Russo Loco Wrote:
=======================================================
> Greg Scholl Wrote:
> ===================================
> > I even saw it with 2101, as well as 4449 in
> > Freedom Train colors pulling non-Freedom
> > Train passenger trains in '76 and '77.
>
>
> IIRC, there was a fan trip behind #4449 when she
> moved from Birmingham to somewhere in the east to
> take over from 2101 for the last few months of
> 1976. Do you have any pics, Greg?
Yes, that was the famous first trip on the ex-Southern Railroad from Atlanta to Alexandria, VA. Overnight was in Salisbury(Where 611 is now---okay technically 611 is in nearby Spencer)
Do I have pics. None are scanned, but one at Clemson Bridge, was included in Nils Huxtables book "Daylight Reflections". I think it was the first such photo I had published in a book. Later he did the book for the NS Steam program "Steam Spirit" and used another one of my shots of 611. But I digress!!!
>
> In April of '77 #4449 pulled Amtrak's
> "Transcontinental Steam Excursion" on her way home
> from Florida to Oregon. IIRC a few tickets
> were sold for the whole trip, but most fans rode
> only one or two segments - such as Los Angeles to
> San Francisco or Sacramento to Eugene. See
> [
ngdiscussion.net]
> 33101 for a few pics.
>
-Yes, I did the stuff just prior to what you mentioned. Was going to be in Florida for a couple of weeks(relatives lived in West Palm Beach, so we chased the 4449 for three days with the Amtrak train, and it wound up in Birmingham. Got some stories from that trip. A buddy of mine flew down to go with us, and he flew home from Birmingham and it was -24 in Cincinnati and his car would not start at the Airport.
The first day out of West Palm Beach(It started in Miami) we were chasing along the Bee-Line Highway. Cops pulled over about 10 cars for speedy, and we cruised through while that was happening cause we had shot it just prior to that location. Anyway it was clear sailing for old Greg for 45 straight miles with only one flashing light in Indian Town, FL and we had to drop to 45, and then catch-up to 4449, which was mainly going 75 miles an hour. We were the only car next to it, for something like 40 minutes straight. There was a light plane flying with the engine as well. Got lots of pacing stuff, but again no images were scanned. Have some super 8 film of both 1976 and 1977, but silent, as I got my first sound camera in early 1978!!! These were the only times I saw 4449 until 1989 when we chased it from Portland to LA for the LAUPT celebration, then back to Fresno afterwards. Did a Sierra Charter after that with a mixed train and #28. Jim Gunning was on that as well.
Good times of a previous life, eh!!
Greg
> - Roosso
