There are several tunnels on Southern Pacific’s Cuesta Grade, just north of San Luis Obispo, California – and it has been decades since they’ve been “steam-cleaned.” (And it wasn’t from the steam generators on SDP40F 527.) The Transcontinental Steam Excursion is heading to Portland, Oregon – the home of the former Southern Pacific 4-8-4 leading the train. Smoke still hangs in the air on the other side of the hill, where the train was just minutes ago. The summit of Cuesta Grade is now within the 4449's grasp, as it will be reached in about a mile.
