Re: NNG - SP 4449 in red-white-&-Pepsi-blue

Mike et al -

Eventually AmTrak was talked into sponsoring the "Transcontinental Steam Excursion", so Suffrin' Pathetic, Sani-Flush and the rest didn't have a lot of choice about the motive power - and #4449 was returned to Portland in late April, 1977, still sporting her red-white-&-Pepsi-blue* AFT colors.

Here she is at Rio Hondo, north of Santa Barbara, on April 26, 1977:

The foamers had all gone ahead to set up at Gaviota Trestle - about another five miles - and fortunately there weren't any U-Haul trucks or school buses going by. This is now a scenic overlook / rest stop, and the old highway bridge has become pedestrian-only.

After spending the night across the street from the Del Monte Café in San Luis Obispo, she crossed the big Stenner Creek Trestle west of Cal Poly (aka Cow Poly) the next morning:

You can see part of the line of foamer's cars at the far right of the photo. By the time the train came, it was about a mile walk from the last vehicle to the base of the trestle.

And another mile or so beyond the trestle, there was a photo run-by at Horseshoe Curve:

The train was fairly long, and it took quite a while for everyone to unload - which gave me plenty of time to hike up from the trestle and climb a hill to get a good overview. (That was back when I was still a young whippersnapper - I wouldn't want to try running up those hills today!)

- Russ

* Pepsi-cola was one of five major corporate sponsors who each chipped in $1,000,000 to make the American Freedom Train possible. When the color scheme was being worked out, "Pepsi Blue" seemed a natural choice - it is very close to AmTrak Blue and much brighter than the traditional navy blue of Independence Day celebrations.



Edited 11 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2017 03:27PM by Russo Loco.