Monday, August 03, 2009

Preserved visiting Southern Pacific steam locomotive # 4449. Franklin Park Illinois USA. Saturday, August 1st 2009.

Preserved Southern Pacific steam locomotive # 4449 on display. Franklin Park Illinois. Saturday, August 1st 2009.

2 comments:

Lin said...

What was the occasion? Why was that locomotive in Franklin Park and where exactly was it? I missed it!

Eddie said...

Hi Lin!
I almost missed seeing this gem first hand, if My good railfan buddy "Franklin Campbell" hadn't tipped Me off.

Southern Pacific GS-4 class 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive # 4449 was built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima Ohio in May of 1941. It originally operated on Southern Pacific passenger train #8 and #9 "The Morning Daylight. This train traveled daily 400 miles between Los Angeles and San Francisco California. It was later renamed "The Coast Daylight". This locomotive operated until the mid 1950's on various freight, passenger and eventually commuter train assignments out of San Francisco California. It was preserved on display at Oaks Park in the city of Portland Oregon, until it was mechanically restored for operation on the American Freedom Train in 1975.

It has since hauled many excursions since then, and appeared in the 1986 Disney movie "Tough Guys", wich starred Burt Lancaster.

Steam locomotive # 4449 was operating the following day on an excursion from Chicago to Milwaukee over the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road north line.

The locomotive was displayed adjacent to Franklin Parks's preserved historic tower B-12 just west of the Metra commuter rail station. It was under steam, and the engine crew would blow the whistle occasionally.

Thanks.
Eddie K.