The American Freedom Train to Return?

[ZekTheKid]

There's been a rumor going around about Ross Rowland wanting to make another AFT nationwide tour to honor Veterans. The locomotives that will be used are SP 4449 and (possibly) C&O 614. They plan on getting it done by 2019, but that's when UP 4014's restoration will be completed, and UP hasn't been very nice about other steam locos on their tracks for the past decade or so.

Any thought's on this strange idea?

[GenericZack]

well, UP might play nice for this train if they can get 4014 done by 2019. UP is known for honoring veterans. so I would suppose that if 4014 is completed by then and is ready for travel. I would expect them to use at least 4014 and or 844 over the UP Trackage. That's All saying if they want to run the train at all.

[ZekTheKid]

well, UP might play nice for this train if they can get 4014 done by 2019. UP is known for honoring veterans. so I would suppose that if 4014 is completed by then and is ready for travel. I would expect them to use at least 4014 and or 844 over the UP Trackage. That's All saying if they want to run the train at all.

If I understand correctly 2019 is when UP is celebrating 150 years for the golden spike at promontory summit, and they plan on using 4014 for that. Unless UP wants to only run 4014, best bet would be the 844 pulling over UP tracks.

[JOHNtheREDNECK]

844 is almost guaranteed to be in the mix somehow. As much of a giant and as much as people drool over the 4014. Nothing carries the service record and bragging rights that 844 does.

...Not to ruin it for you all but of the mass produced articulated's in the country, the bigboy did have better performing counterparts. Out west the NP and DM&IR 2-8-8-4's and on the east coast the the C&O Allegheny and N&W y6 series produced more torque at similar speeds with similar rail adhesion properties on smaller frames. [obviously there are more examples but these are more widely heard of].

[buzz456]

However those locomotives you mention are all history not the living breathing monster about to return to the rails. I say hurray for UP for keeping the tradition alive.

[emdsd90mac]

However those locomotives you mention are all history not the living breathing monster about to return to the rails. I say hurray for UP for keeping the tradition alive.

Agreed. I think they should all just get along and run them all together and not worry about where the lines in the sand are. It's for the veterans of our country after all.

[BKRR605]

However those locomotives you mention are all history not the living breathing monster about to return to the rails. I say hurray for UP for keeping the tradition alive.

+1