SP 4449 Worlds Fair Daylight Part 1

In 1984, SP 4449 pulled a long distance excursion trip from Portland, OR to New Orleans, LA via Los Angeles over SP's Shasta and Sunset routes with a return trip after a visit to the Fair. It was the longest distance traversed by a steam excursion in the US up to that time. It was dubbed the "World's Fair Daylight" and the consist included some original Daylight cars, and with all painted in the Daylight scheme, it was a very authentic recreation of a classic streamliner. In Part 1 we cover the eastbound trip from northern California to Los Angeles. This is a capture of a VHS copy from my late friend Bill Farmer, so apologies for the quality. Bill had one of those early VHS rigs with the separate camera and tape deck, so he had to plan his shots with plenty of setup time. Enjoy!

[@iusetano]

Thank you again for this upload. I enjoyed watching.

[@allegheny48]

Thanks for posting this. I really enjoyed it. Mr. Farmer was an excellent videographer to say the least and his pacing shots were spot on! I well remember those early VHS recorders with the separate components. Thanks again and I am looking forward the second installment.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome video!

[@seattlefan8890]

Nice footage. I was able to partake in a few segments of the trip. I lived in the Santa Clarita Valley at the time, and watched the train make a photo run-by there. The next day it was at Los Angeles Union Station. Next, I was able to ride a segment from L.A. to Palm Springs. Then, on its return trip from New Orleans I chased the train on the U.S. 101 freeway between Ventura and San Luis Obispo. One correction I might add: Not all of the cars were originally Daylight cars. Certainly the cars with the high height windows were Shasta Daylight cars. I don't know about the other cars with the conventional sized windows. The observation car, "Appekunny Mountain," was originally a Great Northern car. (Photos of it are available on line.) I believe that trip was the only time that entire consist ran together. Some time after, the cars were returned or sold to other parties.

[@fmnut]

Thanks for the correction on the cars. Too bad the Internet sources where I got the bad info won't be corrected also.

[@jacksalvin364]

May 5th-June 24th, 1984, 4449 powers the World's Fair Daylight Excursion. The trip ran from Portland, Oregon to New Orleans, Louisiana for the World's Fair and return.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 blows it's SP&S 700 1974-1989 & NP z class challenger whistle 1981-1990

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 going to new Orleans world's fair 1984

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 in 1984

[@bobbybrisk643]

I wonder if anyone captured the moment of the Tender Seperation in Texas.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 está soando o sp&s 700's 1984 whistle igual a voz da prima aline

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

What a treat! But at 21:45, you can see the wheelsets. These are not the articulated coaches.

[@allegheny48]

As I understand it the articulated sets were either disposed of or repurposed for other uses once AMTRAK took over passenger operations. Southern Pacific had previously modified several of the sets prior to that. A set of them (2473-2474) is owned by the Niles Canyon Railroad. Some Google sleuthing may find if other sets still in existence.

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

@@allegheny48 Appreciate your insight.

[@justahillbilly7777]

@@allegheny48 From all that I've been able to find and gather, there are 5 articulated chair cars still around, with the Niles Canyon one being the only one still in an SP livery. All the others are in either tourist train or dinner train service. There are two articulated Cascade Diners still around, one at Niles Canyon, the other at the Grapevine Railroad in Texas. Please note that *I reserve the right to be wrong with the number of remaining articulated chair cars and their dispositions.*

[@fmnut]

@@justahillbilly7777 There were at least 2 sets in use as MW camp cars on the Algoma Central back in the 1980s. Probably not around any more though.

[@allegheny48]

@@justahillbilly7777 You've done some interesting research. Well done! I also like your disclaimer. I may use something similar in the future.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 going to Southern Califórnia

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 South to new Orleans

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 shasta daylight

[@smoothoperator32]

I feel like putting a diesel in front of her is disrespectful. Let her battle it out, she can handle those passenger cars.

[@ethanmorel2746]

It’s for dynamic braking only. When a diesel is added at Black Butte, it helps the locomotive save her air brake system while they go down Cantara Loop before entering the town of Dunsmuir.

[@seattlefan8890]

At least the diesels were in matching Daylight colors. Some nice planning on somebody's part.

[@justahillbilly7777]

Call me nitpicky, but the consist wasn't ALL original Daylight cars, some were former Great Northern and SP&S cars painted in Daylight colors. This link here shows the numbers of all the cars and their heritage: www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2348317

[@fmnut]

Description edited accordingly. Nitpicking is fine when it is warranted, thanks for the nudge.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Sp 4449 daylight express usando vagões exclusivos para mulheres especiais 6hs às 9hs às 17hs às 20hs