Attended RailFair 91 in Sacramento.
Rode down from Portland behind 4449 Charter.
Had the great privilege to be invited into the tool car.

Glorious sound so close to the engine, and fine photo's.

Never forget coming down out of the mountains onto the flat lands of California.
You could feel the engine surge forward, when Doyle yarded on the throttle.
Like giving a race horse its head.

My question is, is the tool car just behind the canteen tender on the Sacramento run,
the same one that now operates at Aspen Crossing, just south of Calgary Alberta..?
They sure look the same.

They are one in the same. The white patch below the Daylight logo covers up the name given to the car ("Yes Dear") when it was 4449's tool car. Doyle McCormack sold the car to Canadian Pacific in 2011 who would subsquently sell the car in 2014 to the Aspen Crossing.

It originally started life as UP RPO 5811 built in 1949 by AC&F.

It is a bit odd, however, seeing Daylight colors roll through the prairies of Alberta.

A little bit of trivia humour: the car was re-lettered "YES DEAR, EH" prior to departing from Brooklyn.

VinylRailfan and F40PHR231.
Thank you both.

Totally explains both these Aspen Crossing shots
CP stuck a new number...CP 105... over Doyle's numbering.

And now we know, what this white bar is covering up.

Why did Doyle sell the Yes Dear to Canadian Pacific?

railfan261,
Reliable sources tell me it was purchased to be part of the CPR 2816 steam heritage program.
Bill Stettler, seen here in the cab, was part of Doyle's 4449 team, and CPR hired him to run the engine. Bill arranged the acquisition.
After CP shut down the program, it was declared surplus to needs, and sold to Aspen Crossing.

Which explains the various 4449/CPR markings on the car.

What is the status of the CPR steam program as of this date? I was under the impression is was receiving more than passing glances from management.

Richard Glueck,
As you know, what goes on at CPR HQ in Calgary, Alberta is always a mystery.

I agree, there does seem to be endless rumours about the steam program coming back, so who knows.
Safe to say, Senior people are well aware of what they have.
However, at this time, I'm told it would take a major change in management attitude for this to happen.

The engine is being well maintained. I sometimes wonder if the rumours start when routine mait. is being performed.

On the other hand, if someone actually did know ...it sure as hell wouldn't be discussed here...(grin)...

Cheers,
Dennis.

2816 is kept indoors in one of the buildings at Ogden. Creel seems to like using her as a background for photo ops.

CP continues to maintain and use the heritage passenger car and diesel locomotive fleet as well.

SD70dude,

I've never met Keith Creel, and probably never will.
It would be the Marketing Dept. who arranged the photo op's.

This official, corporate, CPR photograph of Mr.Creel, becomes very interesting
when you look at the photo on the wall behind him.

Yes, the Royal Canadian Pacific rail experience, is very much alive.
http://www.royalcanadianpacific.com

F40PHR231,
Thanks for that "Yes Dear, Eh" comment.
Made me laugh.

On that trip down to RailFair 91,
was sitting at a restaurant banquette with the head end crew.
The same ones who had invited me into the tool car,
and quite aware I was from Vancouver BC.

Noted they were kind of watching.
Someone casually asked a question, can't remember who.
I replied, and ended by saying..."you know what I mean, eh" ..

The whole table burst into laughter, and gleefully repeated 'you know what I mean, eh '
They had set me up...those darn Yanks...
I just grinned, and we got along fine.

If you're around railroaders, better learn to appreciate the sense of humour.

Anyone care to comment on the man in the cab.?

Just an added note, DLMX acquired the #5811 from UP in 1985 (it had been in MofW service [or "Roadway" in UP terms] since 1973 as #903672).

There were 3 cars in this AC&F Lot #3028, #5811-#5813, and all 3 were transferred to the MofW dept. in 1973 as #903672-#903674 consecutively. #5812 is also still extant, at the Museum of Transportation, Kirkwood, MO. I have no info on where #5813 might be today, if it also survives.

The #5811 Yes Dear should not be confused with the other 3 "head end" cars that DLMX has used over the years:

#5659/#800631 Gordon N. Zimmerman (ex-Better Idea) is also ex-UP (same #), AC&F, Lot #4094, 1954, 25 cars, baggage, #5639-#5663, all cars to "express" service in 1969-70 as #24407-#24431 consecutively, #5659 (#24427) then to MofW service in 1975 as #904227, acquired by DLMX in 1997, work completed in 2003.

#3300 (which is/was actually owned by the NRHS Pacific NW Chapter, not DLMX), ex-SP (same #), P-S, Lot #6500, Plan #7375, 1937, 2 cars, #3300-#3301, baggage-news stand-44 seat chair, sold for scrap to Purdy Co., Ewing, CA, in 1970, but then resold to PNWC, damaged during a switching accident on the SP in 1990 (vestibule was crunched) and since stored.

#262, ex-GN (same #), baggage-express, built by GN in 1945 using recycled heavyweight parts but to lightweight specs, 4 cars, #262-#265, 1970 assigned BN #781-#784 consecutively, #262/#781 later to MofW as #976081, later sold to the Lewis & Clark RY Co.-Pacific Wilderness RR (LINC), Prineville, OR, leased to DLMX, later resold to Bob Melbo-Melbo Land & Investment Co. (MLIX), leased to DLMX, leased to Oregon Coast Scenic RR, OCSR, Tillamook, OR, stranded on OCSR on the Oregon coast in 2007 following washouts during a storm on the Port of Tillamook Bay RR's former SP Tillamook Branch (along with DLMX's ex-GN F7A and ex-SP 122 seat "commute" coach #2202 [nee-48 seat chair #2401]).

Rainier Rails.
Ted,
Thanks for that detailed information.
Very helpful.
Definitely added it to the "Yes Dear Eh" file.

I believe some of the cars you mention,
ended up on the short lived "Sierra 49'r Express" in 1990..?
Along with Doyle's F45 #743. (not my photo).

Cheers,
Dennis.

Here's an Instamatic 126 snapshot I took of #903672 in Salt Lake City in about 1981. With faded paint and windows broken out, I figured when it disappeared a few years later it had probably been scrapped. I never would have imagined it would have such an illustrious second career!