4449 at Cook in 1997

On June 7th and 8th of 1997, Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449 made a pair of excursion trips over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway from Portland, Oregon, to Wishram, Washington, and back. This was in preparation for a two-day excursion from Portland to Yakima, Washington, and back on the following weekend. My dad and I chased the June 7th excursion to Wishram and back.

After leaving Wishram, we waited for #4449 near Cook, Washington. While we waited, I snapped this picture of Washington State Highway 14. I think this was either the last frame on the last roll of film or the first frame on the next one, and I didn't want to risk losing a picture I cared about.

Before #4449 arrived with the westbound excursion train, the eastbound Portland section of Amtrak's Empire Builder passed through, led by Amtrak #10, a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in 1996.

As I recall, we were the first railfans to arrive at this spot, but as we waited, more and more began to show up, heralding 4449's eminent arrival. Finally, the signals turned red, and 4449 appeared around the curve in the distance.

Just like on the eastbound trip, the excursion train was moving fast, and pictures had to be snapped quickly.

I managed three pictures before the train raced by. The more determined railfans quickly hurried off in pursuit, though we determined there was little hope in catching up to the train again.

On our way home, we paused to photograph this BNSF freight train led by three 4,400-horsepower General Electric Dash 9-44CWs crossing the Wind River Bridge at Home Valley, Washington.