THE LAST DECADES of the 20th century have been exciting ones for the legendary Daylight train and its sole preserved steam locomotive, No. 4449. The streamlined 4-8-4 was withdrawn in 1956, rescued from dormant display in a park in 1974 to pull the red-white-blue American Freedom Train, restored to orange-red-black Daylight livery in 1981, and finally matched with a full Daylight painted passenger train in 1984. Excursion trips over the familiar stomping grounds of Southern Pacific's Shasta Route main line from Portland, Oregon to Northern California became expected if not quite routine. When 4449 took an 11-car passenger train in vintage Daylight garb to San Jose and back in 1992, few realized this would be the final appearance of 4449 with a full Daylight train. Instead, passengers and fans delighted in a vintage Daylight performance under clear blue skies. Soon afterwards, however, the passenger cars became dispersed and Union Pacific's acquisition of Southern Pacific closed the route to any steam locomotives except Union Pacific's own. Thankfully for 4449 and steam enthusiasts, Burlington Northern Santa Fe stepped forward to operate the locomotive. Dramatic evidence of 4449's new excursion career occurred in June 1998 as 4449 took a streamlined passenger consist, including short-dome cars, on a scenic two-day adventure on the BNSF along the Columbia River and through the canyons and over the bridges of the Deschutes River to Bend, Oregon. Witness classic 4449 operation as we close the 20th century in VINTAGE DAYLIGHT. Photos by Harold Edmondson