Steam & Excursion > SP 4449 Shippers Special December 1988

Here are three of my photos I scanned last night.  On December 14, 1988, SP ran a shippers special from Portland to Medford, Oregon.  That was a Wednesday.  I was able to get these shots because I was a recruit deputy working graveyard shift, so of course my weekends were Tuesdays/Wednesdays.

1) SP 4449 on the turntable at Brooklyn with D&RGW 5514 under the sanding tower, Tuesday afternoon, 12/13/1988.
2) SP 4449 and D&RGW 5514 with the train at Portland Union Station shortly before 9am Wednesday, 12/14/1988.
3) A shot of the crew and train.

Thanks for looking.
Joe

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Ah yes, the Anshutes "Adopt-A-Branch" special. And that is Mr. Anschutes on the left, in that crew photo.

A little adjustment

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What’s that little detail I have never seen before on the arch? A red signal light? Is there a green one too?

Westbound Wrote:
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> What’s that little detail I have never seen
> before on the arch? A red signal light? Is there a
> green one too?

Yes, I believe there was. The green comes on when both ends of the turntable bridge are lined and both locks are engaged.

I assume the train crew was bid by Old Heads that still had their suits? How did SP agreements work for “passenger jobs” like this post 71?

Posted from iPhone

Drknow Wrote:
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> I assume the train crew was bid by Old Heads that
> still had their suits? How did SP agreements work
> for “passenger jobs” like this post 71?
>
> Posted from iPhone
Generally, railroad management is able to hand pick crews for specials, without regard to seniority or the bid process. Even though Amtrak started in 1971, the railroads' own crews still operated the trains until November 1986, so these guys' uniforms may not have been all that old.

There are no agreements for “hand picking crews” where I work. It was tried once a few years ago by a trainmaster and the time slips flew fast and furious. And got paid.

Posted from iPhone

wpamtk Wrote:
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> Even though Amtrak started in 1971, the railroad's own
> crews still operated the trains until November 1986, so
> these guys' uniforms may not have been all that old.

In the territory where this special ran Amtrak crews took over from host railroad crews in late April 1987 when Amtrak seniority zone 10 started operating.