The AFT run from Portland to Bend in March 2002 - Gordon Hall Photo

SP 4449 Bend Trip March 2002
by Jay Glenewinkel

Fomer Southern Pacific GS-4, 4-8-4 Northern #4449 powered the Columbia-Deschutes Special on March 23rd and 24th, 2002. The train's destination was the Deschutes River Canyon of Central Oregon. Most of the Canyon is inaccessible except by train or boat with the walls of the Canyon rising 2,200 feet above the tracks. It is little wonder why this trip has constantly ranked as the number one rail excursion in Oregon. After traveling on the north bank of the Columbia River for 110 miles the train turned south. In over 100 miles the tracks climb from the Columbia River at Wishram to the high plateau of Central Oregon at Madras with grades that approach 2%.

For this Portland to Bend, OR round trip, the 4449 was repainted in the red, white and blue paint scheme it wore on the American Freedom Train in 1976. The 4449 was originally restored for use on the AFT. Millions of americans saw her wearing this paint scheme during the Bicentennial celebrations.

The AFT 4449 will be on display in Hillsboro Oregon on June 28,29,30 this year and may possibly put together some Santa trips between Beaverton and Hillsboro in December.

In other related news, the BNSF has painted a C44-9W, unit #4501, in the 1976 Bicentennial colors. As of yet, there is no release of any inforamtion of special appearences this unit may make, so you may just have to keep your eyes peeled to catch this in freight service for now. The BNSF locomotive is expected to be on diplay in Fort Worth, Texas on July 4, 2002.

Here's a thought ... Could you imagine if each railroad painted one locomotive in a patriotic red-white-blue paint scheme in honor of Americas Freedom. Take the SP 4449, and the UP 844 and recreate the AFT run from 1976, and all locomotives from across the US arrive in New York City for display on September 11, 2002. If this ever happened, the US employment rate would be down for a day, because everybody would be out chasing the trains! We will be adding more patriotic paint schemes to this page -- so be sure to bookmark this page and check it ever so often. We hope to post more information as it becomes available.

We will be adding more patriotic paint schemes to this page -- so be sure to bookmark this page and check it ever so often. We hope to post more information as it becomes available.

Southern Pacific #4449 - The 4449 is serviced in the nite hours on March 23, 2002 in Bend, Oregon - Rick Weil photo

Southern Pacific #4449 - The 4449 departs Union Station in Portland, Oregon on the morning of March 23rd. - Nick Nelson Photo

Texas & Pacific Steamer #610 - was restored by the Historical Foundation of Fort Worth to operating condition for its first assignment on the American Freedom Train. Here the 610 poses for photos after being restored. - Lee Angle Photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

AFT Locomotive #610 / former Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 "Texas type" ran in excursion service for the Southern Railway for five years following duty on the AFT. Today this engine is owned and housed at the Texas State Railroad State Historical Park in Palastine, Texas.

Approximately 38 railroads had a bicentennial scheme in honor of and celebrating America's 200th birthday. Southern Pacific had 3 units painted, Santa Fe had 5 units painted, Missouri Pacific had 2, Burlington Northern had 3, Frisco had 1, and the SSW had 3 units. M-K-T had one unit painted as well as a caboose wearing a large american flag.

American Freedom Train and Bicentennial engines - The #4449 leads with paired Mopac units #1776 & 1976. The three locomotives powered the American Freedom Train on it's run south of Newport, Arkansas. - George Elwood/Bill Navari, used with permission

Bangor and Aroostook GP7 #1776 - was painted as the roads contribution to the Bicentennial celebration. It was numbered 1776, and named in honor of Jeremiah O'Brian, a Maine Patriot who commanded the Union ship "Unity" in a sucessful mission of capturing the British ship "Margaretta" in the first Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War. - Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

The Belt Railway of Chicago - painted MP15 #534 in honor of Americas Bicentennial. - Belt Railway of Chicago photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Cotton Belt SD45T-2 #9389 - is one of three locomotives on the Southern Pacific System to sport the bicentennial paint scheme in 1976. - Bill Navarri photo

The ST. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railway - painted a caboose featuring the Great Seal of the United States. - St. Louis San Francisco Railway photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Gold Coast Railroad's Bicentennial caboose - was a former Atlantic Coast Line caboose, built in 1925. It is pictured in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in June 1976. - Mary Jane Rowe photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP40 #200 - sports the Bicentennial Paint Scheme in San Antonio at MKTs Sloan Yard in 1976. - Robert Pollard Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP40 #200 - MKT westbound business car special w/ bicentennial #200 between Katy and Brookshire,Tx; June 1976 - Gary Morris Photo

Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP40 #200 - MKT westbound business car special w/ bicentennial #200 between Houston and Katy,Tx; June 1976 - Gary Morris Photo

Missouri-Kansas-Texas Caboose #76 - MKT caboose #137 and bicentennial #76 at Eureka Yd Houston; Dec. 1976 - Gary Morris Photo

MoPac Bicentennial GP7 #1776 - was built in April 1950 as C&EI High Hood GP7 #212. It was later renumbered to C&EI #77. The unit was rebuilt with a new 2500 gallon fuel tank, and had the nose chopped and emerged as C&EI #84. It later became the MP Bicentennial #1776. It was retired in September 1977, and traded in to EMD for the new GP38s. - Missouri Pacific Railroad Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

for Much More on these MoPac units, see MOPAC BICENTENNIAL UNITS.

Missouri Pacific #1976 - a GP18u 1976 (which, along with GP7u #1776 - see above) was MoPac's offering to commemorate the American 1976 Bicentennial. MoPac had the unique advantage of being able to incorporate its famous screaming eagle paint scheme very successfully into a Bicentennial scheme. Daryl W Favignano, (MPRR 1974-1986) who worked in the Mechanical Engineering Dept. at St Louis, was the one who drew up the paint scheme for 1776-1976. - Brian Paul Ehni photo

The SOO Line Railroad - painted GP38 #1776 in honor of Americas Bicentennial by including a version of the the first official flag of the United States. - SOO Line Railroad photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Southern Pacific GP40P-2 #3197 - was the first of three units on the Southern Pacific to recieve a special red, white and blue paint scheme for the American Bicentennial celebration. - Henry Brueckman photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Southern Pacific U25B #6800 - is the third of three SP units to recieve a special red, white and blue paint scheme for America's Bicentennial in 1976. It is seen here in Los Angeles, California in November 1975. - Henry Brueckman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

TPW GP30 #700 - sports a special red, white and blue paint scheme in honor of Americas Bicentennial. - Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Union Pacific's E-9 #951 - was painted in a special "Preamble Express" paint scheme. The unit toured the nation, testing the route for the American Freedom Trains run in 1976. The 951 is pictured on Seaboard Coast Line rails at Hollywood, California in 1975. - Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection.

Western Pacific GP40 #1776 - is in Sacramento, California on July 4, 1976. - Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

Western Pacific GP40s 1776 (WP 3540) and 1976 (WP 3541) - meet on the Keddie Wye Bridge in May 1976. - Norman Holmes Photo/Jay Glenewinkel postcard collection

A Partial Listing of 1976 Bicentennial Units

Click on the Thumbnail images for a larger image.

Burlington Northern #1991 - an SD60 M, painted to honor 44 BN employees who were called to duty in the 1992 Gulf War. 7/8/95 - Todd Greuter Photo

Burlington Northern #1991 - the patriotic SD60 M is seen here on the Omaha Line. 7/8/95 - Todd Greuter Photo

Brand New Union Pacific SD70M #4899 - sports the American Flag in honor of America's Freedom. This unit is among several UP SD70Ms to recieve this special paint scheme. It is pictured in San Antonio, Texas on April 14, 2002. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

You don't need to fly the stars and stripes to show your pride, and neither do American railroads. Here are some schemes that we thought should be included in a sub-section -- not necessarily patriotic but proud none-the-less.

Click on the Thumbnail images for a larger image.

Union Pacific SD40-2 #1996 - in the Olympic Paint Scheme. It is pictured in Portland, Oregon in 1996. - Steve Schuman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

Union Pacific SD40-2 #3300 - in the United Way Paint Scheme. It is pictured at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon. - Steve Schuman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

Union Pacific SD40-2 #3593 - in the Desert Victory Paint Scheme. Though not in red/white/blue, it is still patriotic. It is pictured in Portland, Oregon in 1993. - Steve Schuman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

Latest update: Thursday, 13 November, 2003

© 2002-2003 t. Greuter/Screaming Eagles, unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved.