The famed 4-8-4 steam locomotive was fired up over the weekend and ran from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland to Vancouver, Wash., on Monday morning. In Vancouver, the locomotive picked up a BNSF Railway business train and made a round trip to Wishram, Wash., on the Fallbridge Subdivision. The locomotive returned to Vancouver where it will be based for most of the week.
BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas tells Trains News Wire that additional filming trips along the Columbia River would be made later this week. Melonas says a steam locomotive “always attracts a crowd” and asks that anyone who sees the special train this week maintain a safe distance from tracks.
The locomotive is outfitted with a number of IMAX video cameras to capture the run through the scenic Columbia River Gorge. The film is being directed by Stephen Low and is about the inner workings of a modern main line railroad focusing on BNSF. The film is expected to be released in 2019.
Low previously made the IMAX movie “Rocky Mountain Express” featuring Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816.
This is not No. 4449’s first brush with stardom on the silver screen. The locomotive was prominently featured in the 1986 movie “Tough Guys” and also appeared in the 1990 film “Come See The Paradise.” Martin Hansen, an attorney and crew member for the 4449 group, says this new film project has been in the works for nearly three years.
This week’s run marks the first time No. 4449 has been on the main line since June 2017 when it made a two-day round trip from Portland to Bend, Ore.
The locomotive’s non-profit support group, Friends of SP 4449, was in the process of organizing a main line excursion behind the Daylight later this year. Last week, the group announced on its website that the trip had been canceled before it was even publicly announced due to Amtrak’s new policy against running special charters. The Friends of the SP 4449 say the next time the public will be able to ride behind the locomotive is in November during the annual Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation Holiday Express trips.
Hanson says that despite the recent setback handed down from Amtrak, this week’s runs show that mainline steam locomotives such as No. 4449 can do more than just lead excursions.
“In light of the recent news, this is a great opportunity to show that there are still opportunities for mainline steam to get out on the road,” he says. “Don’t count us out yet.”
When No. 4449 is not on the main line, it can be seen on display at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland.
More information is available online.
CORRECTION: Canadian Pacific No. 2816 is a 4-6-4-type steam locomotive. The arrangement was incorrectly stated in an earlier version of this report.
Never understood the fascination with this particular relic. Steam locomotives are supposed to be black and look like steam locomotives.
Is that a GS-4 that appears in the opening credits for the B/W episodes of the 1950’s TV show” The Adventures of Superman” when the narrator solemnly intones “more powerful than a locomotive”?
Same film maker as Rocky Mountain Express. That was a heck of a good film and hopefully the new one will be just as good.
#844 was also in the movies glad to see Hotwater has fired up 4449 again for one more film.
Funny how a gob pile of $$$ makes rules and regs go on hold.
“The film is being directed by Stephen Low and is about the inner workings of a modern main line railroad focusing on BNSF.”
So they are using a steam locomotive?
When #4449 was in Owosso Michigan in 2009, I had the opportunity to see it. It is by far, one beautiful machine!
I’m very happy to hear about 4449 being out and about. While not the main focus of the article, ex Canadian Pacific 2816 is an H1b 4-6-4 Hudson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Pacific_2816