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Southern Pacific GS-4 No. 4449

(Requires the excellent Southern Pacific GS Pack by Stationmaster).

(I hate to blow my own trumpet, but I'm really happy with how this turned out).

Southern Pacific 4449 is one of the most famous steam locomotives in the world, though - in my opinion - she’s still beaten out by LNER A3 Pacific No. 4472

4449 was built in 1941 at the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio. She was the last of 28 GS-4 locomotives to be built, and was built for the Southern Pacific’s named passenger trains in California. The most famous of these was the Coast Daylight, which ran from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

One of the highlights of 4449’s working life happened on October 17th, 1954. On that day GS-4’s Nos. 4449 and 4447 double-headed a 10-car excursion from Los Angeles to Owenyo, California.

Although she was originally painted in the ‘Daylight’ livery of black, red and orange, 4449 was repainted solid black after she was displaced from her top-link services in favour of diesel locomotives. The GS-4 remained in service with the Southern Pacific until 1957, when she was retired and stored in a roundhouse at Bakersfield, California.

In April 1958 she was donated to the city of Portland, Oregon and placed on outdoor display at Oaks Park. There was no particularly significant reason as to why 4449 specifically was chosen, apart from the simple fact that she was the first in a line-up of dead locomotives and - therefore - could be moved with fewer switching moves.

Unfortunately 4449 was repeatedly vandalised while on display at Oaks Park. Thieves made off with her builders plate and whistle, amongst other things. Jack Holst, a Southern Pacific employee, was brought in to keep the wheel and rod bearings oiled in case the engine was ever moved again. Sadly Mr. Holst passed away in 1972, only four years before 4449 returned to service.

In 1974, SP 4449 was chosen to be restored for the American Freedom Train. She was removed from her display siding in December 1974 and taken to Burlington Northern’s Hoyt Street roundhouse in Portland, where restoration began. She finally returned to operational condition in April 1975, painted in a patriotic red, white and blue livery. Then the engine toured the United States hauling the American Freedom Train.

Following the AFT’s run, 4449 remained in her patriotic livery until 1981. That year saw her repainted into the classic SP ‘Daylight’ livery. Five years later 4449 became a film star when she appeared in the 1986 film ‘Tough Guys’, which starred Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. The film features a cameo from Doyle McCormack himself, who plays the engineer of the ‘Gold Coast Flyer’. Doyle was a key player in the restoration of 4449.

Throughout the rest of the 1980’s and 1990’s, 4449 continued to haul excursion trains and increase her own popularity. In 2000 she was painted black in order to haul an employee appreciation special for BNSF. Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the engine was repainted back into the American Freedom Train livery in early 2002. She stayed in this condition until 2004, when she was repainted back into the classic SP ‘Daylight’ livery.

Nowadays 4449 is still in operational condition, and is occasionally used to haul special trains. Whenever she’s not hauling trains she’s based at the Oregon Rail Heritage Centre in Portland.