Steam & Excursion > JR Benedict and the AFT

JR Benedict wasn't just a Train Master/H12-44 fan. He took the time to record the American Freedom Train. As near as I can tell, he caught up with the 4449 and consist three times.

First, I recognize the area as just east (compass south) of College Park. The third photo was something of a misnomer to me. I don't know for sure if it's just after College Park or not, but the consist is all wrong for further photo groups. There's a Chevy (GMC?) K5 Blazer nosed right up to the 4449's tender. In later shots, you'll see a ticket booth. I leave it up to you.

AFT Vets? Any thoughts? (Not like you all haven't seen AFT pics before :-)

Any further comments, corrections, etc., most gratefully appreciated.

Hang on, more to come!

Thanks in advance

Walter
Sanfranciscotrains.org
JR Benedict photos. Used with permission.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/15 10:18 by drumwrencher.

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Not 100% sure where this is, but I *think* it's still in the San Jose/Santa Clara area. Note the different consist right behind the locomotive. Who's hanging out of the cab? That you, Boilingman? Hotwater? Anybody?!

Love the kid in the lower left of pic three. Loud, I suspect!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/15 06:07 by drumwrencher.

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Again, I'm not sure where this is, other than I'm pretty sure it's on the peninsula somewhere.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/15 06:43 by drumwrencher.

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And more...

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That's all I have folks. Hope you enjoyed it. And please forgive me if the pics are out of order. I'm certain they were taken on at least two, possibly three different occasions...  Who knows...

Walter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/15 09:26 by drumwrencher.

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drumwrencher Wrote:
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> Not 100% sure where this is, but I *think* it's
> still in the San Jose/Santa Clara area. Note the
> different consist right behind the locomotive.
> Who's hanging out of the cab? That you,
> Boilingman? Hotwater? Anybody?!

More like the pilot Engineer or a Roadforeman of Engines trying to look at the track ahead and/or signals.

HotWater Wrote:
>
> More like the pilot Engineer or a Roadforeman of
> Engines trying to look at the track ahead and/or
> signals.

Thanks, Hotwater.

Walter

The first two sets look to be on the run from San Francisco to San Jose.

The last set looks to be on the trip from San Jose to San Francisco.

All based upon the location of the sun in the photos.

That's Redwood City in the last set of shots. 

Pullman Wrote:
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> The first two sets look to be on the run from San
> Francisco to San Jose.
>
> The last set looks to be on the trip from San Jose
> to San Francisco.
>
> All based upon the location of the sun in the
> photos.

Good point. And based on that, I may have posted them backwards. They had to have run into SF, then departed later...

Thanks, Pullman.  Good catch.

Walter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/15 09:21 by drumwrencher.

JamesSchlinger Wrote:
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> That's Redwood City in the last set of shots. 

Thank you. I never was very familiar with the peninsula stations.  Appreciate the input!

Walter

This was about a month or so before I signed on w the AFT.

But a couple of thoughts:

The flats are indeed loaded differently in the photos. We loaded them according to how the next display site's track plan dictated their unloading- offloading forward, or to the rear etc.

The truck shown was a Chevy, not a GMC- but there was a GMC truck the engine crew used. However, it didn't often ride the flats.

Notice the the Crew Car (76) is trailing the flats- a demand made by the SP having to do with their definition of a "mixed train". Once off the SP the 76 was back behind the 4449's tender where it made service stops MUCH easier!!!

He, of course, can better discribe his schedule, but Hotwater's involvement w the 4449 during the AFT tour was relatively small compared to after '76. Jack was still full time w EMD in those days, and we only saw him now and again.
SR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/15 19:19 by BoilingMan.

It's like opening a time capsule.

Thanks,
SV

I rememeber seeing the AFT in Long Beach with my family. The one thing that stands out from that day (night) visit was entering the cab and seeing the Southern Pacific Emblem on the clean floor.  It looked great!