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Contributed by Scott Buckley, Olympia NMRA Clinic

After learning that the 4449 would be joining the 844 on the trip from Portland on Saturday, I decided to head to Chehalis. As I hadn't seen either of these engines since Railfair '91, I thought it would be fun to watch them speed by and try to get a few pictures. As those of you who have been following this know, there were many rumors and speculation as to if and where the train would stop for servicing. I arrived at the Chehalis Depot (now a museum) just before the scheduled arrival. Shortly afterward the assembled crowd learned that the train was two, maybe three hours late. Hurry up and wait. This reminded me why I don't chase trains any that much any more.

I think it was about 3:30 that a fellow drove up who claimed to have just spoken with the fireman. The latest was that if the train stopped in Chehalis that it would be just for a few minutes and would be three blocks south of the station. So the everyone either drove or walked to the expected location. It must have been less than a half later, the train shot right past us. I only had time to get one shot.

I was thinking that I could have just stayed in Olympia and watched it shoot by the Amtrak station. However, as the train passed us (two locomotives and 18 cars) we could see that it was slowing down for the station. Of course everyone either ran toward the station or ran to their cars (to drive to the station), hoping that the train wouldn't pull out before we got there. The stop lasted about 20 minutes so that the engines could be serviced. This gave everyone plenty of time to take some pictures or just admire these great machines, which you don't see under steam very often.

During the stop, a southbound Amtrak Cascade met the special at the station. As the special was leaving it was overtaken by a northbound Cascade. These were state-of-the-art passenger engines in the early 1940s. It's amazing how much railroad technology has changed in the past 60 years.

For those of you who aren't aware, the special was heading for the UP yard in Fife (Tacoma) where it will lay over for most of the week. Excursions will be run from Fife to Everett on May 18-19. The train will head back to Portland (home to the 4449) on May 22. I don't know if the 844 will be heading directly back to Wyoming or run some other excursions in the west. I hope you all enjoy the attached pictures.