Train Festival 2009: Update

[Scooterb]

OWOSSO, Mich. - 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; Norfolk Southern to Porter, Ind.; Amtrak to Kalamazoo, Mich.; NS to Battle Creek, Mich.; Canadian National to Durand, Mich.; and Great Lakes Central to Owosso.

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 frestival July 23-26, and will operate a special excursion July 24.

This is the first cross-country journey for the 4449, which led the 1976-1976 American Freedom Train on a nationwide tour, since it traveled from Portland to New Orleans in 1984.

[SD40-2]

Nevermind

[TrainWatcher]

HELL YA!!! This is one for the Books, 765 through AA, 4449 on the Bluewater, and 1225... man I CANT WAIT!!!!

[BerkshireKid]

4449 on the Bluewater!?!?!?!?! What did I miss??? Didn't see this in the announcement. It's Amtrak sponsored but that doesn't mean it has to run on an Amtrak train.
The required servicing and fueling required for 4449 would probably make putting it on a regularly scheduled passenger train unfesible.

[trainman_20]

Will any of the UP Heritage engines be attending this event?

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Wow...I know where I WON'T be on that date.

Ditto, although not because of the foam...

However, congrats (or whatever you want to call it) to TJ and everyone else at SRI for the big splash y'all are making in the railfan community this year. The main question I still have regarding this though is...what are y'all going to do in 2010?

[sd70accsxt700]

Resting

[leo28150]

765 thru AA??? Has a route for it to come been posted??

[TCP]

By the looks of all the equipment that is going to be there along with the other attractions and the number of people they hope to attract they are going to have to park people in Grand Rapids and shuttle them into SRI.

Looks like a good time start saving your money now.

[JANGAJONGA]

THERE IS GOING TO BE A STEAM ENGINE GOING UP TO OWOSSO THROUGH ANN ARBOR?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I NEED TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES THROUGH!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAW!

[GLC 392]

there is no offical route yet, so dont get to excided.

[PAT.C]

HEY STEVEN---R U AND DR GOING TO BE LOADING COAL INTO 4449'S TENDER ???

I WANNA WATCH.!!!!!!!!

[Beal99]

4449? no way in hell

No way in hell huh?

notice the smiley face, sarcasm, i knew about this before it was posted thanks to a little bird

[redside20]

sounds like Doyle McCormick is coming home (if only for a few days). he is a Bellevue Ohio native.

[BerkshireKid]

Steam Railroading Institute Plans for 2009: Run the crap outta 1225 and any other steamer to come to SRI!!!!
Steam Railroading Institute Plans for 2010: Do the 15 year/1472 inspection on 1225 and perform any repairs necessary.

[JANGAJONGA]

that would be so cool if a steamer came up on the AA. were can i found out its route once its route is confirmed?

[TrainWatcher]

Jack, wait for the little birds to sing. Thats all I Can say. The MOST Likely route for 765 would be through AA, then to GLC through to SRI, and as for 4449 I COULD see them running as the Bluewater... Since there will be a Chicago stop already confirmed. Again, no confirmation of this just my thought process....

[Scooterb]

I would imagine the 4449 will be a private move with private cars.

[GLC 392]

Trainwatcher it will not!! be on the blue water as previously stated above

4449 on the Bluewater!?!?!?!?! What did I miss??? Didn't see this in the announcement. It's Amtrak sponsored but that doesn't mean it has to run on an Amtrak train.
The required servicing and fueling required for 4449 would probably make putting it on a regularly scheduled passenger train unfesible

[J T]

that would be so cool if a steamer came up on the AA. where can i found out its route once its route is confirmed?

You probably shouldn't bother checking here. I doubt anyone will be talking about the route once it's confirmed.