Nostalgia & History > 50 Years Ago Today: SP 4449 Charging up the SR Mainline (Audio)

In red, white, and blue bicentennial paint, Southern Pacific GS-4 4449 led a one-time Atlanta to Alexandria Southern Railway steam excursion.  This is a low-fi recording my dad made of the train charging up the 1.4% grade at Fairfax Station, Virginia, meeting a southbound freight. 

As told in the Steam's Camelot book by the late Jim Wrinn, Southern Railway CEO W. Graham Claytor got off the train in Charlottesville so he could film the run, but never caught up to the train as 4449 charged up the mainline at 79 mph north of Culpeper with Doyle McCormack at the throttle.

Audio recording by D.K. Gass, August 29, 1976:

Steve Gass
Linden, VA
B-LineRailfan

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This excursion marked two big "firsts": It was 4449's very first public excursion, as it had only pulled the likes of media, railroad executives, crew/Freedom Train staff members, and other invitied guests up until this point. Second, it was Southern's first big taste of steam superpower. This trip was the catalyst for them trying out bigger engines such as Texas & Pacific 610, Canadian Pacific 2839, Chesapeake & Ohio 2716, and finally ending with Norfolk & Western 611 and 1218.

Thanks again for sharing! Your dad had a lot of priceless recordings, didn't he?

I wonder who on TO was on that leg? It was quite a ride!

DRGWMark Wrote:
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> This excursion marked two big "firsts": It was
> 4449's very first public excursion, as it had only
> pulled the likes of media, railroad executives,
> crew/Freedom Train staff members, and other
> invitied guests up until this point. Second, it
> was Southern's first big taste of steam
> superpower. This trip was the catalyst for them
> trying out bigger engines such as Texas & Pacific
> 610, Canadian Pacific 2839, Chesapeake & Ohio
> 2716, and finally ending with Norfolk & Western
> 611 and 1218.
>
> Thanks again for sharing! Your dad had a lot of
> priceless recordings, didn't he?

Wow, I knew the 4449 insprired the desire for big steam for the Southern excursion program, but I had no idea this was the first 4449 public excursion.  From Jim Wrinn's book, it sounded like they overnighted in Salisbury, NC.  I wonder if there was a hotel adjacent to the station or did passengers remain on the train...  

I was too young to be in attendance for this event, but am very grateful to listen to my dad's old tapes.  He's still with us, alive and kicking at age 97.  Listening to the recording for the first time, I wonder if the fans might get their view blocked by the passing freight, but I think the ample whistling from 4449 indicates the train was probably in view of the railfrans as they passed.  Likely, the train had crossed over at Clifton to prepare for unloading at Alexandria.  I'll see if my dad remembers next time I call,

Steve Gass
Linden, VA
B-LineRailfan



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/26 21:24 by B-LineRailfan.

 Where did the 5-chime whistle come from?

> Texas & Pacific 610, Canadian Pacific 2839, Chesapeake & Ohio
> 2716, and finally ending with Norfolk & Western 611 and 1218.

NKP 765, too, as a short-term replacement. 
CP 2839 just wasn't big enough for the job as a solo engine. 
 

Earlk Wrote:
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>  Where did the 5-chime whistle come from?

Santa Fe, if I remember correctly. The Engineer's side whistle was fro SP&S #700, and the Fireman's side whistle was that Santa Fe one.