Steam & Excursion > SP # 4443 in Niles Canyon

Here's a great shot of SP 4-8-4 # 4443 pulling the "Fresno Flyer" excursion on March 24, 1957 in Niles Canyon, CA. Wonder if the Niles Canyon Railway boys could replicate this ? "Margaret SP Fan" will love this one! This is the same locomotive that starred in the "Pal Joey" movie.
To see this trip on film and other famous 1950's SP steam excursions, check out "SP Steam Excursions" by Greg Scholl...

Photo from Fred Matthews Collection...

Cheers.

Ken Shattock (KRK)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/13 18:38 by KeyRouteKen.

---

That is a nice shot. Out of the back of the car? Looks like mp 33.

Chris

Great photo!!

It would be heaven to see photos of this train going thru Sunol and Pleasanton. Precious stuff!

Where do I find the video?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/13 19:22 by coach.

Just West of Brightside at about Mp 33.5, Estates bridge in just ahead of the locomotive. Can't get a shot like that now! There is a thick row of oak trees between the road and the tracks now.

Wonderful color photo Ken! Thanks for the post.

Martin

An amazing shot considering it's probably from a moving car. A beauty!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

I envy the guy in the convertible up next to the engine. Beautiful scene.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I envy the guy in the convertible up next to the
> engine. Beautiful scene.


It probably a shadow, but if you look close it looks like the guy in the passenger seat of the convertible is standing up watching the train! Might be a early foamer! I'd love to see his photos!

I think all the cars in the picture are pacing the train. The picture is taken through a front window - notice the hood ornament. So the car is passing slower traffic. So it goes to show that a pack of railfans playing leapfrog while chasing special movements isn't a recent thing.

As for recreating the scene, it could be possible to come close. The 4449 or 4460 for power. The PLA has RPO/Baggage SP5045 that could be restored to look like the baggage behind the loco plus the PLA has a restored articulated chair car. We could come close.

wingomann Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> As for recreating the scene, it could be possible
> to come close. The 4449 or 4460 for power.

Only a few minor problems with THAT idea:

1) #4460 is in St Louis, and isn't restored, and probably never will be.

2) The skirts would have to be removed from 4449, and then she would have to be painted black. I sure don't see THAT happening either!

Thank you VERY much, Ken, for that BEAUTIFUL
photo! I love it!

That is a GREAT video! Priceless footage I had
never seen before. :)

PhillipJohnson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Frisco1522 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I envy the guy in the convertible up next to
> the
> > engine. Beautiful scene.
>
>
> It probably a shadow, but if you look close it
> looks like the guy in the passenger seat of the
> convertible is standing up watching the train!
> Might be a early foamer! I'd love to see his
> photos!

I think the guy standing up is standing on the shoulder of the road, not in the passenger seat of the convertible. AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

Fantastic, thanks for sharing it with us!

Good shot Ken, and they picked the perfect time to run through the canyon as the hills are all green during March. The combination of colors is breathtaking.

-M

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

What a great photo. I think it was 1982 when those same hills kept sliding down over the SP mainline there, blocking the line with a great muddy mess caused by heavy rain storms.

Simply stunning. Hard to believe that was taken in the late 50's.

Isn't this the same slide that sold on e-Bay over the weekend for $420?

Yep.