Southern Pacific

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

Steve Sloan's Trains : UP : Southern Pacific : Locomotives 7000-7299

SP and its subsidiaries

Click on the following links to see pictures related to the SP in the number series indicated:

SP 7030 TE70-4s GE/MK, SP Class SF428-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 7030 was built in Feb. 1964 by GE as a model U25B, builders number 34782, SP 7545, SP Class DF-624. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 6745 GE U25B, SP Class GF425-3.
This locomotive was upgraded in Feb 1978 emerging as SP 7030 TE70-4s GE/MK, SP Class SF428-1.
The disposition of this locomotive is, sold Dec. 1987 to Seaborn Towing Corp.

The problem with Sulzers on the SP (from George Andrews)
Per Joe Strapac's 'Espee Historic Diesels Volume 5': " Disliked by many maintenance personnel due to their 'differentness', the Sulzers operated only sporadically in revenue service. (One SP locomotive plant manager told the author that he'd never seen so many oil filters on a single engine.) Maintenance of the cooling system was a time - consuming process. Radiator air was circulated by two sixty - inch cooling fans driven by hydrostatic (instead of electric) motors that received high - pressure oil from an engine - mounted oil pump."

Cooling system overheating was such an issue, despite the expanded surface area, that Espee moved the dynamic brake grids from the radiator side inlets to the roof. Also mentioned, the unit that failed on its 1st run suffered a traction motor failure. (Kinda rare if it's a GE 752.) It would seem that M - K didn't know how to mate the many different components together to Espee's satisfaction. The Sulzer engines themselves were not the biggest problem, as evidenced by their sale to a marine user after Espee retired the units.

Also remember that EMD & GE were NOT receptive to having anyone re - engine their locomotives with a ' foreign ' prime mover; supply & support for such projects was virtually non - existent.
SP 7030 in Roseville
On an unrecorded date in Roseville, CA in March 1978 SP TE70-4s 7030 sat near the shops with BN RCC110.

SP 7031 TE70-4s GE/MK, SP Class SF428-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 7031 was built in March 1963 by GE as a model U25B, builders number 34687, SP 7517, SP Class DF-622. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 6717, SP Class GF425-2.
This locomotive was upgraded in Feb. 1978 emerging as SP 7031 TE70-4s GE/MK, SP Class SF428-1.
The disposition of this locomotive is, sold Dec. 1987 to Seaborn Towing Corp.
SP 7031, Roseville in March 1978
On an unknown date in Roseville in March 1978 recently born again 7031 is waiting for work.
SP 7031, Roseville in May 1978
On an unknown date in Roseville in May 1978 SP TE70-4s 7031 and 7030 were the power on an eastbound seen here entering the yard at Antelope, CA. WAF said, "That photo looks like the OARVZ that picked up steel coil empties at Pittsburg." Rob Leachman replied, "In April and May of 78, the MKs were regulars on that train. Later, they moved them up to Oregon, I guess to be closer to the MK mechanics."

SP 7109 Alco C628, SP Class AF628-2

SP 7109 is an Alco C628, SP Class AF628-2. Reportedly: (According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium book series), SP 7109 was built in April 1965 as SP 4850. In the 1965 renumbering it became SP 7109, SP Class AF628-2. In Jan. 1974 it was downgraded to switcher status and became 3121, SP Class AS628-1. It was sold in for scrap in Feb. 1980.
SP 7109
Me on an SP Alco C628, the 7109. This is a scan off a slide my father took in Roseville, CA. This was likely in the Spring of 1970 and the ALCos were likely on their way to the BN who leased them. My dad was an SP locomotive engineer so we went anywhere we wanted, including inside the shops.
Roseville power pool photo location map.
This image is shared on Altamont Press Here.

SP 7153 GE U28C, SP Class GF628-1

SP 7153 is a GE U28C, SP Class GF628-1. Reportedly: (According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium book series), SP U28C 7153 was built in October 1966 by GE as a model U28C, builders number 36071, SP 7153 GE U28C, SP Class GF628-1.
The disposition of this locomotive is, September 1978. Sold December 1984 to GE.
SP 7153 on Tehachapi
Southern Pacific U28C 7153 with SD39 5304 on a Tehachapi work train on October 21, 1974.

SP 7201 EMD GP40X, SP Class EF435-1

SP 7201 is an EMD GP40X, SP Class EF435-1. Reportedly: it was built in 1978 by EMD, builders number 766016-02.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired and scrapped in 1995.
SP 7201 at Martinez, CA
SP 7201, a GP40X, leads the OARVV at Martinez, CA on August 16, 1980. The power returned the next evening on the RVWJR to Watsonville Jct. On the 18th, that set left WJ on the WJLAY for LA town. By the 19th, the GP40Xs were back on the LAOAC out of LA. Special thanks to WAF for help with this caption!
Photo Location Map, Near 32 Bridgehead Rd, Martinez, Contra Costa, California

SSW 7251 EMD GP40-2, SP Class EF430W-3

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP SSW 7251 was built in 1984 by EMD as a model GP40-2, builders number 847046-04, SSW 7251, SP Class EF430-3.
The disposition of this locomotive is, became UP 1321. Retired and sold in 2000.
SSW GP40-2 7251 in Roseville, CA
SSW GP40-2 is in Roseville on Monday, May 12, 1986.

Special Notes

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Special Thanks!

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

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