I shot 700 way back in 1990. They ran a two week Steamfest on the then Washington Central(Now BNSF).
The first week saw 4449 go from Portland to Kennewick(Pasco), then to Yakima, where it ran trips to Ellensburg and Cle Elum. Also ex Great Western 60 ran from Toppinish to Prosser and had a meet with 4449 twice. This line had semaphores.
One of my fondest memories was a dinner train into Yakima at night, pacing the engine, and listening to the Reds and A's World Series game on the radio. In Yakima I hurridly got to the TV to watch the last 6 innings as the Reds swept in 4---sweet!!
Anyway-4449 left with a tool car and one other car if I remember right, and went back to Portland. A day later SP&S 700 headed to the Washington Central with only a tool car. It then collected 4449's coaches and ran similar trips up there that 4449 had done. Then returning to Portland it pulled the entire consist of coaches. There were only 3 of these 4-8-4's on the SP&S, but of the same design as the NP Northern's.
That was some great event. 3 steamers, semaphore signals, Columbia Gorge, Yakima Gorge, and more scenery. We still don't have these on DVD, but maybe someday we will get to them.
Greg Scholl