Other than seeing steam engine at Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland as a child, my first encounter on a non-amusement park railroad was a family train ride on the California Western.
1972 -- California Western 2-8-2 45, ex. Medford Corporation 3 1932, nee Owen-Oregon Lumber Company 3, built by Baldwin in 1924, coming out to start her day on an excursion to Willits.
1972 -- California Western 45 on the point of her train.
1973 -- my family went to Durango, Colorado to ride the bus to Silverton and the Rio Grande Silverton train back. Here, K36 2-8-2 473, built by American Locomotive Company in 1923, emerges from the shops.
1973 -- A few minutes later, 473 waiting for the day's duty.
1974 -- my family travelled to Expo 74 in Spokane, Washington where I had my first meeting with Union Pacific 4-8-4 8444, built by American Locomotive Company in 1944, when it was on display. It holds the distinction of never having been retired.
1976 -- Southern Pacific 4-10-2 5021, built by American Locomotive Company in 1926. It initially hauled passenger trains over the Sierra Nevadas but was soon moved to fast freight and its last years were spent working largely in Oregon on the Portland Division, remaining in service until 1955.
This was seen during a Santa Fe shop tour in San Bernardino where it was waiting to be moved to the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society's site in Pomona. The display of the American Freedom Train finally allowed 5021 to reach its final display site by rail.
January 1976 -- The American Freedom Train, led by Southern Pacific 4-8-4 4449, built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1941, visited Anaheim and this was my first night photograph.
1976 -- A family trip to Canada included a visit to North Vancouver and British Columbia Railway 4-6-2 2860, the Royal Hudson, built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1940.
1977 -- Southern Pacific 4449 returned to Portland on an Amtrak Transcontinental Steam Excursion and I photographed it proceeding west through Colton.
1977 -- My first moving roster shot of Southern Pacific 4449 a moment later.
| RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE |
