For those who aren't familiar with the
Daylights, they were a passenger train operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad
(officially) from Aug 28, 1922 through and beyond January 1970. The
Daylight passenger service began operation with the 'new' GS-2 steam locomotives
on March 21, 1937. This new Daylight service represented a major advance in
passenger train service, style, comfort and speed. Remarkably, plans for
this new passenger service started in 1932, in the midst of the Great
Depression. Southern Pacific's President, Angus D. McDonald, ordered its
development with the belief that it was the
responsibility of American corporations and not the government to lift the
county out of the depression by providing new jobs. (Very different from
the approach corporations take today.) Plans
for the new train called for a newly styled, larger engine, air conditioned
passenger cars, top-notch level of service, a new look as well as many many
other enhancements. The final design for the new GS-2 steam locomotive
added skirting down the side of the engine as well as skirting along the top of
the engine's boiler (called skyline casting). This hid much of the tubing and mechanical devices
that a steam locomotive has and gave the engine a streamlined and uncluttered
appearance. At the same time, the skirting didn't hide the engine's
drivers and driving rods which add to the mystique and powerful appearance of a steam
locomotive.
Southern Pacific also selected a beautiful bright orange, red and black color
scheme along with a stylish insignia. This color scheme/pattern was carried
down the entire length of the train, from the engine to the observation
car. A radio commentator was noted as calling the Daylight "the most
beautiful train in the world" which I believe to be a most fitting title.
March 21, 1937 - First Crew: (from left to right) Road Foreman of Engines: Frank LaFond- Fireman: M.J. Crowley- Engineer: W.W. Judy- Conductor: A Meredith- Brakemen: F.E. Burns and E. Atkinson
March 21, 1937 - Engineer W.W. Judy talking with Franciscan Father Joachim de Prade
March 21, 1937 - Olivia de Havilland (star of Warner Brothers Studio) has the honor of christening the new Daylight.
March 21, 1937 - Five seconds after 8:15am, Engine #4411 (GS-2 Class) pulls out of Los Angeles Central Station for the first scheduled run of the 'new' Daylight passenger service.
I've been asked many times, where I got my affinity for the 4449...
It's a long story but it started when I first got to see the engine when I was 5
year old. Some pics from that night are below waiting for the 4449 in 1977 (pulling the Freedom train)
in my hometown of Beaumont, Texas. By the time the engine arrived it was pouring down rain. A couple of the photos below are of me on a diesel locomotive that was on a
siding waiting for the Daylight to arrive.
Here is an interesting photo, it's of the
Texas and Pacific #610 (2-10-4), pulling out of Houston, Texas with the Freedom
train in what the caption said was Feb 1976. (Maybe the date of 1977 above is
wrong?) At any rate, this was taken probably within 24 hours of the
Daylight's leaving Beaumont.
There are undoubtedly many people to
thank for keeping this piece of living history running. Those of us who
have an appreciation for seeing this engine running owe a great deal to those
who dedicate the time keeping this magnificent machine running.
The 4449's Official website is
www.sp4449.com.
The site has a large number of photos and provides up-to-date information on the
engine and upcoming excursions.
Silent film from the original
restoration in 1975:
This set of pictures is of particular
interest as it is of the other not so well known surviving 'Daylight' engine,
#4460 a GS-6. The GS-6 was the last variant built of the GS class.
As I understand it, these engines differed from our 4449 (GS-4) in that they
didn't have side skirting (as delivered from the factory, Lima Locomotive
Works), had 73" drivers as opposed to 80" and had roller bearings on the main
axles as opposed to the waste-packed journal bearings. (My notes on the
GS-6 having roller bearing is curious as the stars painted on the center of the
drivers in the pictures below indicates this one has journal bearings.)
The 4460 is currently on display at the St. Louis Transportation Museum.
These resemble the original GS-2 engine.
This next set of pictures are historical
pictures of various Daylight engines and trains. Some are even of the 4449
itself.
This next set of photos
were taken during various stages of the Daylight's time in service. Ed
Gibson (see link to his website below) has granted me permission to post these
pictures from his site. Thank you Ed!
Photos by George Solimine and Fred Cribbins: (First
photo is of Fred Cribbins himself.)
Craig Walker contributed these two photos of MJ
(Deb) Crowley. (The fireman pictured from the first inaugural run of the
Daylight. - See the first photo on this page) He's seen here
climbing out of the cab for the last time (before
retirement), after bringing Amtrak's #1 "Sunset Limited" into Los Angeles (he
picked it up in Yuma, AZ) on 3/31/74. The photo was taken in Taylor Yard,
where the power was taken after being cut off the train. Deb was popular with
local railfans, as he was almost always willing to give cab rides. (Thanks
to Craig for the very special pictures and write-up.)
How about some other engines numbered
4449? In the first two pictures, BNSF Dash - 9 #4449 was selected to
provide backup assistance on one of the Daylight's runs over BNSF's line.
As I understand it, the Dash 9 was sporting a fresh new paint job for the run.
