Early morning, the Southern Pacific Coast Daylight, is leaving Los Angeles, to run along the California coastline before turning back into the San Joaquin Valley on its trek to San Francisco. Crossing the North Broadway bridge over the L.A. River, is a 1950’s era bus taking workers and shoppers into the downtown area. The elevated tracks on the right are the Union Pacific’s branch line into Glendale/Pasadena. Behind the bridge is the ATSF Pasadena Division’s LA River crossing. In a few seconds, the smoke from the GS-4 steam locomotive, will completely hide the train and bus as the engineer opens the throttle. The video still back drop is a composite made from the excellent documentary DAYLIGHT The Most Beautiful Train in the World.

The concert was an unsanctioned celebration of the Freedom Riders who helped liberate the South of overt segregation in the 1950’s and 1960’s. People left their ordinary lives to make an extraordinary change. This Bogus Slogan concert was a thank you for the sacrifices made and a reminder that life and liberty are not catchphrases.

Anothert concert for freedom is sure to come, so choose your own method of transportation, but just be sure to get there.