Steam & Excursion > Was This The Most Power Ever Put On A Single Steam Excursion?!

By the 1950's steam excursion trains had become fairly common and their organizers were looking for ways to make each such excursion different from those that had proceeded them.  Well, in late May 1955 the Pacific Coast Chapter of the RLHS out did themselves with this trip.

Dubbed the "Backwoods Special" this 3-day excursion ran over Southern Pacific's entire Modoc Line and even included a side trip up the Lakeview Branch to Lakeview, Oregon.  The organizers did quite well in ticket sales as we can tell by the length of the train needed to handle all the passengers.  17 cars in all made up the special. Whether or not it had originally been planned as sporting a Cab-Forward doubleheader, that was what was finally assigned to handle the train for part of the trip.

Over the 3 days there were 11 steam locomotives pulling this incredible excursion:

SP 4428 GS-1
SP 4205--4224 double-headed AC's
SP 3804 AC-9
SP 4229--4247 double-headed AC's
SP 4211
SP 4285
SP 4468 GS-6
SP 2592 2-8-0

SP assigned both AC-10 #4229 and AC-11 #4247 as the power for the train on one day of the trip on the Modoc Line.  Here we see them both putting on a spectacular run-by near Likely, California for the delight of the many trackside railfans. 

One has to wonder if there was ever any other railfan excursion in the West with more steam power on the head-end.

Martin



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/16 04:00 by LoggerHogger.

---

---

---

The X1451 in 2592's indicators betrays the diesel that accompanied the 2-8-0 on the Lakeview branch portion of the excursion: Baldwin S12 #1451.

SP #2592 headed the train back to Alturas.  Here she is on one of the run-bys on the way back.

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/16 08:01 by LoggerHogger.

---

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As there were no turning facilities in Lakeview,
> the diesel was used to tow the train back to
> Alturas.
>
> Martin

Martin--  Thanks for repeating "MY" story.  I appreciate it !!      Now then, if the DIESEL pulled the train back to Alturas, why is the STEAM loco pulling on the Observation Car ??

Including the DIESEL, there was a total of ELEVEN locomotives.    SP 3804 had a problem and was cut off.  Double-headed AC's out of Roseville was NOT to be per SP edict.
Lots of problems !!

For those of you who would like to see the entire "Backwoods Special" excursion and many more,  get hold of "SP STEAM FANTRIPS" by Greg Scholl.  You will NOT be disappointed !

KRK

Here is another shot of the Backwoods Special excursion--  courtesy of "Barstool" ..

KRK

---

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As there were no turning facilities in Lakeview,
> the diesel was used to tow the train back to
> Alturas.
>
> Martin
Martin--  another fan disagrees with you regarding Turning Facilities at Lakeview.  He was on the trip !!  To wit:  Author: GN599   Baldwin S12 switcher 1451(tiger striped for the record) led 2-8-0 2592 Alturas to Lakeview and return. They turned them on the wye at Lakeview and pulled the 17 car train back to Alturas. The 1451 was cut off at certain points and ran ahead of the special for run bys.

KRK

Regarding the locomotive problem at Roseville :One of the thing that took place on this trip was at Roseville, where SP had a five unit set of F's lined up for the trip to sparks when in fact SP promised a pair of AC's.....Eldon Lucy and Art Lloyd went over to the roundhouse and after a long discussion a pair of AC's came out from the helper pool to take the train over the hill.
KRK

Complete locomotive and Passenger Car Consist :Here was the complete CONSIST by Car number and/or NAME-----
GWIN Dormitory
SP 6472 Baggage
SP 2326 Chair
SP 2011 Chair
SP 2017 Chair
SP 2024 Chair
SP 2535 Chair
SP 10501 Hamburger-Grille
SP 10205 Diner
SP 2925 Club Lounge
Garden Lane Pullman
Poplar Center Pullman
Schubert Pullman
Poplar Hollow Pullman
Romney Pullman (no kidding)
Yale University Pullman
SP 2902 Observation-Club Lounge with Open Platform
(one of only three remaining in service)

STEAM locomotives
SP 4428 GS-1
SP 4205--4224 double-headed AC's **
SP 3804 AC-9
SP 4229--4247 double-headed AC's **
SP 4211
SP 4285
SP 4468 GS-6
SP 2592 2-8-0

DIESEL SP 1451  Baldwin S-12

KRK
    　



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/16 07:42 by KeyRouteKen.

This was one of the best fan trips ever run, the amount of steam power seen on this trip was out standing,this will always be one of my best memories....

> a pair of AC's came out from the helper
> pool to take the train over the hill
> [east from Roseville]

Anyone seen a published pic of that train?
Or any doubleheaded ACs in the Sierra?

timz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > a pair of AC's came out from the helper
> > pool to take the train over the hill
> >
>
> Anyone seen a published pic of that train?
> Or any doubleheaded ACs in the Sierra?  See the above photo, Timz..

There he is-- my old buddy Timz...
Are you speaking of a published photo such as in a BOOK ??   Don't know !   SP had an edict NOT to operate double-headed AC's over the Hill.  They had an argument with the FEDS when it was required on the Coast Division during WW II.
Buy the DVD, Timz, from Greg Scholl Video Publications....  (SP STEAM FANTRIPS)   It will tell THIS and show many other 1950's fantrips.
Greg's  "Technical Assistants" in the production of this great video, was Phil Gosney, Evan Werkema and Myself...

KRK

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> By the 1950's steam excursion trains had become
> fairly common and their organizers were looking
> for ways to make each such excursion different
> from those that had proceeded them.  Well, in
> late May 1955 the Pacific Coast Chapter of the
> RLHS out did themselves with this trip.
>
> Dubbed the "Backwoods Special" this 3-day
> excursion ran over Southern Pacific's entire Modoc
> Line and even included a side trip up the Lakeview
> Branch to Lakeview, Oregon.  The organizers did
> quite well in ticket sales as we can tell by the
> length of the train needed to handle all the
> passengers.  17 cars in all made up the special.
> Whether or not it had originally been planned as
> sporting a Cab-Forward doubleheader, that was what
> was finally assigned to handle the train for part
> of the trip.
>
> Over the 3 days there were 11 steam locomotives
> pulling this incredible excursion:
>
> SP 4428 GS-1
> SP 4205--4224 double-headed AC's
> SP 3804 AC-9
> SP 4229--4247 double-headed AC's
> SP 4211
> SP 4285
> SP 4468 GS-6
> SP 2592 2-8-0
>
> SP assigned both AC-10 #4229 and AC-11 #4247 as
> the power for the train on one day of the trip on
> the Modoc Line.  Here we see them both putting on
> a spectacular run-by near Likely, California for
> the delight of the many trackside railfans. 
>
> One has to wonder if there was ever any other
> railfan excursion in the West with more steam
> power on the head-end.
>
> Martin

Martin says:
One has to wonder if there was ever any other railfan excursion in the West with more steam power on the head-end.

The Oakland to Santa Cruz fantrip had three locomotives total.  By jurisdictions...  SO, the locomotive used on the San Jose to Watsonville segment was an SP 5000 type.
Does that qualify ?

KRK

 

I'm curious as to the reason double headed AC's were not used on the Donner Pass line.  This practice was routine on the San Joaquin route over the Tehacahpis.  More than once did I ride behind such power on the Owl.  AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

I have a question about the SP observation car on this train, and KRK's remark that it was one of three remaining in service at the time.  Could it be that these three cars served on the West Coast, the last, I think SP train equipped with open platform observation cars?  But,  then again, I believe it would require more than three cars for this LA - Portland train, probably more like four or five.  AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

agentatascadero Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm curious as to the reason double headed AC's
> were not used on the Donner Pass line.  This
> practice was routine on the San Joaquin route over
> the Tehacahpis.  More than once did I ride behind
> such power on the Owl.  AA
Listen up very carefully, Sir Stan...      Per our congenial poster 'BCHellman' :

Double header back-up ACs on the Hill was very rare. The SP had a policy never to double-head them with the only exception being number 58, the Owl, from Bakersfield.

Savvy ??
KRK

 

          

agentatascadero Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a question about the SP observation car on
> this train, and KRK's remark that it was one of
> three remaining in service at the time.  Could it
> be that these three cars served on the West Coast,
> the last, I think SP train equipped with open
> platform observation cars?  But,  then again, I
> believe it would require more than three cars for
> this LA - Portland train, probably more like four
> or five.  AA

Stan--  I'm going to have to report you to Dr. Stein....    What did I say ??  SP 2902 was the LAST open-platform Obsv car of THREE, in service !!!!!!
Also, what does LA-Portland have to do with it or the quantity of FIVE that you espouse ??

KRK

Ken, Well, old buddy, listen up yourself!  My question was meant to ask if these last three open platform observation cars still on the roster were assigned to what I believe to be the last regularly scheduled SP train to carry them, the LA - Portland West Coast.  If memory sereves, a big question in it's own right, this train was so equipped until 1949, and, in a casualty of the streamlining of the Cascade and Shasta Daylight, the train was discontinued between Sacramento and Portland, and their open platform observation cars retired.  My theory, of course, requires knowledge of what happened to the other cars used in this service....coud any have been rebuilt for business car service, or, perhaps more likely, MOW service?  I did ride in one, or more, of these cars, on my several rides on the grand old Suntan Limited, which I am pretty sure ws supplied by one from said 3 car pool.                                                                                                                                                                                     My ther question is about why  SP would have a policy of not double heading the AC class locomotives, and why would there be such a policy that specifically excluded the Owl?  Seems nonsensical to me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

SP #4428 was a GS-1? With that # shouldn't it be a GS-3?

Was it the second #4428 that came from the T&NO or SSW?

Ricky
Austin, TX

Correct, it would have been a GS-3.

Posted from iPhone