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I had always wanted to ride the rails through the Deschutes River Canyon to Bend, Oregon. Being on the Coast Starlight I had always hoped that something would happen on the regular route so that the train would run this way like it did when I got to ride the Inside Gateway down the Highline from Klamath Falls to Keddie then down the Feather River Canyon. Right before the Rare Mileage Trips back in June it was announced that the Northwest Rail Museum in Portland would run a trip using the SP 4449 from Portland to Bend in September. Knowing that I wanted to do this trip I sent my check in. Chris Parker then did the same and we were assigned a room together at the Hampton Inn. I got an Alaska Airline ticket from Santa Ana to Portland then rooms for Friday and Sunday nights at the Days Inn at 82nd Street off the Max Line. Bob Riskie then decided to join us and he would share my room Sunday Night as Chris would be flying back home. As the days neared for the trip, I studied maps and read as much as I could about the line we would be traveling.
After another interesting day of work at McFadden Intermediate and I returned home to pack a few more items before my mother drove me down to Orange County Airport. Having printed my boarding pass last night, I went shoeless through security before walking to Gate 10 to wait for my flight to Portland via Oakland. At 4:25 PM they started boarding with me having window seat 18F on this B 737-700 airplane. We backed out of Gate 10 at 4:53 PM then taxied out to the runway taking off at 5:00 PM for Oakland. I read the Alaska Airline Magazine as the plane headed north before a Coca-Cola was served to me. I saw several BART trains was we descended and landed in Oakland at 6:07 PM. After a layover in Oakland, we backed out of the gate at 6:55 PM and took off for Portland at 7:03 PM. My flight music was Mark Knopfler and Emilylou Harris "All the Roadrunning" while I did Major League Sudoku puzzles as the night took hold before we arrived into Oregon's air space. We landed at Portland Airport at 8:39. I walked through the terminal to the MAX Station where I bought a ticket to 82nd Street. The trolley left a few minutes later and soon I was checking into the Days Inn. I walked to a mini market for some snacks before returning to the Days Inn for the night. Chris Parker's plane was delayed and didn't get into the room until 12:30 AM.
9/16/06Chris and I got up at 5:45 AM and at 6:00 AM we were at Elmers getting a good breakfast. We left the keys in the room before taking the MAX to Chinatown and walking over to Portland Union Station.
Southern Pacific 4449 to Bend 9/16/06We walked into the station finding it already filled with people but were told which line to get into.
Passengers wait in one of three lines: Coach, Club or Dome in order to get their boarding passes for this trip. Bob Riskie then showed up with his cousin and we talked as we moved forward up the line to get our boarding passes. At 7:29 AM we got our boarding passes with Chris and I getting seats in Car 1. At 7:30 AM they opened the door and we walked out to board the Echo Canyon, an old friend from the Grand Excursion and the Portland 2005 NRHS Convention. After claiming a pair of seats for Chris and I we went out to get some pictures and me to get the consist.
The front of our SP 4449 Train to Bend.
The consist for this trip was the Southern Pacific 4-8-4 4449, Auxiliary Tender DLMX 4219, Amtrak 16 P42DC, SP 3105 Bag/Dorm, Union Pacific Echo Canyon Coach 800725, Santa Fe Tolani 800721, Amtrak Horizon Cars Coach 54516, Cafe 58106, Business Car 54508, Canadian Pacific Pony Express PPCX 800320, Pennsylvania Colonial Crafts 800611, SP Overland Trail 800633, Santa Fe 502 Plaza Santa Fe 800362 and CB&Q CZ-10 Silver Solarium 800333.
The rear of our train at Portland Union Station.
The Great Dome which was going to be on our train but in Portland they discovered five cracks in one of the trucks and it got bad ordered. I learned on the trip that it will cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 to repair it but it might need other work. I reboarded the train and relaxed at my seat before it was getting near departure time. I walked back to the Pony Express and waited for us to leave at 8:00 AM for an on time departure. As we left the station there was a large group of well wishers to see us off. I saw several photographers I know who would be out chasing the SP 4449 for the next two days.
The SP 4449 took the first major curve as we were leaving Portland.
A few minutes later, our train approached the lift span of the Willamette River Bridge. We crossed the river then a few minutes later the Union Pacific joined our route at North Portland. The train then crossed the Oregon Slough on a 1,526 foot bridge and moments later crossed the Columbia River on a 2,806 foot long swing bridge to enter Washington.
The 4449 train came back onto earth as we curved off the bridge to make our station stop in Vancouver. In the Pony Express I met Richard Wilkins and we enjoyed conversation for quite a while. The SP 4449 ran east through Camas to the siding of Washougal where I returned to my seat as our train waited for the westbound Empire Builder. Once on the move again east we passed through the 2,369 foot Cape Horn Tunnel then across the river the 542 foot tall Multnomah Falls could be seen between the trees. We ran beneath 840 foot tall Beacon Rock which is the second largest monolith in the world before running by the Bonneville Dam. At MP 51.0 our train ran under the Bridge of the Gods before passing the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center which has SP&S F7A on display. Being that we were across from Cascade Locks I took a chance and called Lets Talk Trains, the Internet Radio Show on from 10-12 Pacific Time or 24/7 in the achieves. Richard put me on right away and I told about the 4449 Trip to Bend on the air. Once that was done, I returned to the Pony Express for further views of our train and the Columbia River Gorge.
The chasers always provide a good show on any steam trip. We made a brief stop at Bingen- White Salmon to remove a passenger with a medical concern.
View of the Columbia River Gorge.
Views of the SP 4449 running along the north bank of the Columbia River.
The Colombia River.
As we neared the Klickitat River, Richard Wilkins was on the lookout for his wife Pam who is in this view after taking a picture of our train.
BNSF is putting in a siding along the river to better handle all the trains that run through the Columbia River Gorge.
The SP 4449 approaching North Dalles.
Closing in on Avery.
The SP 4449 met a BNSF freight at Avery.
BNSF 4852 East would follow us across the Columbia River towards Bend.
SP 4449 closing in on the bridge that will take our train across the Columbia River and back into Oregon.
The SP 4449 swings south onto the bridge.
We had to stop until the lift bridge was lowered so our train then could pass through.
The rear of our train was still on Washington soil while we were over the waters of the Columbia River.
The lift was lowered and our train started across.
The junction with the northeast leg of the wye that comes into the bridge from Wishram.
Our train leaving the bridge to start our trip down the Oregon Trunk.
OT Junction where the Union Pacific joined our route to Bend.
The SP 4449 climbing towards Tunnel 1.
Our train now heading towards the Deschutes River Canyon.
Here is where the Deschutes River joins the waters of the Columbia River.
We pulled into Moody where our train was serviced. Here we found a BNSF inspection train.
The rear of that BNSF train at Moody.
Once our servicing was over, the SP 4449 headed south out of Moody.
One last view of the Colombia River.
The Deschutes River Canyon above Moody.
The grade that you will be seeing on the opposite side of the river was the of DesChutes Railroad Company later part of the O-W R&N then later part of the Union Pacific. It operated over this grade until March 28, 1936 when the abandoned their line for trackage rights over the Oregon Trunk. The Oregon Trunk which was controlled by the Spokane, Seattle and Portland Railroad, later becoming Burlington Northern in 1971 and today is part of BNSF.
A look back from where we had come from on this early afternoon.
The lighting was so much better looking back.
A box car left on the former railroad across the Deschutes River.
The SP 4449 worked hard pulling our train up the steady climbing grade.
Geology is one of my interests in life and was one reason I always wanted to take a trip up the Deschutes River Canyon.
Beauty around every turn on this trip.
Looking back nearing Lockit.
Another view looking back.
SP 4449 pulling hard on yet another curve in the Deschutes River Canyon.
Looking up steam.
With another look back.
SP 4449 deep in the Deschutes River Canyon.
The view ahead of our special train. They announced a photo runby would happen in about ten minutes.
Another forward view ahead.
SP 4449 at Overbrook backing for a photo runby.
SP 4449 backing by the photo line for the photo runby. It backed around a corner out of sight.
The Photo Runby at Overbrook.
One reason the photo runby was held here was we had to wait for this BNSF and had the one that is following behind us so both meets could be held at Overbrook.
Later we crossed the Deschutes River at Horseshoe Bend, entered a tunnel before emerging into daylight and crossing the Deschutes River a second time.
The SP 4449 continued the trip south towards Sherar's Bridge.
Another view back.
Interesting geology.
Sherar's Falls on the Deschutes River a few miles north of Maupin.
Sherar's Falls with Indian's fishing platforms just above the running waters. Only members of the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation are allowed to fish here.
A look back as our train is closing in on Maupin.
We saw many rafters who were really surprised to see a steam train running along the Deschutes River this afternoon.
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