SP 4449 Walk Around and Cab Tour

This is for all you 4449 buffs out there, young and old. As a volunteer with the 'Friends of SP 4449', I took a few minutes out of my day to shoot this video in order to give you an unprecedented look at this famous locomotive.

Imagine for a moment you are completely alone with this legendary and majestic locomotive. There are no crowds, nobody bothering you except for a person providing you with little-known information about this fantastic machine. Now watch this video and for a few minutes, you are alone on a guided tour of Southern Pacific GS-4 #4449. Start from the front and work your way back. Then, take the climb up into the cab to see where the real business takes place.

I have gotten some very rude and negative comments about the lack of information in this video. I have said before, I know its not perfect so if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Rude comments will be immediately declined and your account will be blocked.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• sp
• southern
• pacific
• 4449
• cab
• tour
• walk
• around
• information

[koup1979]

thanks for the great video. i have been in love with this locomotive since i was a little boy. it is the most beautiful train in the world!! i wish it could run more often...i live in northwest ohio, does it ever come throught these parts? would love to see it in person or purchase a ticket to ride..lol..

[deloreanman14]

@koup1979 - Unfortunately mainline excursions got incredibly expensive in the post-9/11 world so she doesn't leave the Pacific NW much. The last time she was anywhere near Ohio was in 2009 when she went to Michigan for TrainFest. Thanks for your comment...I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[wackymac28]

whats that lever on the firemans side called?

[deloreanman14]

@wackymac28 - The horizontal one is call the atomizer and controls the flow of oil into the firebox. Steam locomotives are like cars in the fact that you can run them too rich or too lean and just like a car, it affects performance and fuel consumption. Today it's common for firemen to 'smoke it up' for crowds but back in the days of steam, it would have been an unnecessary waste of fuel and could have gotten you written up or even fired. A properly-fired locomotive will run a clean exhaust.

[Barricade360]

why did the gs series steam engines have air horns when they have whistles?

[deloreanman14]

@Barricade360 - They originally ran on the coast route between Los Angeles and San Francisco and on the route through the valley, the trains commonly encountered Tule Fog which is a very thick fog. The horn was installed to penetrate this fog with greater directionality and allow people to clearly tell which way the train was coming from. Doyle hates how it sounds so it is rarely used.

[bond1011]

Im SO glad they had an airhorn on the GS steam engines....one of the best sounds in the world!

[Barricade360]

sure is a beautiful locomotive, everytime i watch this video the look of her makes me smile, i love classic steam engines especially the gs class bigboys and challengers awesome video

[mark10788]

@Elsa4449 GS-4's weigh 368,000 pounds it self GS-5's had heavy roller bearings making them 7800+ pounds heavier which means 375,800 pounds.

[deloreanman14]

@updaboodyhole2 - Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for taking the time to comment. :-)