50 years ago in Trains: Bombarding Beaumont in 1948 WHAT a grand and extraordinary depiction this photograph is of Standard Railroading in full and final flower! For the flagship of Southern Pacific’s New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Route the Sunset Limited, which is destined to become the last of America’s great passenger trains to be dieselized and streamlined still rolls in steam with a heavyweight consist that offers its Pullman patrons the orthodoxy of sections, drawing rooms, compartments, and bedrooms. And a full lounge with Barber and Shower Bath, The only significant nod to modernity beyond air conditioning is in the utilization of streamlined GS-4 4-8-4 No, 4435 as road power. As usual, the 1.8 percent climb east from Colton, Calif,, up Beaumont Hill, together with the 14 cars of No, 2, necessitates a helper. But not as usual, the helper is a foreigner. In this spring of 1948 Espee is beset with an Imperial Valley sugar-beet rush that has obliged the road to rent four Union Pacific 4-6-6-4s. One of them. No. 3817, finds herself coupled ahead of No. 4435, bombarding Beaumont and confronting the camera with an uncommon medley of Alco Challenger and Lima General Service. Blest be the tie that binds. — David P. Morgan
I remember this photo and how I went to try and repeat the scene all-be-it with diesels and freight its been along time since I’ve been out there but I would think one might be able to do that scene again even though Uncle Pete runs the place now. Thanks for the memory.