4449 Train

The Southern Pacific San Joaquin Daylight Engine 4449 has a lot of history with my family. My brother Karl has an HO model of it which I've always wanted also. Not his but one of my own. Not to play with but to have as decoration and object of interest in my office. To much money for me, until they had one up for auction today. and I was able to buy the entire train at a fraction of the cost.

Engine,Tender & Four Cars

The Freedom Train Came through Bakersfield in February 1976. I was working that night and was assigned to put the helper on the train for it's trip over the mountain. My son Ryan is at the controls with me.

My Dad & Mom showed up later that morning. 4449 is in the background putting on water which it needs a lot of. The helper already on train is so they don't use as much water, no place to water going south. Also for dynamic braking down hill on the other side of the Tehachapi's 

Bringing  4449 out to put on the point. 

Me in the cab of the 4449

This is my Father 3 months before he pasted away on May19, 1976.  He worked for the railroad over 45 years and was the Boiler Foreman and Federal Boiler Inspector who did the last work on this engine before it was taken out of service. This unit , 4449 was used on the valley during its glory day.