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.
