“I invited LYNN and BRUCE BUCKMASTER, pictured bottom left, owners of Adagio on Commercial Street, for a ride behind the ‘DAYLIGHT’ NO. 4449 steam locomotive, pictured top), from Portland to Wishram,Wash.,” Astorian DAVE BROWN, president of The Friends of SP 4449, wrote. “We were treated to fantastic weather as we went through the Columbia River Gorge at 60 mph behind the steam locomotive pulling the nicest rail cars roaming the U.S. today.” 

“While en route, the Buckmasters were treated to a light breakfast and lunch in the SUPER DOME, pictured in (last) Friday’s Daily Astorian. After lunch I gave them a tour of a couple of the rail cars that were in the train set. One car in particular struck Bruce and Lynn, the ‘NYC 3’ (pictured bottom right) the former private car of the Vanderbilt family, owners of the New York Central Railroad. This car has had many celebrities on board, such as JOHN and JACKIE KENNEDY, and was used for a presidential campaign car.  It was also a regular visitor to the Waldorf Astoria in New York, which had a private side track under the building for VIP guests that would arrive by private rail car.” 

“As soon as the tracks are repaired, I would like to bring the No. 3 to Astoria for a visit,” Brown added. You can follow the 4449’s cross country trip via Twitter and GPS at www.sp4449.com