|
|
|
|
Chris and I went to have a fantastic continental breakfast before we gathered our bags and headed to the Hampton Inn parking lot to wait for the shuttle bus to the train.
The early risers like me waited out in the cool morning air.
At 7:14 AM the bus arrived to take us back to the train.
The bus got us back to the train and after putting my stuff on the train I walked to the front of the train for the first of many pictures of SP 4449 today.
I walked to the rear of our train for this picture.
Later they were getting ready to move the SP 4449 forward.
I changed my location to a small loading dock for the forward short move.
The cab of the SP 4449.
Our car attendant used several children to clean the car windows. He would hold them up and they did an excellent job of cleaning. The train was then loaded and we departed at 9:00 AM by backing down the siding to the mainline beyond the BNSF Station. Once we had that switch thrown, we pulled forward beginning our trip back to Portland.
the Three Sisters off in the distance west of Bend.
After passing through Prineville Jct, a few minutes later we crossed the Crooked River.
The Cascades loomed off to the west. We continued north passing freights at Opal City and Culver and it was announced that we would do a photo runby at the Willow Creek Trestle. A few minutes later we crossed over the Willow Creek Trestle then came to a stop. We all unloaded then walked over to the canyon edge to set up for the photo runby.
The Willow Creek Trestle which is a 970 foot long steel bridge which is 200 feet above the creek would be the site of this morning's photo runby.
The SP 4449 slowly backed the train onto the bridge.
The 4449 then continued to back the train across the bridge but would pause for a static photo.
The static pose of SP 4449 on the Willow Creek Trestle.
The SP 4449 high above the bottom of the canyon.
The static pose of the SP 4449 and train on the Willow Creek Trestle.
SP 4449 then backed off the trestle before starting the photo runby.
The Willow Creek Trestle before the photo runby was about to begin.
The SP 4449 Photo Runby on the Willow Creek Trestle. Everyone was happy with their pictures they took as we all reboarded the train. Once on the move again, the SP 4449 ran north through Madras then onto Gateway. I had returned to the Pony Express to see the view on the other side of our crossing of the Deschutes River.
Taking on the sweeping curves as we are about to start the grade down to the Deschutes River Canyon.
This is the start of Trout Creek Canyon which we will follow down grade to the Deschutes River Canyon.
The rear of our train as the canyon walls begin to increase as our route drops.
Views of our train as it descended the Trout Creek Canyon.
This picture is right after we crossed the Trout Creek Bridge.
The 390 foot Trout Creek Bridge.
We have reached the Deschutes River which we will run north along to the Colombia River. The Deschutes River is one of the very few rivers that runs north in the United States.
Time for same beautiful river views.
A rather rustic setting.
Every turn of the river brings another beautiful view.
The occasional birds were seen along the river on both days.
Interesting rock formations were found all along the Deschutes River Canyon.
The canyon got deeper and deeper as we continued north. The SP 4449 a few minutes later crossed the Deschutes River and I returned to my seat to relax. There I enjoyed the scenery and talked with various people about trains. Once the roads returned watching the chasers proved to be an interesting past time.
After I ate my lunch a quick picture of the 4449 in the Deschutes River Canyon just below Oberbrook. Perhaps the most interesting chaser was the one in a small airplane which flew by us and later we saw he had landed in a very small field and the photographer had climbed up to the tracks to take his pictures at a unique location in the canyon. Later we saw him pass us again for the last time. We ran to Moody where the SP 4449 was serviced.
The train has returned us to the Colombia River and as we descended to the bridge we had to pass through Tunnel 1.
The SP 4449 has exited Tunnel 1 and is slowly descending towards the bridge that will take us across the Colombia River into Washington.
Taking the curve with the BNSF Wishram Yard across the Colombia River.
Looking back at Tunnel 1.
A BNSF freight passes one waiting to leave Wishram heading east.
Running along Interstate 84 and causing traffic to slow as the drivers slow to watch our train.
The SP 4449 started out across the bridge.
The Columbia River from the middle of the bridge.
Curving off the bridge to the west and coming onto Washington soil.
The look at the junction facing east.
The bridge the SP 4449 just crossed.
My Hood covered in clouds.
I took this last picture of the SP 4449 running along the north bank of the Columbia River. I went back to my seat and got the digital camera for some additional onboard photos.
The passengers enjoy car one, the Union Pacific Echo Canyon.
Here are passengers in our other heritage coach, the Santa Fe Tolani.
Besides Chris Parker and myself, the only other Orange County Historical Society Member on the SP 4449 Trip to Bend was Bob Platfoot.
Chris Parker admires the Daylight Jackets that are for sale on this trip behind the SP 4449. I had then to go back five cars to my seat to get another disk for this camera for these digital pictures for this trip.
Bob Riskie enjoying the Pony Express.
Stan Garner, owner of the Pony Express which is based in Los Angeles and is available for charters.
Chris Parker and the gang enjoying the open baggage door in the Pony Express.
Passengers enjoy the view on the north side of the train.
At the smaller baggage door more passengers can enjoy the view.
View inside of the Pony Express.
Daylight Sales has merchandise for sale inside the Pony Express and I bought a Daylight Jacket.
Bob and other passengers enjoy the views along the north bank of the Columbia River.
Passengers enjoy the inside the Amtrak Cafe Car.
Ed Graham, a NRHS Member who was a car host at Buckeye Rails 2006, just enjoying this train trip.
Gary Miller who talked with me about trains on this trip enjoying the last miles as we close in on Vancouver. I returned to the Pony Express and sat with Stan Garner as we watched the train progress on the GPS on his lap top computer in his car.
We found the eastbound Empire Builder in the siding at Washougal.
The SP 4449 approaching Camas before we made our station stop in Vancouver.
Our train then crossed the Columbia River back into Oregon with Mt Hood still trying to be cleared of the clouds.
The SP 4449 took the big curve after crossing the Willamette River and headed the final miles to Portland Union Station. I detrained and walked towards the engine where I thanked Doyle McCormick, the engineer of the SP 4449, for such a great two day trip.
The SP 4449 has returned us to Portland Union Station and I took these last two pictures of one of my favorite train engines of all time. What a fantastic two day trip it had been riding behind Southern Pacific 4449. I will never forget it as long as I shall live!
Portland 9/17/06After saying our goodbyes to the SP 4449, Chris Parker and I walked over to the Chinatown Max Station. As soon as we had purchased our tickets, an Airport Trolley pulled into the station. I returned to 82nd Street and said my goodbyes to Chris Parker who had a flight home to Los Angeles to catch. I checked into the Days Inn before walking over to Elmers for a Prime Rib Dinner. Later I returned to the hotel, checked sports scores, called home before I called it a night.
Alaska Airlines 408 9/18/06Up with the alarm clock at 5:50 AM, I prepared myself for my trip home before I walked over to the 82nd Street MAX station. An Airport Trolley arrived within two minutes and I was on my way talking with a gentlemen heading home to Albany, New York. That made the trip go by really quickly. Once at the Portland Airport, I found an Alaska Airlines Kiosk and printed my boarding pass for flight 408 home. Security took less than ten minutes and I waited at Gate C5 for my plane to board. At 7:15 AM I boarded the 737-700 plane that would carry me home to Orange County Airport. I had good luck when I walked to that MAX Station as it was now raining hard this early morning. We departed the gate at 7:50 AM then taxied out for take off which occurred this morning at 7:59. We climbed east through the clouds until we were above them seeing almost nothing of Oregon this morning. I started my trip home listening to Metallica "Master of Puppets". Once we neared California the sky opened up below us finally giving me some views that I would share with you.
Mt Shasta from 39,000 feet at our cruising level.
Mt Lassen.
Lake Almanor with Mt Lassen behind.
Portola Railroad Museum and you can even see the balloon track used for their excursion's trains.
Norden on Donner Summit. The former Southern Pacific concrete snowsheds can be seen in this picture. I switched my music to Guns N' Roses "Appetite for Destruction".
BNSF Calwa Yard in Fresno. We continued south and after crossing over Malibu we started our descent and banking to make an "S" into Orange County Airport.
McFadden Intermediate, where I work, from the air as we descended. We touched down at Orange County at 10:02 AM early and taxied to Gate 10. I had to wait for my mother to arrive and we drove home. We stopped by Main Photo to drop off my film.
Just in case you were wondering what I look like in that Daylight Jacket a picture for you. What a great trip it had been on the SP 4449 to Bend and a special thank you to everyone that made it such a fantastic steam railroad trip.
