Steam Train Over the Rocky Mountians-SP 4449 @ Marias Pass

[MrJpfallas]

Magnifico tren, el paisaje es mas lindo aun, exc video...!!

[yuccaflat74]

BELLISSIMO GIOIELLO AMERICANO!!!!!!!!!!!

[HunterR909]

Did you know the friends of 261 are trying to sell a Business Car, so they can raise money for the 261's restoration?

[HunterR909]

You know, there was more to the train than just the 4449.

[koup1979]

this is my favorite steamer, its beautiful...amazing machine!

[kwambam1]

Beautiful train, beautiful local, beautiful video.

[Fizzisist]

Very thrilling footage. You've really covered all angles of the journey. What a super train, still running like it's brand new. Can't say that about many 70 year old vehicles!

[jawad461]

the scenic beauty reminds me of the famous Bolan pass in north eastern Baluchistan (Pakistan). the zigzag railway track winds through the pass similar to this Maria pass at an ascending grade of 1:35 if my memory doesn't fail me.The travel through Bolan pass is my lifelong infatuation. jawad

[floridamadman59]

How much of the wok is the 4449 doing? I just love that sound!!!

[TheHawkeye518]

but seriously, great thing isnt it? in all her glory.

[TheHawkeye518]

0:18 holy crap!. guess who didnt see that coming!

[NSLocomotiveFan]

Please accept my video response!

[brianbaron1]

Excellent video! One of my top two favorite places in the Country and the most amazing feat of fortitude to be able to keep this locomotive in such fine shape to allow it to go on this journey. Thank You Very Much for posting it !!!

[marcelbecker2001]

Great movie! Mark (4)

[daviddodgechallenger]

Marias pass is my fav locaction!

[OBowner]

Lovely video, good editing and congrats to the car driver for keeping pace. Well done to all.

[denysdch]

very good video, was certainely not easy to make...

[modeltrainman12345]

man she is pretty.

[ARSchimke]

wow look it her go what a abeautaful engine

[Nerzhina]

During August 2010 I holidayed in BC & the Rockies - saw some long freight trains. This is a lovely video; really shows the train and the Rocky Mountains to perfection.

[rubenpotter777]

Hogwarts Express!! :D hahaha

[trainmaster5000]

thanks for the video. is it protocol to have a diesel loco accompany steam locomotives on runs like this ?

[kyla2112]

Marias Pass?

[kiddnormal]

Skip, FANTASTIC video. But I'm not surprised, all of your videos are top notch esp. since you've gotten your HD camera. 4449 looks great on my 27" Mac in HD Thanks for posting!!

[xtremepadrefan]

SP 4449 2nd best steam engine next 2 ATSF 3751

[Mxsmanic]

Can't they at least paint that Amtrak locomotive in Daylight livery?

[kingmackattack42]

Steam engines rule!

[SpeedbeetleV2]

The shot at 7:53 put a smile on my face

[coasterjudge]

It's sad, the SP 4449 is the only remaining GS-4 in the country, it is my favarite locomotive on the planet, and I have never seen it! Even though I live in Portland!

[Synrikeman]

that is probably one of the sexiest trains I have ever seen.

[RocketRodder]

Is the steamer that weak that it has to have a diesel helping it? D:

[coasterjudge]

@RocketRodder Unfortunately most steamers can't handle the steep grades that todays modern diesels travel on. If it were flat this train wouldn't have a problem.

[RocketRodder]

@coasterjudge Oh I see. I'm a fan of trains, but (As you can see) I don't know nearly enough to call myself a train "buff". o_o That's cool.

[dreambuilders48808]

@RocketRodder The Amtrak diesel is only used for "Dynamic Braking ". Its not

needed for power to help the steamer. Check out some of my older videos to

see steam without the diesels. I have U.P.844 (8444) and also U.P. 3985.

Federal govt mandated that all trains running on the mainline have to have dynamic

brakes.

[RocketRodder]

@dreambuilders48808

I'm sorry, but I have no idea what dynamic breaking means. D:

[dreambuilders48808]

@RocketRodder check.wikipedia.for Dynamic braking info

[toodogs23]

great vid skip i wish we had locos like 4449 in australia. ithink the only thing that comes close isthe byer garratt.but not in the same leage as your fabuluos 4449 keep up the good work. i also love your vids of the challenger. peter from sussex inlet nsw australia

[Aileron44]

Thanks again, Skip. Without guys like you and your videos, we SP fans here in Kentucky would go nuts. This was a wonderful too few minutes of utter nostalgia. I took my grandson up to Owosso last year to see 4449. Please keep them coming.

[ford9572]

@trainman93 I'd have LOVED to have been in the 4449's cab when she was at WOT!!! Too bad they won't allow that now!!!

[ARSchimke]

as allways she is a beauty ! and agin that diesle why doese it have to be behind her ?

[superroo11]

to all concerned the deisal thats on the train is only a HEP (head end power) car in other words its only there to supply power to the carrages

[SAMUELDUNGAORIGINAL]

BRZIL IS BEST , E.F.V.M

[randoloph1]

Yeap only the USA was ever capable of building such beautiful machine. At least this machine didn't kill things.What would we ever do with out The good old USofA ..

[rickmillerjr77]

that is a beautiful train. Amzing how much more streamilined it is compared to its brothers

[hazmat440]

Nice to see a work of art that says MADE IN AMERICA for a change !!!!!! very nice engine

[jeffspirit11]

Excellent post of a bye gone era. I can hear those pistons work along with the drivers. You can hear the huffs of the massive pistons being pushed by those compressions. That rear truck of the "4" configure counters the engines balance with the steam and weight to put the load towards the front so the engine has less effort to pull. This was done on purpose being built. Great shot of the mountains. This is a wonderful post. Thanks.

[JAFZX1207]

What a great era in rail road history! Well before my time but WoW...to think these beautiful steam locomotives were built at a time before computers and all the technology we have now is mind blowing. What a great era in the USA it was back then!

[ThomasRivette]

You should submit this to Marcam Productions.

[youlldietrying]

I love Petticoat Junction! I hope that little dog is OK. I used to freak out about him running on train tracks and racing that scary old train. I've seen Pixley, they have much more efficienct deisel equpiment they should be using instead of that relic. The dogs name was Dog. What's up? If he don't step it up he's gonna be Steam Biscuit.

[heavenscape]

seems the steam engine did not work for some sections? no noise and no smoke...

[trainman93]

@heavenscape with oil fired engines you don't always get smoke and that all powerful engine does not have to work very hard even without the diesel.

[stegatops]

Very nice...............but they could have found a less conspicuous diesel to aid the big 4449 along.............Im sure they could find an orange coloured one somewhere that wouldnt ruin the symetry.

[SkipW]

If they had waited for the perfect consist we would still be waiting, so we just take it as it goes

[1225dude]

or no diesel at all. Its just there for political bullshit. It serves no other needed purpose

[stegatops]

You mean the 4449 can tow that load through the Rockies without the aid of a diesel..........even on the grades? I thought it was there to give it a boost.

[1225dude]

She will tow twice that load at twice the speed on twice the grade if you ask her to.

She has some truly jaw dropping performance.

[trainman93]

@1225dude the amtrak locos on there made me want to puke my guts out. it sickens me to see diesels behind such a history packed and all mighty locomotive

[trainman93]

@1225dude like i always say, it was a walk in the park for her. on the 844 4449 double head there are times that 844 is in neutral and 4449 is pulling the whole train which must have been more than 20 cars

[wannabeangel83]

ur absolutley right...i think they should have used the southern pacific diesel engine, which is also a vibrant red and orange...would have looked much better!

[Thenews72]

@wannabeangel83 Yeah but thats the goverment for ya

[superroo11]

@stegatops

the deisal is only aHEP(head end power) for power to the carrages

[oldschoolmechanic]

@stegatops Maybe a BNSF Dash-9 would have blended in better, but I doubt they're made for the speed that the 4449 is capable of.

[onenanda]

Beautiful video. Would like to know what camera you used for this.

[sitp2]

Just beautiful work, well done.

[ThomasRivette]

She's Highballin" it !!!!

[trainman93]

@ThomasRivette not really seeing as her top speed is more than any railroad would allow nowadays 110mph is top speed for the 4449

[ThomasRivette]

still she's Highballin' it

[northersteame]

79 mph is the general top speed in the US except for on the northeast corridor even then steam wouldn't be allowed to go any faster than normal.

[ThomasRivette]

Beautiful locations, if you like scenic locations like these, you will love "The Spot" in Niles Canyon.

Come by and visit soon.

[x5021]

The Amtrak diesel unit is for both head end power (electrical to the coaches) and backup power should 4449 have a failure. Also aids in power for climbing hills and adding regenerative braking downhill. You will most likely never see a steam train on a mainline without at least one diesel locomotive in tow.

Great video and super closeups. Nice roll by 4449!

[davenett33]

5000 miles away and I was truly moved

great loco ..great country

[vladimir2366fa]

Words can not express the EXCELLENT, 5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

[DSmith99000]

When this thing goes on tour do they normally have a diesel pushing behind her? Is that just done as a safety precaution in case old daylight has a breakdown?

[amtrakguy76]

I am going to take a wild guess....I think the diesel behind was more for electrical power to the cars.

[Trainfan2010]

Your guess is correct.

[dreambuilders48808]

Dynamic braking. I don't think you need a diesel for

electrical power. Steamers have generators and can

provide enough power for lighting passenger cars.

See my videos from the 1980s. Lots of passenger cars,

No diesels.

[85mariafer]

the diesel is used to help the engine sometimes so no unnessecary wear or tear is done on the loco when it pulls long trains or goes up hills.

[niguelbootboy55]

well, this could be true in some cases, but they (the diesel) are mainly for dynamic braking down hills, in the rare case the steamer does brake down, & for HEP (head end power) for all of the cars its pulling.

[mabhekaphansi]

Magnificent machine, magnificent country!

[houtokur8]

Awesome!

[CoastStarlight11]

Very hard core!

[aleu650]

As always, your videos are very good

5*

[ervans]

Skip, One of the best videos I've seem

[Smoofie92]

i was on the engine once, somehow by accident, chased my nephew who ran into the cab and started blowign the whistle, funny thign is, i get up there, engineer is letting him :P its in good order tho, not duct tape and crap

[goodkarmech]

Skip, You handled the challenge like the pro that you are. How you pull off these excellent videos and keep from crashing your vehicle I'll never know. Thanks so much for sharing.

[FranklinParkIL]

Southern Pacific's Steam Engine "Jingle Bells" 4449.

Beautiful Western Scenery!

[SkipW]

She does have a distinctive Ringing sound while operating

[LoneSniperSG]

@SkipW I was just going to say that. Every video I've seen of 4449 running at 30mph or higher, I hear that jingling sound.

[trainmaster844]

@SkipW - I think it's something to do with the machinery that's making the ringing/rattling sound... I don't know why that happens though.... :P

[trainkid0616]

rally good vid one question did 4449 ever highball

[SkipW]

she took a few green signals to 70 +/- that day, but not thru Glacier NP that I saw

[195017000]

AWESOME VIDEO

5*

8-)

jean noel

de france

[Bjornv1975]

Only the best clips from Skip! Thanks.

[SkipW]

Sorry I was caught off gaurd at the beginning of the video as I lost her in the mountians. Then BAM, she charges out of the cut and across the crossing as I am parked on the shoulder shell shocked at the sight of it all, but we tried to recover and get a few shots in. But Chasing thru Glacier National Park on the 4th of July weekend was the toughest chase I have ever attempted. But at least I got some of it, I wish it was better, but it is better than nothing at all

[goodstiff]

SkipW: Are those two diesel engines connected to the two tenders behind the engine? What is the fuel source of this engine coal?

[SkipW]

Fuel oil

[montiveroartaza]

hermoso tu video,

saludos desde Rio Ceballos Pcia de Cordoba Argentina

Soy el octavo que lo vio