Hi all,
A little train nostalgia, at least for me.
On a beautiful May morning in 1989 my Brother-in-Law and I spent some time chasing Southern Pacific’s legendary engine #4449 from Mott above Dunsmuir to Hooker Creek. We knew she was going to be coming through on that day so spent some time in the days previous checking out the best filming locations.
After we had selected the spots and timed our driving we knew which ones we could fit in based on the trains running speed orders. We used my pickup and had an extra tall tripod for the camera and a 6 foot ladder that we set up in the bed at each stop. Using this method we were able to get above the heads of the other people and get better distance shots.
In the first three scenes you can see a diesel engine on the rear (oh the humiliation) this was required by regulations for dynamic braking coming down the Siskiyous and through the Cantara Loop (second scene). The diesel was dropped in Dunsmuir and though the steam train was bound by a 45 MPH limit made a beautiful scene coming down the canyon.
Shortly after filming this, my Brother-in-Law misplaced the film and it has just recently been relocated.
I hope you enjoy seeing this beautiful locomotive in action.
Thanks
Rick