Steam & Excursion > 4449, a little more to the beginnings of the story

As I continue to reorganize my boxes of stuff, in preparation to repopulate our remodeled and upgraded gathering room/ walkout ...

I came across my copy of Wright’s book on the Daylights, the BIG book...
On the inside cover, is written: “ Best Wishes,”, Richard K Wright, September 19, 1970.

Also, included is a small certificate:
Volume 1
Southern Pacific
Daylight
Train 98-99
First Printing
First Edition
Book Number. 284. ( 😄 )
Belongs To.

So, another piece of the early dating procedure gets better defined..

Thank you Richard, for the appropriate Book Number—- how’d you do THAT?

Thanks for all the great comments from appreciating T.O. participants.
I love the personal memories, the joy and the pictures of the 49’s many romps across the country..

Now, I’m going to renew my tour through those wonderful pages....I haven’t been in there since 1974...
It’s fun, having the ultimate dream become a reality ....and having been so close to the action.

Wes

When you got that numbered and signed book (how cool is THAT?), who knew where it would take you? It would be impossible to count all who have thrilled to the sight of the reborn 4449 in action.

I'm sure there are still many who recall the great GSs in regular service, not to mention the rest of the big SP show.

I would not want to seem to diminish the big steam show back east that you were witness to.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

AA,

RR took our Big Show of Big succeses back East, and wanted to take it across the land...
The 4449 was a big player in taking the show around the nation..

We’re all glad , that an early stage that the trip stumbled and almost didn’t make it.....until the Train rolled into that cheerful throng siting in the rain in Peoria ...
That was the turning point for saving the whole she-bang...

We’re all glad that the tour turned into a resounding success..back in 75/76 ....

Wes.

Well, Wes, I was offering you some respect for having been witness to the steam era back east.....before those stinkboxes extincted the great steam era. We vacationed in the east annually during the late '40s/early '50s, and one could see the progression of dieselization during that time. The '40s, though, offered one a look while steam was still the King, what a time, sigh.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

AA,
Luckily, I grew up in Long Branch, NJ..
the commuter RR, New York and Long Branch, was a N.Y. “suburban area”...35 Miles of that line was steam, right til the end...

I did catch the end of the era of the antique CNJ Camelbacks on commuters....they were gone by about ‘54..
The thundering PRR K4s locos pounded the rails until October ‘57... Heavy commuter traffic, and close scheduling
Then, they disappeared, and I went into mourning ....

I was in the USAF 1960 until Jan 64...
And back east, the Reading Rail Rambles we’re into their last year....
But, what a show they put on...BIG 4-8-4s pulling fast trains..

I got to volunteer on excursion lines...then things grew from there...

Looking back...there isn’t a THING that I would change in my life...
It’s been impossible to describe the internal deep satisfaction where my life has taken me...

York, Ps, to Wall Street, to Conneaut, Ohio, to New Jersey ( trips) , to Lewisburg, WV, (Greenbrier to Cass and Durban,); then to Colonie, NY,
Wilkes Barre, Pa, to Oneonta NY, then to Little Rock, AR , to Silvis, Ill. ,to Washington, DC. & Virginia.. I’ve visited Doyle in Portland several times ...

“I’ve been everywhere, man..”


W.

My copy is also numbered --- 841! Marvelous book...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

I just checked my copy and found the little card stating Book Number 435!
I purchased it at Orange Empire Railway Museum back in 1970 for $20.00.
Unbelievable, for 655 pages and many pounds!!

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Wow..... Thanks, Wes, for more of your wonderful and fascinating memories! And you have a very early first edition of Wright's incredible book -- and an incredible coincidence with the book number! And an autographed copy, too! Wow...... Your wife may have to remind you to come up for air once in a while! < G > One could easily spend YEARS poring over that wonderful book!

Thanks Stanford, for the fascinating memories. And thanks, Bill, and Jim, for the posts -- you two and Wes have very early copies. Jim: only $20 for a copy of the first edition???? Geez.... that is practically GIVING it away!! Wow.....

I do have Wright's book, but it is the Third Edition -- September, 1977. No Copy Number. I think I paid $60 for it.

(The Second edition was dated September, 1971.)

That book was definitely a true labor of love.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/18 00:14 by Margaret_SP_fan.

JimBaker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just checked my copy and found the little card
> stating Book Number 435!
> I purchased it at Orange Empire Railway Museum
> back in 1970 for $20.00.
> Unbelievable, for 655 pages and many pounds!!

I have that same book and it is book number 325

"I've been everywhere man", a Johnny Cash song.

One of my favorites from Cash...
Always enjoyed his ballades.

That’s why I quoted him...
I think Ross told me Cash was in the cab of AFT #1, during its tour around the country...

W.

Posted from iPhone

JimBaker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just checked my copy and found the little card stating Book Number 435!
> I purchased it at Orange Empire Railway Museum back in 1970 for $20.00.
> Unbelievable, for 655 pages and many pounds!!

That's about $130 these days per CPI Inflation Calculator.

Brian