...!

Ray

[sd90mac]

My personal favorite is the 611 J . Love trains, especially steam.

Marie