Let's see, as of this writing, in January of 2006, I'm stretching my memory nearly 30 years ago to February of 1976, when the Freedom Train roared down the San Joaquin Valley, in the celebration of Our Nation's 200th birthday. Why am I publishing this long-ago story?  Well, I came across some photos that I took on that April day, and since I'm starting to publish steam railroad adventures, the event and the opportunity seemed to be a "no-brainier."

Left:  Here she comes!  4449 is blasting through Turlock on the point of the "Freedom Train," just about to cross over South Berkeley Ave., on the south side of Turlock.  As of ths writing, in January 2006, the tall grain elevator to the right of the photo is still the tallest structure in Turlock.  Right:  4449 in all of her glory, leads the "Freedom Train," just south of the central California city of Turlock.

If you can remember July 4, 1976, as all of us were watching the fireworks show, strangers would come up to you and slap you on the back, or shake your hand and say "Happy Birthday!"  Our family spent the night of July 4, 1976 at Donnely Park, in Turlock, California, then a sleepy town of 20,000 in population, enjoying the fireworks display, after an enjoyable meal or grilled chicken, cowboy beans and coleslaw.  The whole family attended the event, and we wished each other "Happy Birthday," and we did the same to others picnicking around us, and the same to total strangers.  It was awesome!

Left:  4449 leads the "Freedom Train" as she crosses South Berkeley Avenue, in Turlock.  Right:  4449 is a memory, yet the patriotic passenger and baggage cars are a sight to behold.

I've been getting a little off the mainline, as it seems that I've been sidetracked... Back in early 1976, I was employed as an evening-shift disc jockey at 1390 AM, KCEY, spinning  country and western records, and keeping the local young girls happy.  Such an ideal job for a single guy, aged 24!  So that meant when 4449 roared down the track at about 0900, I was able to check her out and catch the action.  I can't remember the exact date, but I can remember the circumstances...

Around 0800, I had placed myself, just south of Turlock, where South Berkley Avenue crosses the, then, Southern Pacific railroad tracks, before Berkeley Avenue stops at Golden State Boulevard, a.k.a., Business California 99.  

Left:  I paced #4449 along Highway 99, to observe her splendor.  Right:  #4449 meets Cotton Belt SD-40T-2, #9299, along Highway 99, just west of Atwater, CA.

I stood near the crossing, in the early morning light, with my trusty Mamiya Sekor 35mm SLR camera (the kind that used Pentax-style screw-on lenses) around my neck.  After waiting a half hour or so, but it seemed like hours, I saw 4449 approaching and heard her whistle blow at every crossing as the passed through Turlock.  

In February of 1976, I was a mere 23 years old, and the largest steam engine that I'd ever seen in action was Sierra Railroad's #34, a 2-8-2 mikado.  So when I saw #4449 barreling down the tracks, with her splendid wheel arrangement in the classic Northern style of a 4-8-4, I was flabbergasted, to say the least.  How I had the composure to take as many photos as I did, well, you can say, my memory escapes me.

After the adrenaline rush, not to mention that the Freedom Train had passed me, I had the foresight to jump into my 1971 VW Super Beetle, and head south on California 99, as I knew #4449 was going to stop in my home town of Merced, for a photo shoot, and to let a few folks depart the train, and a few local dignitaries board the train, in order to ride it the to the next major stop in Fresno.  Since the train was only traveling around 50 mph, I was able to pace it, and even snap a photo or two.  I confess that I occasionally surpassed the speed limit, which was 55 mph along California Route 99.  Update January, 2006: Highway 99 has hardly changed since 1976, but the traffic has increased, by 400%, which makes the highway a chamber of horrors to drive.

Left:  #4449 stops at Merced, to discarge passengers and to take on water.  Note the guy on top of the train; he's arrainging to receive water from a fire truck, courtesy of the City of Merced.  Sadly, I wasn't in a position to photograph the whole affair.

The Freedom Train, led by #4499, stopped at the then Southern Pacific depot, at 16th and "M" Streets, for about 10 minutes to let folks on and off, and to allow "groupies," such as myself, to take photos.  #4449's tender was topped off with water, as a fire truck from the City of Merced topped-off her tender; a nice gesture to the City of Merced who has a tradition of keeping history alive.  Naturally, there were a lot of speeches from local dignitaries, kisses, shaking of hands, and all of the usual falderal that will accompany such an event.

After a brief few minutes, #4449 blew her whistle, the conductors said "All aboard," the doors to the coaches were closed, and #4449 headed east, towards Fresno and beyond.

Left:  Folks stop around to gawk at the steam-powered monster that 44449 is.  How many times do you see a Lima-built 1940's era steam locomotive pull a train down the San Joaquin Valley mainline and stop in Merced? Right:  A close-up shot of #4449, showing her numbers, flags and headlights.

As for myself, I headed home to my apartment in Turlock, and later that afternoon, to my disk jockey job at radio KCEY, as I had to spin the country hits for my evening audience.

Such is railfan life in Turlock, California, in February, 1976.