Southern Pacific

SP 2632 at night

Click on image to enlarge

Please scroll down to see links to more photos of trains in this series.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. The Southern Pacific railroad will always be my favorite railroad!

SP and its subsidiaries

Home : Steve Sloan's Trains : UP : Southern Pacific : Locomotives 2450-2689

Click on the following links to see pictures related to the SP:

SP 2472 Baldwin Pacific (4-6-2), SP Class P8

SP 2472 is an SP Class P-8, 4-6-2. According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, Southern Pacific 2472 is a 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotive, SP Class P8, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, builders number 54477, for Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) in January 1921. It was vacated in Feb. 1957 and donated to San Mateo County in April 1959. In 1976 a group of volunteers started restoring the locomotive. This group became the Golden Gate Railroad Museum, the current owner-operator of SP 2472.

SP 2472 in Sunnyvale
SP 2472 in Sunnyvale, running northbound, on the Santa Express on Saturday, December 16, 1995.
SP 2472 at Estates Crossing
On Sunday, March 28, 2010, Golden Gate Railroad Museum's Southern Pacific 4-6-2 Class P8 Pacific 2472 is being towed backwards by Pacific Locomotive Association's SP SD-9 5472 which is on the west end of the train. The location is called Estates Crossing which is just west of Niles Canyon Railway's Brightside Yard. Though it looks like the 2472 is a manned rear end DPU, it is not!

SP 2478 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-1

SP 2478 is an SW1500. Reportedly: (sources include Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series) SP 2478 was built in 1967, builder order number 7997-16, construction number 33138, SP Class ES415-1. It was repainted with speed lettering at one point. Assigned UP 1082 but UP number apparently never applied. Retired May 1999.
Disposition: Locomotive was reportedly, in 2000, sold to Gold Coast Rail Services as 2478, leased to Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railroad (BRG) 2478.
2478 at Bayshore Yard, San Francisco, CA.
On September 12, 1974 Southern Pacific SW1500 2478 is at Bayshore Yard, San Francisco, CA.

SP 2479 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-1

SP 2479 is an SW1500. Reportedly: (sources include Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series) SP 2479 was built in Aug. 1967 as SP 2479 Builder order number 7997-17, construction number 33139, SP Class ES415-1.
Disposition: Locomotive was reportedly retired in July 1994 and sold in July 1995 to Omni-Trax being resold to Minnesota Corn Processors (MCP) 2479 in Columbus, Nebraska. It was repainted green with gold and beige bands.
SP 2479's unique paint
Southern Pacific SW1500 2479 shows off a unique solid red rear cab paint job in Eugene, OR on June 21, 1974.

SSW 2482 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415C-1

SSW 2482 is an SW1500. Reportedly: (sources include Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series) SSW 2482 was built by EMD in 1968 as an SW1500, serial number 33613, SSW 2482, SP Class ES415C-1.
Disposition: Locomotive was reportedly assigned UP number 1084, sold in 1999. Other reporting marks and numbers reported for this locomotive include RMPX 2482 and AEX 100010.
SSW SW1500 2482 in Pine Bluff, AR
Cotton Belt (SSW) 2482 and 2486 are working on the Cotton Belt in Pine Bluff, AR, likely in June 1974.

SSW 2485 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415C-1

SSW 2485 is an SW1500. Reportedly: (sources include Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series) SSW 2485 was built in 1968. It was in SP Class ES415C-1, serial number 33616.
Disposition: Reportedly, in June 1997 this became UP 1087, in Jan. 2003 it became UPY 1087. Other reporting marks and numer reported associated with this locomotive include GMTX 133.
SSW 2485 in Pine Bluff
My dad shot this Cotton Belt SW1500 2485 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on an unknown date in June 1974.

SSW 2522 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415C-2

Reportedly (sources) SSW 2522 was built in June 1969. It was the last unit of its order. It was retired in Nov. 1994. In June 1995 it was sold to Progress Rail, then to Metro East Industries, then to Helm Financial which then leased it to Union Pacific as UP 1004. It was reportedly wrecked early in the morning on July 5, 1999 in West Palm Springs, CA. It was in the consist of the eastbound MWCEWB-04, one of two UP trains that collided head-on at milepost 581.6. The four crew members of both trains jumped to safety.
SSW 2522 in Little Rock
My dad shot this Cotton Belt SW1500, 2522 in Little Rock, Arkansas on an unrecorded day in June 1974.

SP 2524 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-3

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 2524 was built in 1969 by EMD as a model SW1500, SP 2524, SP Class ES415-3, builder's number 35217.
The disposition of this locomotive is, was assigned number UP 1110, sold unrenumbered to Railserve 2524, renumbered Rail Switching Service 5524, assigned to SC Johnson Waxdale in Sturtevant, WI.
SP SW1500 2524 in Stockton
SP 2524 an SW1500 at the diamonds in Stockton, CA, on Sunday, April 8, 1973.
Scanned from print 1001.1.1, Film Plus-X, Paper Luminos RD #2

SP 2538 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-3

Reportedly (sources) SP 2538 was built in Oct. 1969 by EMD order number 4561-16 construction number 35231. In March 2006 it was renumbered (and repainted?) UPY 1123 and is photographed in UP paint in Arkansas in Feb 2007. It later became Knoxville & Holston River Railroad (KXHR) 1123.

Chris Starnes said on Facebook, "2538 lives on as #1123 on the Knoxville & Holston River Railroad in Knoxville, TN. This one came to us about 4-5 years ago and it is now used in daily service on our shortline here around the metro Knoxville area. It is always neat for us to see where our engines used to work...so thanks for posting the pic of the 2538!"

SP 2538 leading a freight
SP SW1500 2538 leads black widow GP9 3611 and 3581 at the Homestead Yard, West Oakland, CA Dec. 17, 1973.

SP 2578 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-3

Reportedly (sources) built by EMD in April 1970. EMD order number 4570, frame 4570-26, construction number 35814. Retired December 1986 and sold to Wilson Rail Services in May 1988. It was resold to Wisconsin Central 1553, then to International Steel Group (Cleveland Works Railway) 1553. Current status not known.
SP 2578 in Stockton
SP SW1500 2578 is in Stockton on January 7, 1973, a very crisp morning!

SP 2598 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-4

SP 2598 is an EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-4. Reportedly: it was built in 1971, serial number 4608-8. These locomotives were called "cruds" mainly because they were so prolific. SP likely bought so many of them because they were such fine locomotives. Four plus decades later, many of these are still working for a living.
A crud in Santa Clara
In a photo taken circa 1981, Southern Pacific (SP) 2598 is in Santa Clara, CA.
  • Unknown Nikon Film Camera and Lens, Tri-X Film, DSLR Hand Scan, Nikon D500, Tamron SP AF 60mm F/2 Di Ⅱ LD 1:1, Negative 1.1.13.9.44.
    Click to view DSLR Hand Scan: 2024.10.9.1.100-ph

SP 2630 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-5

Reportedly (sources) Model: EMD SW1500 Built As: SP 2630, SP Class ES415-5, Order No: 4608 Frame Number: 4608-40 Built: May, 1972. Retired July 1994. Sold to Omni-Trax became CTI Bank Leasing CEFX 2630. Current status not known.
Motley 2630 led OASJY in Newhall Yard
SP SW1500 2630 leads a motley assortment of SP motive power including GP9E 3384, two SD45T-2’s and two Alco S6’s at Newhall Yard in Santa Clara, California. According to WAF on Trainorders this is the OASJY, February 10, 1975

SP 2632 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-5

Reportedly (sources) SP 2632 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-5, May 1972, Order No: 4608 Frame Number: 4608-42. In 1996 it went through the Burnham shops for major work emerging in 1996. In 1997 it became UP 1201, in April 2003 it became UPY 1201. It is in UP Paint. As of Dec. 2013 this locomotive was still active in revenue service.
SP 2632 at night
Southern Pacific SW1500 2632 sits in the dark at Ozol Yard in Martinez, California as a freight passes behind on an unknown date in November 1972.

SP 2665 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-5

SP 2665 is an EMD SW1500. Reportedly: SP 2665 was built by EMD in 1972, as a model SW1500, builder number 4608-75, SP 2665, SP Class ES415-5. It was sold in 1988.
SP 2665 in Roseville
Southern Pacific (SP) SW1500 2665 is sitting in Roseville, CA on an unrecorded date in or about 1978.

SP 2682 EMD SW1500, SP Class ES415-6

SP 2682 is an SW1500. It's from SP Class ES415-6. Reportedly: (sources include Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series) it was built in 1973 as SP 2682, SP Class ES415-6, serial number 4608-40.
Disposition: reportedly, it became UP 1227, then UPY 1227, then NREX 1227.
SP 2682 on Crockett Rocket
Southern Pacific (SP) SW1500 2682 is the sole power on the Crocket Rocket, heading west near Crocket, CA on an unrecorded day in May 1977.

Special Notes

Social Media Links

NOTE: If anything is my "life's work" it's my train photos. — If you scan an analog photo of mine, or if you share a digital photo I took that does not have my photo credit, add something like "Photo by Steve Sloan" directly onto the image. It's not enough to say "Photo by Steve Sloan" in the text caption. People download photos off the Internet/Social Media platform and whatever is in the text does not stick to the photo. Then, they get reshared and that data is lost. I deserve credit for my work.

You may not use my photos for profit and/or as part of, or to sell, a product or service without my consent.

NOTE: If anything is my "life's work" it's my train photos. — If you scan an analog photo of mine, or if you share a digital photo I took that does not have my photo credit, add something like "Photo by Steve Sloan" directly onto the image. It's not enough to say "Photo by Steve Sloan" in the text caption. People download photos off the Internet/Social Media platform and whatever is in the text does not stick to the photo. Then, they get reshared and that data is lost. I deserve credit for my work.

You may not use my photos for profit and/or as part of, or to sell, a product or service without my consent.

Special Thanks!

To all the great folks who helped me out with information for these Web pages!

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Web Site Table of Contents