Steam Saturday: Together Again

Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2467. Originally retired in December 1956

To railroad enthusiasts the 1950s was the steam to diesel transition era when both types of motive power were in revenue service at the same time.

I’m sure both often many cross paths prior to the steamers being retired.

Southern Pacific was very generous when it comes to preservation. More than 60 steamers of various sizes were donated to cites and museums.

The same applies to vintage diesels with more than 40 having been donated.

Shown in this post are a few examples of both type of motive power that were all retired by SP. They were all restored to active service later and were together at some time again in the 1990s.

All of the photographs are from the California State Railroad Museum’s Railfairs held in 1991 and 1999.

SP2472 was at the 1991 event while SP2467 was at the 1999 event. All the others were present at both festivals.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449. Originally retired in October 1957.

Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2472. Originally retired February 1957

Southern Pacific E9A 6051. Built 1954

Southern Pacific GP9 No. 5623. Built 1955

Southern Pacific DRS66-1500 No. 5208. Built 1949.

Bringing Daylight to Michigan

Southern Pacific Daylight 4449 bangs the diamonds in Durand, Michigan, as it arrives during a ferry move down from Owosso where it appeared at Train Festival 2009.

Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 was one of the three headliner steam locomotives that appeared at Train Festival 2009 held in Owosso, Michigan.

Also appearing were a pair of Berkshires, Nickel Plate Road 765 and Pere Marquette 1225.

The 1225 didn’t have far to travel given that the Steam Railroading Institute of Michigan in Owosso is its home base.

But the 4449 had to travel several thousand miles from its home in Portland, Oregon.

The striking locomotive in its bright red and orange colors turns heads wherever it appears.

This photo essay features images of the GA-4 class Daylight leaving to return to Oregon.

The consist of the train included an Amtrak P42DC, and passengers cars painted in the orange livery of The Milwaukee Road. On the rear of the the train was former Milwaukee Road Skytop Lounge Cedar Rapids.

The photographs were made on July 30 leaving Owosso and on July 31 in and west of Durand, Michigan, on former Grand Trunk Western tracks.

Photographs by Robert Farkas