It's December in Portland, which means SP 4449 is out on the little 4-mile short line south of downtown every Saturday and Sunday, trundling alongside the Willamette River with Santa Claus in tow. Poking along at 5 to 10mph ill-suits this mainline monster of an engine, and she'll probably be handing this job off to Oregon Rail Heritage Center's other two steamers once they are through their rebuilds. |