Steam & Excursion > This Train Usually Would Not Stop Here But Today She Did!

The train indicators read #58 which makes this "The Owl" with Cab-Forward #4244 on the head-end.  She seems to have come for a stop for a group of railfans that are following her in Santa Fe Trailways buses.

Does anyone have any info on this excursion?

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/17 03:22 by LoggerHogger.

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The majority of the folks watching seem to be focused on something beyond the cab-forward, perhaps on the curved siding. Must have been more photos taken by this un-named photographer.

LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> The train indicators read #58 which makes this
> "The Owl" with Cab-Forward #4244 on the
> head-end.  She seems to have come for a stop for
> a group of railfans that are following her in
> Santa Fe Trailways buses.
>
> Does anyone have any info on this excursion?
>
> Martin

I too think the railfans are looking at something down the track behind the 4244. The busses are pointed in the wrong direction to be following this train? Or maybe they unloaded the fans, then went and turned around someplace and are now waiting to reload them???..

Looks like Sylmar, CA with San Fernando Road in background???

Yes, Sylmar, and at that time San Fernando Road was US 99 the main highway over the "Grapevine" to Bakersfield.
Might we assume that an excursion was arranged to start on the Santa Fe at Bakersfield and happened upon No 58 stuck for a meet?
Sylmar was (and is) the last siding before entering Tunnel 25 (6996 ft) going north (RR west).
 

Do you have a date on the negative sleeve Martin? If so, I could probably tell you the excursion.

Dave

 

kilroydiver Wrote:
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> Do you have a date on the negative sleeve Martin?
> If so, I could probably tell you the excursion.
>
> Dave

Sorry , no date on this one.

Martin
>
>  

I don't think this train is stopped, judging from the trail of steam from the rear set of cylinders that seems to flow back under the tender....

Posted from Android

Wouldn't an excursion have White flags displayed?
The Santa Fe Trailways bus is interesting!

We need to ask Mundo if he recalls this excursion.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

OK, after looking at the photo, it would have indeed been a days outing for the Railway Club of Southern California.  Maybe have been a day to the Tehachapi's, and this was their first photo of the day.

I am sure the train was not stopping for passengers.

The Railway Club was an informal group, started during WWII, lasting until the late 1950's.   Operated one day through two week trips, using rail, but some also using motor coach from Santa Fe Trailways.
For many years the Santa Fe leased them the Highland Park station as a club house for meetings.

John was a early president of the Railroad Boosters (now PRS),  became a Pullman Conductor during the war years and remained on the xtra board until the end of Pullman in 1968..

Only four known members remain of the group, including  Stan Kistler.