Good Evening... First off, a very humble, personal apology to "CHAS" for even starting this silly debate. I was only going by photos, train order documents, and well-known railfans/authors and NOTHING had ever been mentioned about the use of SP 2475 to Monterey.

Secondly, dozens more apologies to the rest of you for my getting agitated over a subject I really had no knowledge of.

Evan Werkema sent me scans of the trip folder from Central Coast Railway Club for the "Holiday with SP Steam" trips. Dec 31st to Monterey.. January 1st to Tracy.

Quote: Chas had it right. Evan dug up the flyer for the trip in the WRM archives, and Central Coast apparently did use the engine and trainset for a New Years Eve Party trip from San Jose down to Monterey and back the night before (which explains in part why the excursion to Tracy left San Jose at the unusually late hour of 11:30am). Fans could buy tickets for either trip or both of them, and the whole thing was billed as the "Holiday with Steam on the Southern Pacific." Evan e-mailed me scans of the flyer !! Also, Evan just spoke to Dudley Westler, and he says he was on the New Year's Eve trip. He says the train didn't go all the way into Monterey, but turned on the balloon loop at Ft. Ord. The trip departed San Jose after sunset and got back in the wee hours of the morning, so chances are no photos or movies exist unless somebody was taking night shots at San Jose. However, audio recording of the trips were made, and they appear on Side One of the Mobile Fidelity LP "Memories in Steam" produced by the late Brad Miller.

Third-- I know that hundreds of nasty grams will follow these apologies and so I'll disappear for a few months and maybe return some other day. I need to anyway. Diabetes is taking its toll and it is only a matter of time before I lose my feet. I cannot wear shoes and it is VERY hard to walk-- maybe things like this are causing me to be the "fool" I really am.
Happy Holidays!!

KRK