The Happiest Steam Locomotive in America | Southern Pacific GS-4 4449 | History in the Dark

[@OmegaInfinityAlpha]

Just saw her sister #4460 at the St Louis Museum of Transportation over the weeked. Considering she's outdoors on static display, she still looks absolutely beautiful. They're taking as good a care of her as possible

[@HistoryintheDark]

She does have a roof over her, which is pretty good as outdoor displays go. I've heard good things about the St Louis MoT staff so I'm sure they're taking care of her.

[@OmegaInfinityAlpha]

@@HistoryintheDark it's honestly a great museum I couldn't recommend more, with a ton of oddball engines (more then a few I've seen in your videos) there's actually a couple I saw that I think would be good for your Mad science videos, mostly #724 Georgia, "the Rainbow Locomotive", all painted up in bright colors to teach people about the different parts of a steam Locomotive, and Panama Canal Company US #662, the Mule, one of the engines that pulled ships through the Panama Canal back in the 10s and 20s.

[@RenukaPokhrel-tj3sr]

God 4449? He pulls the great daylight limited lol

[@GageisGreat12]

I still don’t think it’s right that 4460 is rotting while 4449 is being pampered. It’s nice to hear they’re trying but it would be nice to see her restored

[@reyrey1865]

Isn’t 4460 a GS6 not 4?

[@scotteakins7203]

My father got to ride in her cab back in 1976 from Ottumwa Ia. to Galesburg Ill. When she was in her Freedom Train colors. I still have all the newspaper clippings & photos of when they rolled into town. Dad said it was the greatest experience he ever had! Rest in Peace Dad!

[@fanofeverything30465]

So sorry for your loss 😢

[@Eric_Hunt194]

As Mick Jagger sang "I see an orange train and I want to paint it black" 🎵

[@twiellie]

Such an underrated comment smh.

[@Axel-mz2wh]

"No colors anymore, I want them to turn black"

[@poowg2657]

Got to see her pulling the Freedom Train out of Milwaukee Wi. on a cold winter night pounding upgrade on the Milwaukee Road main behind my house. Normally I slept through trains passing by unless they sounded like something was wrong. But the Freedom Train sounded oh so right and the stack talk raised goose bumps. Thanks for the great video!

[@91_C4_FL]

I was in Portland, OR back in 2017 and took an hour to visit 4449. Even sitting still and not under steam, my inner 5y/o was grinning ear to ear. If you’re ever in the area, it’s worth the visit!

[@shimesu443]

UP 844: There is something wrong with your cousin, I think. SP 4449: _sigh_ Yes, I know. I just can't get through to her. UP 844: Well, try not to worry too much; it's bad for your health. C'mon, I know what will take your mind off of her. I got a train we can doublehead. You up for it? SP 4449: Yeah... sounds good. 4460 might want to change her tune, however. There is a rumor swirling around that she might be up for restoration. I really hope that's true.

[@fanofeverything30465]

SP 4460: I can hear you

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

N&W 611: jeez 4460 calm down

[@Steveo6087]

UP 833 *sobbing because everyone forgets her*

[@Merica_official50]

​@@Steveo6087 up 814: *crying in the corner*

[@ShinGhidorah17]

This, in my opinion, is America’s best locomotive. It has the most beautiful streamlining I’ve ever seen. The GS-4s will always be my favourite American steam locomotives. 10/10.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

U ain’t alone it’s my favorite too

[@moosecat]

I've had the absolute pleasure of chasing 4449 around Tacoma twice when she's come up this way. (God bless her, my wife has been willing to go with me on both of these jaunts.) I also had the good fortune to have a picture while standing in front of one of her drivers; I'm no shrinking violet, but 4449 has a way of making somebody feel small. The 4449 is an absolutely beautiful locomotive, and I'm glad that she's alive and well. I would love to see her do more running. PS: Spokane is pronounced "Spo-can" and Puget is pronounced "Pew-get".

[@jimmyhook4852]

I'll say this man: Very clever and crafty title. ^^ And of course naturally... excellent video via talking about 4449. ;)

[@DaylightTwinkle]

As a few extra fun facts, N&W 611 was also looked at for potentially pulling the American Freedom Train as well till Reading 2101 was selected. And 4449 did pull a few public excursions for the southern railway during her AFT tour. Even meeting SOU 4501, 722 and T&P 610 at one point. Something else I found out about recently when I picked up a dvd from a train show called railfanning in the 70’s. Not only 4501 was on it, but 4449 as well, from what I remember she did a southern excursion to Washington DC and she actually did spent the night at the Spencer shops in North Carolina, which would be knowned today as the NCTM. So yeah.

[@DM-wp9vq]

I saw her (X4449) in Toledo,OR in the early 90's, when I was about 10 or so, and she's the most glorious train and straight up gorgeous machine that I've ever seen in person! She had her Daylight colors looking super fresh and vibrant. My dad took me to see her (about a 7mi. drive from where I live) and then he went full dickhead and rode her without me to Corvallis (Oregon). I wanted so bad to ride that train... Only trains I've been on (besides the Max/Light Rail in Portland,OR) in the train at the Oregon Zoo and the train at Disneyland.. They really don't count I guess. Never been on a legit full scale train. I'm glad she's up in Portland still, gotta visit the museum when I'm up there next. I don't get up to Portland as much as I used to. Life and such. Loved the role playing at the end! No offense, but you reminded me of my daughter when she was 8-10 years old. That awesome imagination and sense of theater! Oh, and Puget Sound is Pew-Jit Sound (Phonics), and Spokane is Spo-Can. Just an fyi. Thank you for pronouncing Oregon right by the way! That makes every lifelong Oregonian happy! Great video, and thank you for the wonderful dose of wimsy!

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

Great video and story cobber. Glad she has a wonderful life now. Cheers mate.

[@masterskrain2630]

I saw the 4449 as the Freedom train in Clearwater, Florida.

[@haydendegrow945]

Always have wanted visit this beauty! I love 4449!

[@lovegamesandtrains3194]

Jack Holst basically gave 4449 700 and 197 a new life with what he did and im glad he did do that because he didnt have to but he did it to help save these wonderful beasts of history

[@trainglen22]

Thank you for the history of this beautiful Southern Pacific locomotive. So happy that the 4449 is safe with SP&S 700.

[@CynderHound]

"WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY!!!!!" - SP 4460 probably

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

My favorite locomotive EVER

[@brentboswell1294]

My introduction to the 4449 was seeing her in 1976, pulling the American Freedom train, when I was four years old. I was with my mom when the crossing gates came down in El Paso, Texas on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks. My mom wasn't expecting it, it was just happenstance. I vividly remember it, and it spurred a lifelong interest in trains. My dad bought me a Lionel "Spirit of 76" train set from Western Auto not long after that. I saw her again in 1981, when she was on an excursion on the Southern Pacific, and was parked at Union Station in El Paso next to the recently restored SP 3420, which was recently restored (the 3420 was a Baldwin built light 2-8-0 Consolidation, built for the El Paso and Southwestern railroad. She was rescued from the traffic circle on Texas Avenue, where the City of El Paso put their donation).

[@TOzzy_]

I was just at the Oregon Rail Heritage Museum and she was looking great when I was there! I remember seeing her at a car show in my hometown when I was young. Pretty cool experience. She is one awesome engine

[@DarkLink1996]

Another great banger of a video Darkness !

[@joshmeister4449]

I do also want to mention that "Technically" 4449 and 4460 arn't the only GS class engines that were saved. While yes, they are the only two "Complete" GS class locomotives that were saved, a Western Pacific GS-6 tender was also saved and is currently at the Western Pacific museum in Portola. Friends of the 4449 up until recently were looking to buy that tender to convert it into 4449's new Aux tender, but that seems to have stalled out for the time being.

[@davidstrawn9272]

I did see Daylight 4449 in September of 2006 (the first time I see her in Portland Union Station at night was on September 15th before pacing her from Portland to Bend OR and watched the Daylight departing Bend bound for home in Portland on the 17th), and again in Michigan in July of 2009 for the Trainfest 09.

[@Daylight4449-t8q]

I love this locomotive, SP 4449 is one of my favorite Locomotive of all time, When I grow up I want to drive him because he’s my favorite steam engine

[@bdub215]

4449 has been out in the sun a few times this year and has been fired up a couple times as well. I know one off hand was a private photo charter.

[@martinadams7949]

Having moved to oregon in 1977 and worked in preservation i know her well and many of those in the the pictures.Have road behind her in all three color schemes in three states and british columbia

[@Blaze06]

I have brief memories of riding behind this engine in 2011. In fact I just dug out the old photo album(s) today to find photos of that trip to the Pacific Northwest to ride behind that iconic steamer lol

[@SPRailfan4449]

I’m ready for this video 👍

[@TheGs4_4449]

He made a video about my favorite locomotive! Let’s gooo! LET’S GOOOOOO!

[@Voucher765]

Same, Especially in the AFT colors

[@Kiddman32]

I remember waiting for the Holiday Express one night, when she derailed due to being just plain too heavy for those rails... Walked down the trail to see her on the ground... Fortunately, she was going nice and slow when this happened. Was a sad sight to see her sitting there partially of the tracks. Amazingly, they had craned her back onto the rails by the next day, and after shoring up the rails for the rest of the route, she finished her Holiday Express duties with no further trouble. My guess is that that was the last year the 4449 pulled the Holdiay Express down that route...

[@stephenspilker9334]

i was privileged to ride behind the 4449 a couple of times.

[@AnthonyIsAUP4449]

I love the old whistle :D

[@nickel_plate_fan5376]

4449: its just a phase 4460. 4460: its not a phase!!!

[@snoapyfluff]

I hope 4460 can run again it was nice to see her in person

[@samuelbenge524]

It is worthy to note that the wheel off of one of the other GS locomotives was saved right before scrapping and is now on static display

[@ericwillcoxen7856]

I have seen 4449 three times in my life. Each time she wasn't in steam. The first time I saw here was in 1997, or '98, and she was on display at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, Or. The second time I saw here was at the ORHC while she was being rebuilt back in 2014. The last time i've seen her was 2019, again at the ORHC. I hope to see her in steam sometime. But, in steam or not, she is a magnificent engine. Pictures do not do the Daylight paint scheme justice.

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

SP engine 4449 is one of my personal favorite types of 4-8-4 locomotive still in existence and this locomotive has pulled many public excursion trains during it's second career starting back in 1975. SP 4449 along with engine 4460 are the only two surviving GS class 4-8-4 type locomotives, I would love to see the 4460 be returned back to operation again but the possibility of that action happening is highly unlikely since the locomotive is on public display at a museum now.

[@IronHorseReviews]

Wonderful video! =)

[@joelchristensen9503]

Well done Darkness! You failed to mention photo shoot display with PM1225.

[@SPRailfan4449]

I just saw 4449 last weekend ❤ love that steam engine, it’s my favorite. ❤️🤍💙

[@thelaborpeasant]

Personally I think they nailed it with the semi-streamlined look and thats a big part of why shes so famous. They streamlined the right spots while also retaining the classic steam look in the right spots. You streamline a steam locomotive to make it look good but if you go to far it can work against you and just look gaudy, as was the case with Commodore Vanderbilt and somewhat with N&W 611 (yeah i said it, fight me 😂)

[@connorflaherty175]

I’ve seen 4449 in person at Fargo during her journey to Owosso. It also would have nice if she had participated in the transcontinental sesquicentennial in 2019 with 844 and the then newly restored 4014.

[@atshinkansen7439]

844 and 4449, being the same wheel arrangement, would have been a nice nod to Jupiter and 119.

[@QLDrailfan798]

17:55 ok someone, anyone, PLEASE MAKE AN ANIMATION OR SOMETHING REGUARDING THESE TWO, PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!!

[@Tom-Lahaye]

A very well made loco portrait, can you do more of these. Would be great as I don't know the history of all American preserved locomotives yet, like 4449's sisters 179 and 700 in the shed. Imo the colour scheme of the Daylight and Milwaukee's Hiawata locomotives must rank as the most beautiful in the States of black locomotives. Just a pity that 4449 doesn't run that often anymore, would be nice to see her doing some tours from Portland to Sacramento and San Francisco or Portland-Seattle-Spokane-Missoula-Butte to have here on the mainline again, these would be multiple day tours due to the distance covered. Portland-Seattle and back would be a one day tour.

[@theconceptualist8626]

Yes, I agree, that be a happy steam engine

[@samuelbenge524]

The whole thing about "I see an orange engine, let's paint it black" reminds me of the one who bought the '66 Batmobile and painted it silver, until someone came along and put it back the way it should be

[@danielmkubacki]

G-4 4449 is so cool!

[@emagenevanhorn1543]

1:58 she entered service on may 30th not the same year but that day is when I was born but just in 2012

[@sammy6289.]

8:16 RAAAAAAAAHHHH WTF IS A KILOMETER 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅

[@joshmeister4449]

Would love to see one of these done for SP 2248

[@danielboone3770]

I enjoy this history!

[@mirglaw]

17:54 the cousins arguing😂 Idk why 4460 is so mad she was the last steam locomotive to run in the southern pacific😅

[@TonyFleetwood]

No mention of Doyle McCormack? He's a huge reason why 4449 was as successful as it was, in the Daylight scheme and the AFT scheme...

[@alethamiller973]

Went to a military vehicle convention in portland and went to the brooklyn yard. I got to sit in 4449, it was quite the experience. I offered the head guy there 500$ for a ride in it and he said that all of the people that had worked on it had first priority. I tried, oh well!!!

[@Dannyedelman4231]

So sad that it will be sidelined from the holiday specials because of the weight restrictions on the oregon pacific 😢

[@justahillbilly7777]

Oregon Pacific uses 90 pound rail for their trackage, so a big 4-8-4 like the 4449 and 700 will definitely do some minor damage to the track. Let's just be thankful for the generosity of the Oregon Pacific's late owner, and his family who now own the railroad. The late owner was more then happy to accommodate the 4-8-4's for their short jaunts down to Oaks Park and back and then foot the bill for the track repairs, but after his death and his family inheriting the railroad, his family has said no to the 4-8-4's and the associated MOW costs, but other then that, they still seem to be more then happy to work with the ORHF to provide train rides to the general public, be they steam or diesel hauled.

[@Dannyedelman4231]

​@justahillbilly7777 oh yeah I forgot about the late owner

[@wesleymoore8552]

(Read in ploygon donut voice) Yeey!, look at her! She is so joyous!!!!!

[@samuelbenge524]

I would say the most recognizable would be the Union Pacific Big Boys, Southern Pacific 4449, Norfolk and Western 611 and the New York Central Hudsons

[@Randomguy-jh6wv]

Are you going to make a history video on Canadian pacific 2816?

[@michaelcolucci5734]

Like how you said at the end how she can’t run on the Oregon Pacific Railroad anymore due to her weight restriction this is why she needs to be equipped with positive train control because without it she is technically landlocked at the ORHC and can’t run on the mainline and honestly i dont think near that she will operate any excursions anywhere because of Amtrak and all the other class 1 railroad’s restrictions unless she has PTC equipped so she can run on her own!

[@4nUnkn0wnM3mb3r]

I wonder if 4449 will ever run mainline excursions again to Bend its been 6 years

[@jordandorsett3106]

Southern Pacific ROLL ON ROLL ON!!!!

[@daronmiller1684]

You should do one on the Sunbeam locomotives next. The texas daylights

[@Trainhead23]

THIS IS COMING ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jordandorsett3106]

Happy birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 Trainheadrebooted

[@fanofeverything30465]

Happy Late Birthday 🎂

[@TaraGautam-v9i]

4449: So, Hey Brother, what did you do over Weekend? 4460: - _- I WAN5 TO DIE

[@axelsalengko7195]

Me: BRO what?💀 001( number of SDF Big One):💀 765: really do you want to die? 1225: oh hell nah bro really you want to d*e? 1401/1394:💀 Polar Express Boy:😲 4449:😐 5450:☠ Koenigsegg Agera R and Hennessey Venom GT RCPD Police Car full color black and white:☠ Porsche 911 GT3 RS SCPD Police and Chevrolet Corvette Cross RPD Police car with Porsche 911 GT2 RS SCPD Police car:💀 042(number of SDF Iron Berger):☠ Porsche 911 Turbo:💀

[@0fficialdregs]

i recently bought a SP GS-4 4433 that i mistaken for 4443. Gonna renumber it once it arrives

[@carolynmarshall5435]

I recently took a trip from tx to Oregon and saw her and got a new train they were also selling rail spikes to but about a year ago i already got a rail spike for free because the railroad was very close to the restaurant i was eating at and decided to go outside and saw a train go by then went to the caboose while I was walking is found a lose free rail spike and later another day de-rusted it.

[@amtrakandcsxrailfanning164]

Sp 4449 is my favorite train

[@LucianoSalazar1776]

17:55 This Makes Me Laugh Every Time I See It

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Aft 4449 amtrak country special northbound north towards

[@axelsalengko7195]

In 1975-1976, 4449 painted Red White and Blue or American Freedom Train to western portion side in 1980, 4449 was painted Daylight paint scheme in 1986, 4449 Daylight entered movie Tough Guys and renamed Gold Coast Flyer as a movie star in 1989, Southern Pacific 4449 and Union Pacific 8444 (844) were Rivals and racing in Cajon Pass in 2000, 4449 is painted black and silver for BNSF Appreciation in 2002-2003, 4449 was painted American Freedom Train again because of 9/11 terrorist attack in 2004-2008, 4449 painted Daylight paint scheme again in 2007, 4449 doublehead with 844 in 2009-Present, The Rivals of 4449 and 844 has ended because 4449 retired

[@dannyking748]

4449 has had a great career and it does suck to see her not running. It could be worse she could have been scraped and never got to see her. One day she'll run again

[@Jimboliah3985]

Honestly, how could you talk about 4449, without mentioning her owner Doyle McCormack?

[@feraxks]

Probably because he wasn't the owner. He headed the restoration and was her engineer for years and years. It has been owned by the city of Portland since 1958.

[@ShinGhidorah17]

The 4449 is a great locomotive. Don’t you think?

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Aft 4449 blows it's SP&S challenger whistle & second or third

[@tristanbentz224]

i always thought daylight had a smile on its smokebox with that black bar on it.

[@brentboswell1294]

Not so sure it's track issues on the Oregon Pacific that sidelined the 4449. I think its insurance issues. Their owner (Dick Samuels) recently passed away, and Mr. Samuel's sons are now running the railroad...

[@TrainLover-wt9ix]

4449 and 844 are best friends 😅

[@JackCarsonsRailroadVideos]

Yes!!!!

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Aft 4449 Southbound south towards the usa

[@TheEerieMaster]

4460 needs love

[@kazeirfan]

Well i am actually think pacific northwest have a 4 steam locomotive (btw one steam locomotive in canada was almost to pacific northwest) such as sp 4449,up 8444(renamed as 844),sp&s 700 and cpr 2816) the another east area of mailine steam wont know about this duo locomotive always together from 70 to 2000

[@PatrioticCoservativeAmerican]

I don't think we'll ever see her run again sadly

[@harrisonallen651]

If any of her previous drivers and firemen could understand her telepathically, then she’d had a hell of a good time!

[@TruenoD12]

in Cajon Pass there's three train accidentsall of them are brutal

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Aft 4449 took to train colorado wyoming montana to Washington d.c oregon to California Arizona nevada Utah Oklahoma Kansas to Missouri to Tennessee Louisiana & alabama

[@F40M07]

#justicefor4460

[@Steamer96]

If only they could've stayed in Brooklyn, the waterfront sucks here in Portland. Damn it Union Pacific!

[@Trainhead23]

I smell a family feud biased on that last scene

[@JustinIgnacio-k7i]

Man I wished they preserved The Crusader train steam locomotive

[@michigandon]

Check out the logo for Smoker Farm Elevators!

[@Railroadracer49]

17:54 another hilarious skit 😂

[@mirglaw]

I know right? 😅

[@Ezekiel-wk5hz]

Eversence I fout out about Southern Pacific 4449 I wanted to learn more Abt steam cause I've never seen one up close sadly I have never seen 4449 but I have seen Southern Pacific 1238 a s10 oil burning switcher that was used for Southern Pacific but was retired in the mid to late 50s happily though she was donated to the city of Fresno California located in the central valley which is where I've been living sence I was three btw I'm 15 now and I never really paid attention to 1238 until a couple months ago there are talks of moving 1238 if any of u guys live or have been to Fresno 1238 is right next to the chaffe zoo and the little amusement park next to it so if anybody is in that area I'd check her out she may be small but not famous as 4449 or 844 but she is well known if uve researched Abt her

[@jacobenyart4075]

Fun Fact the 197 is Currently being Restored to Operation

[@ChargerusPrime]

Is it just me who wants to get that NP 3 chime from Doyle McCormick and make copies of it? Like.. a LOT of copies?

[@funtechxtream8753]

Mee bros favourite locomotive of the ones hes knows!

[@nickel_plate_fan5376]

cheer up 4460

[@NW-gi1cp]

Imagine if 4014,844,3985,5511,and 4449 team up to make a quintuple header 😂

[@fanofeverything30465]

That'd be awesome

[@generalprincecodyhedgewolf2944]

It’s Like as if UP and BNSF, CSX and NS are the Big Four railroads

[@TruenoD12]

mlwMilwaukee Road to 61 in a 484 Northern

[@natevince3154]

Pardon me, but Cajon Pass is pronounced Cah-Hone Pass. It’s Spanish, to the J makes an H sound.

[@DrRacer78]

Alrighty, I think you know what you need to do now Darkness: Same vid for J Class #611 PM #1225 & UP BB #4014

[@kristoffermangila]

Or her stablemates at ORHC, #SPS700 or #ORN197?

[@fanofeverything30465]

How about NYC 3000 and 2933