In 1981, SP 4449 was returned to its original "Daylight" colors for Railfair '81 and the opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California with UP 8444 and UP 3985.
An SP 6 chime (used on later Freedom Train trips) was mounted on the fireman's side for the remainder of the 1980s.
In 1984, 4449 pulled an all-Daylight-painted train from Portland to New Orleans, Louisiana and back, to publicize the World's Fair with UP 8444 there too.
 The 7,477-mile (12,033 km) round trip was the longest steam train excursion in the history of the United States.

In 1986, 4449 went to Hollywood to appear in Tough Guys, and pulled business trains for the Southern Pacific.
4449 had a notable moment in 1989 when it and another famed 4-8-4 Union Pacific 844 made a side-by-side entrance into Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal in 1989 for the station's 50th anniversary celebrations.
The two locomotives then ran side by side on Santa Fe's and Southern Pacific's parallel main lines through Cajon Pass, with 4449 eventually having to stop due a hot axle box.

No.
4449 would later go on to pull several Southern Pacific - Rio Grande joint excursions, including "The Spirit of the West."
In 1989, the 4449's SP&S whistle was set aside for the SP&S 700, and a Northern Pacific Hancock 3 chime was fitted.
This whistle was worn out at first, but then fixed to sound its fullest.
This whistle would remain on the locomotive for the next 21 years.
Later that same year, 4449 would later appear in the 1990 drama film Come See the Paradise.
The 1989 filming for this movie was the first operation with the new whistle.
In late 1990 or early 1991, the SP 6 Chime on the fireman's side was stolen off the engine while sitting in the Brooklyn Roundhouse.

On April 26, 1991, No.
4449 returned to Railfair '91 in Sacramento, again with UP 844 and UP 3985 and the newly restored Southern Pacific 2472.
 She attended the next year's NRHS Convention in San Jose with No.
2472 and Union Pacific 3985.
On this trip, 4449 carried a member's Star Brass 5 Chime whistle off a CB&Q M-4 class Locomotive on the fireman's side.
She would return to Railfair once again in 1999, co-starring with Santa Fe 3751, and Union Pacific's 844 and 3985.
In 2000, 4449 was repainted black and silver for a Burlington Northern Santa Fe employee appreciation special.
It was traditional for Southern Pacific to paint freight locomotives in black.
4449 and other GS locomotives received this treatment when the diesels took over their passenger assignments.
In the case of BNSF, which is a freight railroad, 4449 was given old historical treatment.

No.
4449 was repainted into the American Freedom Train paint scheme again in early 2002 after the events of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
In the fall of 2004, 4449 returned to the classic Daylight paint scheme, this time in its "as delivered" appearance.
 It appeared in the summer of 2005 with the then-extant Montana Rockies Rail Tours company pulling (with a diesel helper behind it) two summer excursion trips between Sandpoint, Idaho, and Billings, Montana, including stops at the Livingston Depot.
 
On May 18 and May 19, 2007, the engine made another appearance with UP 844 in the Pacific Northwest for the "Puget Sound Excursion", on BNSF Railway tracks from Tacoma to Everett, Washington, round-trip.

On March 24, 2009, it was announced that 4449 would attend Trainfestival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan from July 23–26 with an all-day excursion planned on the 23rd and 24th and a photo run-by planned for each trip.
The engine was then placed on display for the rest of the event.

The historic 2,500-mile move from Portland to Owosso was arranged by the Friends of the 4449, Amtrak, Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, and the Friends of the 261.
The Milwaukee Road 261 organization loaned some of their first-class passenger cars, including the former Milwaukee Road Super Dome #53 and the Cedar Rapids Skytop Lounge for the 4449 and for the other excursion trains at the festival.

The train left its home at Brooklyn Roundhouse on July 2 and left the cit
In 1981, SP 4449 was returned to its original "Daylight" colors for Railfair '81 and the opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California with UP 8444 and UP 3985. An SP 6 chime (used on later Freedom Train trips) was mounted on the fireman's side for the remainder of the 1980s. In 1984, 4449 pulled an all-Daylight-painted train from Portland to New Orleans, Louisiana and back, to publicize the World's Fair with UP 8444 there too.  The 7,477-mile (12,033 km) round trip was the longest steam train excursion in the history of the United States.
In 1986, 4449 went to Hollywood to appear in Tough Guys, and pulled business trains for the Southern Pacific. 4449 had a notable moment in 1989 when it and another famed 4-8-4 Union Pacific 844 made a side-by-side entrance into Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal in 1989 for the station's 50th anniversary celebrations. The two locomotives then ran side by side on Santa Fe's and Southern Pacific's parallel main lines through Cajon Pass, with 4449 eventually having to stop due a hot axle box.
No. 4449 would later go on to pull several Southern Pacific - Rio Grande joint excursions, including "The Spirit of the West." In 1989, the 4449's SP&S whistle was set aside for the SP&S 700, and a Northern Pacific Hancock 3 chime was fitted. This whistle was worn out at first, but then fixed to sound its fullest. This whistle would remain on the locomotive for the next 21 years. Later that same year, 4449 would later appear in the 1990 drama film Come See the Paradise. The 1989 filming for this movie was the first operation with the new whistle. In late 1990 or early 1991, the SP 6 Chime on the fireman's side was stolen off the engine while sitting in the Brooklyn Roundhouse.
On April 26, 1991, No. 4449 returned to Railfair '91 in Sacramento, again with UP 844 and UP 3985 and the newly restored Southern Pacific 2472.  She attended the next year's NRHS Convention in San Jose with No. 2472 and Union Pacific 3985. On this trip, 4449 carried a member's Star Brass 5 Chime whistle off a CB&Q M-4 class Locomotive on the fireman's side. She would return to Railfair once again in 1999, co-starring with Santa Fe 3751, and Union Pacific's 844 and 3985. In 2000, 4449 was repainted black and silver for a Burlington Northern Santa Fe employee appreciation special. It was traditional for Southern Pacific to paint freight locomotives in black. 4449 and other GS locomotives received this treatment when the diesels took over their passenger assignments. In the case of BNSF, which is a freight railroad, 4449 was given old historical treatment. 
No. 4449 was repainted into the American Freedom Train paint scheme again in early 2002 after the events of the September 11th terrorist attacks. In the fall of 2004, 4449 returned to the classic Daylight paint scheme, this time in its "as delivered" appearance.  It appeared in the summer of 2005 with the then-extant Montana Rockies Rail Tours company pulling (with a diesel helper behind it) two summer excursion trips between Sandpoint, Idaho, and Billings, Montana, including stops at the Livingston Depot.  
On May 18 and May 19, 2007, the engine made another appearance with UP 844 in the Pacific Northwest for the "Puget Sound Excursion", on BNSF Railway tracks from Tacoma to Everett, Washington, round-trip.
On March 24, 2009, it was announced that 4449 would attend Trainfestival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan from July 23–26 with an all-day excursion planned on the 23rd and 24th and a photo run-by planned for each trip. The engine was then placed on display for the rest of the event.
The historic 2,500-mile move from Portland to Owosso was arranged by the Friends of the 4449, Amtrak, Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, and the Friends of the 261. The Milwaukee Road 261 organization loaned some of their first-class passenger cars, including the former Milwaukee Road Super Dome #53 and the Cedar Rapids Skytop Lounge for the 4449 and for the other excursion trains at the festival.
The train left its home at Brooklyn Roundhouse on July 2 and left the cit
Southern Pacific 4449