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Southern Pacific 4274: Last Trip Over Donner Pass

  Рет қаралды 145,713

Hunter Lohse

Hunter Lohse

Күн бұрын

On November 30 and December 1, 1957, the era of large articulated steam power officially came to a close on the Southern Pacific when SP AC-11 4274 pulled a fan trip from Sacramento to Reno and return. Sponsored by the California-Nevada Railroad Historical Society, this was the last time, the sound of ear-shattering exhaust and wheezing air pumps would echo through the Sierra Nevada Mountains as they had for nearly 50 years.
This video comes from the 8mm and 16mm cameras of 5 different railfans, and shows the Sacramento to Reno run from end to end with lots of dramatic runby shots and pacing sequences, and are from the archives of the Western Railway Museum.
Enjoy this look at SP 4274, as she conquers the Sierra Nevada Mountains one last time!

Пікірлер: 149
@LectronCircuits
@LectronCircuits Жыл бұрын
4274 was beautiful. We must build more of them at all costs. Cheers!
@oceanmariner
@oceanmariner Жыл бұрын
When I was a kid, my family camped in the Sierras near Cisco Grove. About a half mile from the SP mainline. Older cab forwards must have had steam whistles, because that's what I remember. At night you could hear them whistling thru the mountains. Before Interstate 5 went thru Sacramento, when turning from I street to Jibboom street, you crossed the SP mainline heading toward SF. Often there would be a cab forward waiting with cars for the signal to leave. The engine just a few feet from the crossing. The SP yard in Sacramento was huge. They could do major repairs on steam locos. In the steam days, almost everybody knew someone employed by SP. Almost all gone now. Me, too.
@iowa61
@iowa61 Жыл бұрын
They all had steam whistles. They had air horns as well. But generally used the steam whistles. My cousin was a hoghead for the SP and said he never used the air horn.
@PeterStacey-rm4nn
@PeterStacey-rm4nn Жыл бұрын
I was on this last trip with my parents
@Stussmeister
@Stussmeister Жыл бұрын
That sounds quite interesting. Though I live on the East Coast, I have been fortunate enough to see the last surviving Cab Forward (#4294) at the California State Railroad Museum, and have also read a book about an SP railroader's memories of working on the line.
@thomasavensjr.2790
@thomasavensjr.2790 Жыл бұрын
It's a true shame that SP 4274 ended up being scrapped instead of being preserved for public display observation, the 4274 had the significance of hauling one of the last steam excursion trains on the SP. I am satisfied that the 4294 was preserved for display, but I wish that there were more than one surviving "cab forward" locomotives on display and from different classes such as the ac-8 or 10 variants. I am satisfied that this footage of SP 4274 hauling the steam excursions was recorded on film and is available for personal observation of railfans.
@blackterminal
@blackterminal Жыл бұрын
Scrapping it was a crime.
@egg-...
@egg-... 8 ай бұрын
​@blackterminal my favourite train :(
@Buck1954
@Buck1954 Жыл бұрын
I was awed by its size in 1985 when I first saw it in the Sacramento Train Museum. It was truly the pinnacle of steam locomotives. Makes one wonder why they didn't go with the cab forward design long before this last series.
@daniellewis1789
@daniellewis1789 Жыл бұрын
Crashworthiness, plus you need oil firing. It's more complex than needed if you don't have tunnels.
@BuckeyeNationRailroader
@BuckeyeNationRailroader Жыл бұрын
This trip was extremely difficult to pull off. Southern Pacific was a railroad that was prided on public image, and when the trip was first proposed the Southern Pacific wanted nothing of it. Thankfully though the board of directors voted on allowing the trip and the vote passed and the trip was run. It was the same scenario with Cab Forward 4294, that engine was never supposed to be preserved.
@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan
@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan Жыл бұрын
What’s great about this version of filming southern pacific cab forward locomotives is that it shows in depth what the whistle really sounded like. It was very interesting. Is that the whistle on the cab forward was not controlled by a rope it was controlled by an air valve. Very cool and very unique. And truthfully, I honestly wish we could’ve done better to save 4274. It would’ve been great to have two surviving examples of cab forward locomotives
@cheezart895
@cheezart895 Жыл бұрын
When you say the whistle was controlled by an air valve are you talking about the air horn or the steam whistle?
@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan
@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan Жыл бұрын
@@cheezart895 I’m talking about the steam whistle I own the Pentrex DVD, Southern Pacific Cab Forward Collection and according to author and railroad historian Dr. Bob Church, he explained that the whistle was controlled by an air valve kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXjcnamrbqmrr9E this video doesn’t it show or explain the whistle, but it is a preview of this DVD
@cheezart895
@cheezart895 Жыл бұрын
@@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan ah ok but pretty cool
@o484
@o484 Жыл бұрын
It also shows their distinctive compressor exhaust
@cheezart895
@cheezart895 Жыл бұрын
@@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan i went to the ca state rr museum and i now realize that it has an air valve
@joe-qo3qi
@joe-qo3qi Жыл бұрын
One cannot but have great respect for these old work horses, the lonesome whistle and the mighty legends they created all across America. Gotta lov'em🇺🇸
@mr.sir.
@mr.sir. Жыл бұрын
The SP 6 chime is the most romantic whistle ever
@adriaanboogaard8571
@adriaanboogaard8571 Жыл бұрын
It's a thing of beauty. I've been in it. It's well worth the effort to go see it and the rest of the collection in old town Sacramento.
@speedracer3104
@speedracer3104 Жыл бұрын
Wow!! Another excellent vid of SP back in the day...beautiful!!
@railfan439
@railfan439 Жыл бұрын
Southern Pacific Railroad merged with, or was bought out by, Union Pacific Railroad. With the restoration of U.P. 4014, a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy,, wouldn't it be a real bonus to have U.P. take the last remaining cab forward, a 4-8-8-2, and restore it to running the rails again. Can you imagine those two steam locomotives running as a single consist? Thanks for the video. Jon, Railfan 439, on the U.P., Pacific Coast Line, Santa Barbara Subdivision, M.P. 404.5.
@subzerofromny735
@subzerofromny735 Ай бұрын
Yeah that’s not gonna happen. It’d be cool to see 4294 run again but it’s highly unlikely. One because it’s a cab foward and two it’s articulated. Aside from UP 4014, C&O 1309 etc. the reason that there aren’t many mallets and simple articulates running today is because, it’s hard enough getting a conventional steam locomotive back up and running again. You add on a second set of driving wheels, it becomes more complicated and the cost doubles more. Add on the fact that a cab forward is a different type of build where it’s designed to run in reverse, and the tender is permanently coupled to what is usually the front, so that’s a whole NOTHER pile of shit. Not to mention that I can’t think of any person at least in today’s era that even knows how to operate a cab forward. So yeah I doubt that the last remaining cab forward will ever run again
@TrainmasterSP-qk2lo
@TrainmasterSP-qk2lo Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing! Such an impressive locomotive!
@callumthornelow2936
@callumthornelow2936 11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for posting this. 👍 I'm constantly having to remind myself that is going forwards, not backwards. 😅
@bobgarske9579
@bobgarske9579 Жыл бұрын
I went to see the grand opening of the Sacramento railroad. I've seen this monster in person at the railroad museum and it's worth going to see all by itself. There are still many other locomotives there in the displays.
@RickyJr46
@RickyJr46 Жыл бұрын
My uncle George (Janes) was a towerman at the old Bayshore yard in San Francisco. As a lifelong railfan and model railroader, I reckon big George would've been trackside for 4274’s last runs.
@CrazyWhiteBoomer
@CrazyWhiteBoomer 24 күн бұрын
Magnificent! Thanks for sharing.
@matthenderson2558
@matthenderson2558 Жыл бұрын
I saw this type of locomotive going over Donner Summit at a Norden when I lived there in the early sixties. Love this. Thanks for posting such a historic video for us to enjoy!
@RickyJr46
@RickyJr46 Жыл бұрын
Many thanks for posting this marvelous footage!
@TheDarkfighter101
@TheDarkfighter101 Жыл бұрын
That shot of auburn is Amazing. They are standing in the cut for I-80.
@dustbowlhammer7119
@dustbowlhammer7119 7 ай бұрын
I used to think the Cab forward locomotive was strange, but the more I learned about it, the more it bacame one of my favorites! Such a unique history.
@griswald322
@griswald322 Жыл бұрын
Great to have a record of this loco in operation. Maybe one day it's surviving sister can be restored to working order like the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014
@ronaldvrooman9695
@ronaldvrooman9695 Жыл бұрын
Or like the Southern Pacific Daylight locomotive, #4449, a big 4-8-4 which went into service in 1941.
@georgebliss8262
@georgebliss8262 Жыл бұрын
I love this footage and have never seen it. Awesome job!
@The0311gruntUSMC
@The0311gruntUSMC Жыл бұрын
Nice work and thank you for sharing.
@nigelterry9299
@nigelterry9299 Жыл бұрын
That's a beast!!!
@rayinpau.s.a.6351
@rayinpau.s.a.6351 Жыл бұрын
Well documented video . I have never actually seen a Cab Forward in operation . very nice!
@cabbagepatch8947
@cabbagepatch8947 Жыл бұрын
Any vids showing inside the cab?
@griswald322
@griswald322 Жыл бұрын
It is like a lot of things. We didn't really appreciate what we had until it's gone
@backonpro5679
@backonpro5679 3 ай бұрын
@@cabbagepatch8947the preserved cab forward in Sacramento has an open cab, there are probably tours of it on KZbin if you search Sacramento railroad museum
@johnnycee5179
@johnnycee5179 Жыл бұрын
This is what I was looking for
@TheTrainGeekShow
@TheTrainGeekShow 11 ай бұрын
What a great video, thanks for uploading!
@rickyarvizu7535
@rickyarvizu7535 Жыл бұрын
Excellent Presentation, Hunter!
@delfincruz6786
@delfincruz6786 4 ай бұрын
A testament of a Beautiful firepower monster ❤
@henrymuenich6296
@henrymuenich6296 Жыл бұрын
Great video 📹
@lowercherty
@lowercherty Жыл бұрын
As a Missabe fan, a backwards Yellowstone.
@jacksalvin364
@jacksalvin364 Жыл бұрын
November 30th and December 1st, 1957 Extra 4274 East: The Sierra Daylight.
@richlohse5795
@richlohse5795 Жыл бұрын
I remember going to Soda Springs with you. Now I work at a place like that in Big Sky 8-)
@danielboone3770
@danielboone3770 Жыл бұрын
Love it!
@sirbarongaming2138
@sirbarongaming2138 8 ай бұрын
Such a shame that we'll never see these giants roaming our rails again, most unique looking articulated locomotive by far
@2quintly
@2quintly Жыл бұрын
Great coverage.
@johnhagan7742
@johnhagan7742 Жыл бұрын
2:50 With a plume of oil smoke that big, I bet the rail fans on board got some pretty good photo shots of 4274 at work.
@nitinkanals5087
@nitinkanals5087 Жыл бұрын
Unique locomotive.
@drosera88
@drosera88 11 ай бұрын
It's crazy that only one of these was preserved.
@skywatcherca
@skywatcherca 4 ай бұрын
Wonderful!!
@johnoneill5661
@johnoneill5661 11 ай бұрын
Amazing looking locomotives you have to look twice just to figure out what's going on.😅
@sigsauersean
@sigsauersean Жыл бұрын
My grandfather called my dad a liar when he went from Ohio to SoCal and saw one of these the first time and told his dad about it, he went back and took a picture of it as proof.
@WiilyDerbbinphlatte
@WiilyDerbbinphlatte Жыл бұрын
Never could get use to these cab forwards. Still can't.
@snydedon9636
@snydedon9636 Жыл бұрын
At the museum at the end was 4294 not 4274. Maybe I missed something, but either way that was a excellent video. Thanks to whoever filmed the last turn of sp4274.
@mikehawk2003
@mikehawk2003 10 ай бұрын
The SP was initally (likely out of spite) against preserving a cab forward, which resulted in the scrapping of 4274. 4294 was a later compromise.
@iowa61
@iowa61 Жыл бұрын
The State Railroad Museum should restore 4294 and steam it up. I’ve heard the same excuses about that locomotive that I heard for years about the UP Big Boy…”It’s too big. Too complex. Too expensive… It’’ll never be done… blah blah blah…”
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
Logistically and politically speaking 4294 is fine just where it is
@eva.cassidy
@eva.cassidy Жыл бұрын
Think if someone came up with all the money to restore it to operation maybe the state would go for it. Issue there are limited places it could run.
@iowa61
@iowa61 Жыл бұрын
@@HunterLohseRRVideos Exactly what they said about the Big Boy (and some still do). You can always find reasons to not do something. It’s called inertia.
@iowa61
@iowa61 Жыл бұрын
@@eva.cassidy People would still come up with reasons why it can’t be done. “Train Orders” is notorious for this thinking.
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
The Big Boy was two private corporations exchanging a transaction. The 4294 is owned by the state of California which requires way more political hoops, and with the current railroad climate, especially surrounding where it is, it is just not practical
@deweyhall712
@deweyhall712 Жыл бұрын
Its a shame, that only 1 cab forward has survived, and is in a california museum.
@ronniesmith8941
@ronniesmith8941 Жыл бұрын
It's at the California State Railroad museum in Sacramento, California
@rudycarlson8245
@rudycarlson8245 5 ай бұрын
@@ronniesmith8941 what would the 4294 need to run a total heavy overhaul? I think the last time it was under steam was 1956?
@neilmansfield8329
@neilmansfield8329 11 ай бұрын
This a good videp
@crewelocoman5b161
@crewelocoman5b161 Жыл бұрын
Fabulous footage. Great to see the "cab forward" in its heyday. Is there one of these locomotives residing in a museum anywhere in the U.S?
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
The end of the video explains that
@jeffbutler6100
@jeffbutler6100 Жыл бұрын
S P Cab Forwards were all oil fired...none of that messy coal fired stuff..with soot and cinder..and ash 5:32
@ddpeak1
@ddpeak1 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting I wish somebody had filmed the large Garrett that used to run on the Great central line in northern England. It’s good that you found this footage and shared it I wonder if who filmed it years ago would’ve dreamed it would’ve been streamed all over the world for us to enjoy. Oh one question do tunnels in the US not have names.? all the tunnels here in Great Britain are named usually by their location.
@WEM2016
@WEM2016 Жыл бұрын
Completely depends on the location. SP numbered the tunnels on Donner, for instance, but Union Pacific’s mainline in Wyoming passes through Hermosa Tunnel.
@joelharris1335
@joelharris1335 Жыл бұрын
So the AC-11's have a whistle and a horn?
@T128Productions
@T128Productions 5 ай бұрын
Almost every steam locomotive on the SP were equipped with air horns.
@cratecruncher4974
@cratecruncher4974 Жыл бұрын
Before even California cared about clean air.
@dougc190
@dougc190 Жыл бұрын
Those pre-recorded sounds of that engine? I didn't think cameras of that vintage had sound to them. Just sounds like it was all additive. It's not a complaint the video is great just curiosity
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
Yes the sound is synchronized as most home movies at that time were traditionally silent
@alwaysbearded1
@alwaysbearded1 Жыл бұрын
Most home cameras no, but the talkies started late twenties and sound was improved by the mid to late 30's.
@dalecomer5951
@dalecomer5951 Жыл бұрын
How do we know the audio is authentic?
@petergibbs
@petergibbs Жыл бұрын
A nice video, but I wish you had shown inside the cab.
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
6:47
@lynn4205
@lynn4205 Жыл бұрын
I know I can , I know I can , I know I can
@darrealemerick8685
@darrealemerick8685 Жыл бұрын
One thing I got to know how did they fuel this engine? The one that was in the movie back to the future, had a wood or coal car behind it. Unless i am mistaken i didn't see anyone moving coal or wood from the car behind the engine. Please explain this to a beginning student of this fascinating technology.
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
It burns oil
@jodyreeder4820
@jodyreeder4820 Жыл бұрын
They need to bring back steam.
@T128Productions
@T128Productions 2 ай бұрын
Yes.
@Topper-gf8xl
@Topper-gf8xl 3 ай бұрын
Was that a diesel horn I heard early in the film?
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos 3 ай бұрын
Cab forwards also had air horns
@rusty383
@rusty383 Жыл бұрын
How did they get Coal to the Boiler. Maybe it was Oil Fired
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
They were oil fired as are most steam locomotives that operate on the west coast
@johnhagan7742
@johnhagan7742 Жыл бұрын
Note: With the cab in front, the crews knew that coal firing the engines would be impossible, so they burned oil instead.
@TenMinuteTrips
@TenMinuteTrips Жыл бұрын
Also, the oil tender was pressurized to insure positive fuel oil flow to the burner, even at the thinner air at 7,000’ Donner Pass.
@mistzy8435
@mistzy8435 Жыл бұрын
@@johnhagan7742 Camelbacks existed, I'll remind you
@russellgxy2905
@russellgxy2905 Жыл бұрын
Yeah they pretty much needed to be oil burners for this desigh to work properly. Even then, their main terrain was California. Pretty much every steamer working in the state, and its neighbors, were oil burners because oil was far more readily available than coal. The same applies to the Santa Fe's steam fleet working that far west, and even UP's steamers were usually oil burners working west of Ogden
@yanni2112
@yanni2112 11 ай бұрын
moving in reverse it looks normal
@T128Productions
@T128Productions 4 ай бұрын
The Southern Pacific also had AC-9s, which were basically the reversed cab forwards.
@OnlyTheEd
@OnlyTheEd Жыл бұрын
Too bad there is no "operating" cab-forward today.
@robertgift
@robertgift Жыл бұрын
Why not run the engine backward through the tunnels? Then you have the protection of the tender in front of the crew. Was told that engine crews were vulnerable to injury at grade crossing collisions.
@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL
@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL Жыл бұрын
This is a cab-(foward) train
@robertgift
@robertgift Жыл бұрын
@@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL A cab foRward locomotive. Notrain. Why not run the engine backward through the tunnels? Then you have the protection of the tender in front of the crew. Was told that engine crews were vulnerable to injury at grade crossing collisions.
@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL
@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL Жыл бұрын
@@robertgift How can the driver see then? its not like a normal steam train. the driver seeing the cab is just weird. what if theres a car in the railroad crossing?
@robertgift
@robertgift Жыл бұрын
@@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL Correct. Less visibility withe tender obstructing the view. Buthe boiler also obstructed the view. My great uncle had his fireman also look ahead when rounding left curves.
@b43xoit
@b43xoit 11 ай бұрын
"After a number of crews nearly asphyxiated, the locomotive was run in reverse. This meant that the tender was leading the train, which introduced new problems. The tender blocked the view ahead and put crewmen on the wrong sides of the cab for seeing signals. The tenders were not designed to be pushed at the lead of the train, which limited speeds." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cab_forward
@mistzy8435
@mistzy8435 Жыл бұрын
The audio doesn't sound original... Is it?
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
It is dubbed
@robkrasinski6217
@robkrasinski6217 Жыл бұрын
Is California very mountainous? But, are there also flat areas of the state?
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
California has everything, mountains, valleys, hills, deserts, and beaches
@gabrielquinones3343
@gabrielquinones3343 9 ай бұрын
Does it still run to this day ?
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos 9 ай бұрын
Did you watch until the end of the video?
@gabrielquinones3343
@gabrielquinones3343 9 ай бұрын
@@HunterLohseRRVideos yes
@gabrielquinones3343
@gabrielquinones3343 9 ай бұрын
@@HunterLohseRRVideos it was retired and put into the Sacramento railroad museum
@gabrielquinones3343
@gabrielquinones3343 9 ай бұрын
@@HunterLohseRRVideos it doesn’t run under its own steam
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos 9 ай бұрын
Then your question was answered
@shammshaw7901
@shammshaw7901 11 ай бұрын
RIP SP 4274 IT WAS SCRAPPED AFTER RETIREMENT
@gabrielquinones3343
@gabrielquinones3343 9 ай бұрын
Was it really
@T128Productions
@T128Productions 4 ай бұрын
@@gabrielquinones3343 Sadly, yes. The 4274 was scrapped after being retired. As the matter of fact, all of the cab forward steam locomotives were scrapped, except for 4294, the last cab forward which is now on display at the California State Railroad Museum.
@lutomson3496
@lutomson3496 Жыл бұрын
4294 is at the sacramento museum, the restoration is expensive though, this video tells a lot of half truths not a lot of facts
@ice401557
@ice401557 Жыл бұрын
Were these oil fired?
@HunterLohseRRVideos
@HunterLohseRRVideos Жыл бұрын
Yes
@rudycarlson8245
@rudycarlson8245 5 ай бұрын
No.5 oil
@holgerspangenberg3706
@holgerspangenberg3706 Жыл бұрын
Eine hübsche Lokomotive mit einem hässlichen Geheule.
@TheRoadburner99
@TheRoadburner99 Жыл бұрын
Someone should really restore one @MrBeast
@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL
@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL Жыл бұрын
You think a "rich" youtuber can restore that?
@rudycarlson8245
@rudycarlson8245 5 ай бұрын
For the 4294 to run, it would take a big crew to get her up and running! Not to mention, probably about over $1 million
@rCory1945
@rCory1945 Жыл бұрын
🚆🚄seen it in Sacramento railway museum🚅
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