Matt Morris Wrote:
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> In today’s railroad operations, what would it take
> to get the SP 4449 back to California to run a
> trip down the coast line?

It would take lots of money to cover all operating costs and a lot of cooperation from many different Railroads today for this to happen. First you would need to get the locomotive from Portland and whatever train you’re putting together to either San Francisco if you wanted to re-trace the entire Daylight route or San Jose if Cal Train said no to you going up and down the peninsula. That would take co-operation and support from likely both BNSF which would be the easier one to work with….and Union Pacific who would be the real challenge to work with. If you did actually get the go from the UP, then you would have Mr. Ed from Cheyenne probably insisting on being at least in the fireman seat on the 4449 for the entire time it was on UP rails and I can say that I am sure Doyle McCormack would not put up with that on his watch.

From the Bay area, you would need UP to give you the go ahead to run down the coast line to around Santa Barbara I believe, then at some point you would be dealing with Metro Link and others I am sure to get into Los Angeles Union Station if going all the way to LA as so many have wished to see. You will also need Amtraks support for excursion insurance and they are not open to excursions at this time with their airline CEO running the show. If you can overcome and work out all of these and other odd and end challenges a trip like this would put in front of you, then you could see the Daylight return the coast line. The last time the Daylight ran down the coast line, they only had to mostly work with the Southern Pacific Railroad. Those days are sadly gone so this is what is on the table to get worked out. Welcome to todays railroad environment....