Passenger Trains > Amtrak Photo Run-By Along The Ocean

Passengers line the tracks at Honda, Milepost 307, on the then-Southern Pacific's Coast Line to watch, and photograph 4449 lead Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion on a photo run-by.

The steam locomotive was still wearing its bicentennial American Freedom Train colors on this trip, which returned the engine to Portland.

On this day, April 26, 1977, the train was running from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo, where it would spend the night before assaulting Cuesta Pass the next day.

Honda is on the western edge of what was then named Vandenburg Air Force Base, and inaccessible to the general public. So, these were all passengers who disembarked for the photo run-by. Luckily for us, the train stopped to we could re-board before continuing on.

In an earlier topic I posted the other day, https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,6193290, discussion arose about the observation car used on this excursion from Los Angeles to Portland.

I can't add to the discussion of that car beyond knowing that I rode in it, but I do remember on the trip into Los Angeles the train used AMTK 9310, a former Wabash Blue Bird dome-observation. That, I remember, was a mighty fine car to ride in. 

I photographed it at Yuma. It even carried a custom drumhead.
 

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Must have had a meet at Honda as they are in the siding. Probably met the OALAT