Day 8.
 
Today we head to Aurburn, Washington, where we will be for the next four days. When we
planned the trip we found out that the NRHS were holding their 2011 Convention in Tacoma,
but for us the problem was they had very little info on what was planned. We did know that
the Southern Pacific "Daylight" GS4 4-8-4 No 4449 was to play a part, so we booked and
pre-payed for our acommodation in Aurburn. As the months rolled by the full program was revealed, and there was nothing that really suited us except the running of the "Daylight" but the problem for us was 4449 ran from Portland to Seattle the day we left the Dalles, and didn't turn a wheel until the day we left for Canada.

As 4449 was not due to leave Portland until late morning we had plenty of time to drive to the
Vancouver station (Washington) where we would get it crossing the swing bridge over the Columbia River.

We elected to stay on the Oregon side of the river and catch what trains we saw on the way as there were a few good spots and one in particlar I wanted to check out.
Looks like things are going our way as we catch a stack train west of Mosier, we will head to the spot the other side of Hood River. We make it in plenty of time and check out the best angle, which is on the river side of the Railroad Crossing, its clear of the highway and scenic with surrounding trees.

How wrong can you be! Trundling down the road comes a couple of large front end loaders, and two BNSF trucks, the loaders cross the tracks and park blocking the excellent view. Oh well we will just have to shoot from the other side! Wrong again. Bill was talking to the loader driver, who informs him that a work window has just been placed on this section of track, as from now the crossing will be blocked to all traffic for a couple of days.

We hit the road again, and note a couple of east bound trains sitting in sidings, but we continue on. Another problem has now arisen, Geoff who is driving reckons that we should keep away from the station at Vancouver, although we Know our way there, the problem will be finding our way north as we have never driven this route, and the platform will be packed with spectators - onlookers keen to view 4449. After some for and against, not all do agree that Geoff is right, and we will stuggle to catch the train on unkown roads. But we will head north on Route 5 and keep our eyes open for possible spots.

As we are well ahead of the train we call in at Ridgefield & Woodland. Kalama looks promising, but we continue north and head into Kelso. We find the tracks in time to see a "Cascade" service bound for Vancouver (Wash) we decide to head back down to Kalama, as there was an overhead bridge so we had elevation. Kalama is a large Port area on the Columbia River, with ocean going traffic loading logs, timber, grain ect.  We find the road down to the tracks and find that the local railfans have gathered to film the passing of 4449 and its train.

We stike up a conversation with a group of elderly fans (my age) and they fill us in about the workings in this part of the country, and they come from over the river from Rainier in Oregon.
"What's over there" I ask, "We have street running through town, the Portland & Western take log traffic down to the port" he replies. Now I'm interested, and I find out more about the operation. We are cut short by a yell from one of the fans up on the bridge, he heard the dispatcher calling a grain train that is about to enter the yard, to be careful in opening the switch, as the 4449 is about 15min away.

I go for elevation, and head up onto the bridge and set up, just about every 2nd vehicle stopped to ask whats coming, that included 18 wheeler's. "The 4449 is heading this way" was the answer, "Oh" replied one woman "Whats that" and drove off defore the fan could answer.
The 4449 and train appear on the scene, and is gone, a bit of an anti climax, there was very little exhaust from the loco, maybe the Amtrak GE tucked in behind is doing the work.
Pack up into car and away, we call into a small settlement and again get her charging up to crossing with whistle blowing.

After that it all turned square, as the train was moving at a fair clip we would have to head for a servicing stop in the hope that we could get a few more shots. Wrong! we were lost even with Never Lost, this area was all foreign to us, we did not see 4449 again, ending up eventually in Tacoma. We spent some time trying to find the station, we parked in a car park what we thought was the station, but it turned out to be an ex station.

We checked out the new light rail, managed to take a couple of shots, and headed for our Hotel in Aurburn, again. We had fun and games trying to find our way, eventually arriving and booking in. Down to the station at Aurburn to check out "Sounder" services, here we meet a great security guard, who was of great help to us, compared to what we were to strike in a couple of days. We spend an hour here and returned to Hotel for night.