Historic steam train

Volunteer crew member Mark Kramer of Portland, Ore. walks around the historic steam engine 4449 of the Southern Pacific Railroad after it stopped in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Hundreds of buffs are riding the train on its run from Portland, to Minneapolis and back. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Volunteer crew member Richard "Durango" Hie greases parts on the historic steam engine 4449 of the Southern Pacific Railroad after it stopped in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Hundreds of buffs are riding or following the train on its run from Portland, to Minneapolis and back. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Richard Manwiller, left, and Mark Kramer, above right, scuttle around the sides of the historic train engine while doing maintenance after the arrival of the No. 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Joe Brabec of Chicago hangs out the sides of the historic train and takes video of the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning. Like most of the passengers and crew, Brabec is a train buff. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Nothing is small on the historic engine, which is seen after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
The No. 4449 Southern Pacific engine rolls into Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
John Pohlpeter, right, walks down the side of the historic train while doing maintenance after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. All of the crew on the train is made up of train buffs working as volunteers. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Richard "Durango" Hie, left, and Phil Marceau work on the side of the historic train engine while doing maintenance after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Mark Kramer works on the historic train engine during regular maintenance after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
The 4449 Southern Pacific engine steams over Division St. and Sprague before rolling into the station in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Several restored and preserved rail cars the follow the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Several restored and preserved rail cars, including a few with dome tops, the follow the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Mark Kramer confers with other crew members while doing maintenance after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
John Pohlpeter, center, confers with the rest of the crew before performing maintenance after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Jim Goodin, one of many volunteers crewing the train unloads luggage for passengers after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
This is the front of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Train buffs gather to browse and by souvenirs outside the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Train buffs gather to browse and buy souvenirs outside the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Train passengers, almost all train buffs, look out from decks and doorways as the 4449 Southern Pacific engine rolls into Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
It's number is emblazoned in several places on the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
The No. 4449 Southern Pacific engine rolls into Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Those lucky enough to ride a leg of the trip from Whitefish, Mont. to Spokane hang out of doors and windows as the 4449 Southern Pacific engine rolls in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Volunteer worker John Pohlpeter scrambles around the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Passengers arrive behind the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Train buff Ronald Dirksen shoots video of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
The 4449 Southern Pacific engine rolls up to the platform in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Jim Isaacson, a crew volunteer, fills a car with potable water after the arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Train buff Bruce Cowee of Oakland, Cali. takes a photo of the No. 4449 Southern Pacific engine in Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. Cowee was one of several people who flew to Spokane to ride the last leg back to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Several unique cars, like this dome-top view car, was pulled by the 4449 Southern Pacific engine into Spokane Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Engine 4449, a historic steam engine, and pulling a number of restored and preserved private cars, is completing a long journey from its home in Portland, Ore., out to Minnesota and Wisconsin and now returning to Portland. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
The arrival of the 4449 Southern Pacific steam engine in Spokane was a real event for train buffs. For most of the year, the historic engine, which pulled passengers around the Northwest for many decades, has been in the midwest for train festivals and to operate excursions, but it now returning to its home in Portland. Here is a slideshow about the train's arrival and the all-volunteer crew that keeps this piece of railroad history operating. See a photo you like? Give us a call at (509) 459-5523 or e-mail blairt@spokesman.com to order a print for your home or office.