All of us have had fantasy dreams of one kind or another regarding the operation of MAINLINE STEAM by a variety of steam locomotives that have been restored to operating condition over the years..
Many have expressed a desire to see AC-12 4294 restored and operated. Others have dreamed about an excursion powered by a trio of "Pacific"-type locos such as 2472, 2467 and 2479.
YES-- It could be out of this World if any of these operations someday materialized !

Well, let's hop into our time machine capsule and go back some fifty-eight (58) years to a time when the Southern Pacific was still running STEAM as well as Excursions.
Are you ready to see what was possible then ? Hold on tight because here we go......

Of all the many STEAM excursions operated in the 1930's, 40's and 50's-- NONE will ever compare to a special excursion of seventeen cars that was operated roundtrip from Oakland, CA and back again, thru THREE states and some 1200 miles of predominantly freight-only trackage. It was billed as the "TRIP OF A LIFETIME" !!


The train consisted of 1-Dormitory Car, 1-Baggage Car, 5-Chair Cars, 1-Hamburger-Grill Car,
1-Diner, 1-Club Lounge, 6-Pullman Cars, 1-Observation Club Lounge w/Open Platform.

Power for different parts of the trip consisted of some TEN (10) steam locomotives and ONE
1200 hp, Baldwin S-12 switcher. A grand total of ELEVEN locomotives !

A few more informational items for you about this trip...
Here was the complete CONSIST by Car number and/or NAME-----

GWIN Dormitory
SP 6472 Baggage
SP 2326 Chair
SP 2011 Chair
SP 2017 Chair
SP 2024 Chair
SP 2535 Chair
SP 10501 Hamburger-Grille
SP 10205 Diner
SP 2925 Club Lounge
Garden Lane Pullman
Poplar Center Pullman
Schubert Pullman
Poplar Hollow Pullman
Romney Pullman (no kidding)
Yale University Pullman
SP 2902 Observation-Club Lounge with Open Platform
(one of only three remaining in service)

STEAM locomotives
SP 4428 GS-1
SP 4205--4224 double-headed AC's **
SP 3804 AC-9
SP 4229--4247 double-headed AC's **
SP 4211
SP 4285
SP 4468 GS-6
SP 2592 2-8-0

DIESEL SP 1451 1200 hp Baldwin S-12 Switcher
The diesel switcher was used as a helper to #2592 between Alturas and Lakeview.

Yes, the "BACKWOODS SPECIAL", of MAY 28-30, 1955..

Co-Sponsored by the California--Nevada Railroad Historical Society and also
the Pacific Coast Chapter--Railway & Locomotive Historical Society......

Motive Power & Routing

Oakland-- Roseville SP 4428
At Roseville, a 5-Unit Set of F-7's coupled onto the train. After member Eldon Lucy stated to the SP that STEAM was promised for the entire THREE days, the F-7's were uncoupled and withdrawn, and double-headed AC's 4205--4224 were placed on the point.

Roseville--Norden SP 4205--SP 4224 **
Norden--Sparks SP 4224 **
Sparks--Wendel SP 3804 (AC-9)
Wendell-Alturas Yd SP 4229--SP 4247
Alturas Yd--Lakeview--Alturas Yd SP 1451 1200 hp Baldwin S-12 & SP 2-8-0 2592
Alturas Yd--Ambrose SP 4211--SP 4247
Ambrose--Klamath Falls SP 4247
Klamath Falls--Gerber SP 4285
Gerber--Oakland SP 4468 (GS-6)

There were at least THREE instances of "double-headed" AC's on this three-day trip... That itself would have been well worth the $ 30.00 coach cost or $ 43.00 for Pullman accomodations.

One of the highlights of this excursion was a trip off the Modoc Line onto the Lakeview Branch and operation all the way to the big stone station at LAKEVIEW itself. At this point, the crowd disembarked from the train and stood around while the late FRED STINDT of the PCC-R&LHS group, conducted some kind of official ceremony.

My primary reason for mentioning this trip is that the films have not been seen by the Public, but were recently transferred to video.
Question: Is THIS the type of thing you might enjoy seeing at a future WINTERAIL show or would it be better to have slide shows only at that locale. I personally think that any SP buff would like to see this unique excursion from the past. Your comments are graciously solicited!

Ken Shattock (KRK)