I had the chance to get out to Portland Oregon for some of the NRHS Convention a couple of days ago. However the main attraction was the “Western Star” Steam train. This train featured doubleheaded steam power. Spokane Seattle & Portland (SP&S) #700 and Southern Pacific #4449 (The Daylight) powered the train from Portland Union Station to Wishram, about 110 miles and return. What was really neat was that in Wishram they exchanged power so each locomotive lead half the trip. Plus the scenery in Columbia River Gorge is perfect. Below are some photos from the steam train.
Keith
At Portland Union Station a new BNSF unit passes the SP&S #700
SP&S #700 and SP #4449 move out to couple to the excursion train
No denying that profile, SP #4449 Daylight at Portland Union Station
SP&S leads the Western Star about a mile from the depot
#700 heads eastbound at Camas, WA
#700 and #4449 eastbound at Avery, WA
The Western Star meets a westbound BNSF train while wyeing on the bridge at Wishram, WA
What a line-up on the bridge at Wishram, WA
SP&S #700 on the Columbia River bridge at Wishram, Wa
From the looks of it, you must have had a fantastic time. I enjoyed the photos.
Looks like I’ll have to pull out some steam videos to releive the itch! Wish I’d been there…
Keith, those are some awsome photos. My favorite is the Daylight directly under the bridge at Hood, Wa. The pictures of the train being wyed over the Columbia River bridge look like they were taken from a boat.
Not quite a boat, but luckily Wishram kind of juts out into the Columbia River just east of the bridge, however one railfan had climbed down to river level to get some shots.
Was the Amtrack Engine there to provide hotel power or as insurance power incase one of the steamers failed? I wonder how they managed being pulled by two fire breathing steamers.
If someone shot a video it would be good to see it as well.
I also shot video of the trip at each spot seen in my photos. I think steam engines are great for video then you can see and hear them. Both the #700 and #4449 have awesome whistles.
The Amtrak engine was mainly used for head-end power and because the train was actually run as an Amtrak special to use Amtrak as the insurance carrier for the trip. According to someone on another forum the Amtrak P42 was not needed for power at all. Either of those two steamers could have pulled the train alone.
I was privileged to see original prints of the same pictures, and many more, that Keith took on this trip. It is a beautiful part of the country that is for sure.
FYI an article about the SP&S #700 appeared in Trains magazine for October of 1990 page 19. Article indicates the locomotive is nearly identical to a Northern Pacific A3.
Dave Nelson
