Southern Pacific “Daylight” 4-8-4 No. 4449 will travel to Owosso from its Portland, Ore., home this summer for a visit to TrainFestival 2009. The Amtrak-sponsored cross-country trip will operate over BNSF Railway from Portland to Minneapolis, Canadian Pacific to Chicago, Canadian National to Lansing, Mich., and Lake State Railway to Owosso. This is the first cross-country journey for the 4449, which led the 1976-1978 American Freedom Train on a nationwide tour, since it traveled from Portland to New Orleans in 1984. TrainFestival 2009 plans to operate eight locomotives under steam, and will also include vintage and modern diesel locomotives. It’s a fundraiser to keep Pere Marquette locomotive 1225 operating. No. 4449 will be at the festival July 23-26, and will operate a special excursion July 24.
WASHINGTON - Amtrak has released a new photography policy that bans photographers without tickets from station platforms. The policy, which comes in the wake of an embarrassing case of photographer harassment in New York’s Penn Station, was hashed out with input from the National Press Photographer’s Association.
The guidelines specifically permit photography in “public access areas” on Amtrak property, which it defines as “[a]n area open to general public access and occupancy that is not otherwise posted or restricted by posted signs or locking devices.” However, it specifically states that station platforms are for ticketed passengers only. For their part, ticketed passengers will be able to take photos from station platforms while preparing to board a train or immediately after getting off one. (more…)
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. Ex-Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 3751 will make a May 3 trip from Los Angeles to San Diego, a reprise of its trip last summer. Adult fares start at $169. The 3751 steam locomotive pulled the last scheduled steam passenger train between Los Angeles and San Diego in 1953.
The train will depart Los Angeles Union Station around 7:45 a.m., arrive in San Diego and noon, depart San Diego at 5:25, and arrive back in Los Angeles at 9:15 p.m.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Universal Pictures has released a trailer for the movie “Public Enemies” featuring Milwaukee 4-8-4 No. 261 on its Web site.
The movie, based on the life of Depression-era gangster John Dillinger, is set for a July 1 release. No. 261 visited Chicago and Milwaukee from its Minneapolis home last summer for shooting. The trailer features a view of 261 pulling a passenger train into the south end platform tracks at Chicago Union Station.
The movie stars Johnny Depp as Dillinger, plus Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.
Southern Pacific “Daylight” 4-8-4 No. 4449 will travel to Owosso from its Portland, Ore., home this summer for a visit to TrainFestival 2009. The Amtrak-sponsored cross-country trip will operate over BNSF Railway from Portland to Minneapolis, Canadian Pacific to Chicago, Canadian National to Lansing, Mich., and Lake State Railway to Owosso. This is the first cross-country journey for the 4449, which led the 1976-1978 American Freedom Train on a nationwide tour, since it traveled from Portland to New Orleans in 1984. TrainFestival 2009 plans to operate eight locomotives under steam, and will also include vintage and modern diesel locomotives. It’s a fundraiser to keep Pere Marquette locomotive 1225 operating. No. 4449 will be at the festival July 23-26, and will operate a special excursion July 24.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. Ex-
