SP4449 straight into and over the camera!

The mighty SP 4449 steam locomotive, aka "The Freedom Train", aka "The Daylight" in a high-speed straight on overhead pass.Show more

This video was taken July 3rd, 2011, in the Columbia River Gorge as it was on its way from Portland, Oregon to Wishram, Washington. The crossing we were at is located in Prindle, Washington. The Daylight was really moving this pass, chugging steam and laying on that amazing steam whistle! I laid my HD video camera on the tracks half buried in the ballast rocks and hoped it wouldn't be destroyed. I got lucky! This gigantic streamlined beauty is quite a sight to behold! Got a nice wave from the Engineer as it raced by!

Southern Pacific 4449 is the only surviving GS-4 locomotive and is one of the most recognizable locomotives of all time. She was donated to the City of Portland in 1958 and moved to Oaks Amusement Park for static display until December of 1974 when the locomotive was removed from the park to undergo restoration. From August 1975 to December 1976, 4449 shared duties with several other steam locomotives pulling the American Freedom Train throughout the U.S. 4449 is still operational and since mid-2012 resides at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland along with other preserved locomotives and rolling stock.