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!

SP and its subsidiaries

Steve Sloan's Trains : UP : Southern Pacific : Locomotives 8585-8999

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

SP 8588 GE U33C, SP Class GF633-10

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8588 was built in 1974 by GE as a model U33C, SP 8588, SP Class GF633-10, builder's number 39756.
The disposition of this locomotive is: retired 1986, sold 1988 and scrapped.
SP 8588 in Roseville
Southern Pacific, U33C 8588 is spliced between SSW 9377 and UP 3033 in Roseville, CA, on an unrecorded date in 1978.

SP 8597 GE U33C, SP Class GF633-10

SP 8597 is a GE U33C, SP Class GF633-10 Reportedly: SP 8597 was built by GE in 1974 builder number 39765. It was retired in 1986 and sold in 1987.
My Monza with GEs
My 1975 Chevy Monza was built on the frame of a Chevy Vega but it had a 350 cu. inch (5.7 liter) V8. In the summer of 1976 the Monza is in front of an SP freight in Oakland, CA. The train behind it has U30C 7930 and U33C 8597.
The 350 cu. inch Mazda 2+2 was a California only option that was only offered in 1975.
Unknown film camera:
Click to view scan: 2010110101ph.11

SP 8607 GE U33C, SP Class GF633-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8607 was built in Feb. 1969 by General Electric as a model U33C, builders number 36906, SP 8607 GE U33C, SP Class GF633-1.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired June 1984, sold November 1984, scrapped.
My dad running SP 8607
My dad at the throttle, July 15, 1974, Oakland, CA.

SP 8663 EMD/MK SD40M-2, SP Class EF630LK-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8663 was built in Feb. 1967 by EMD as a model SD45, builders number 32629, C&NW 906.
This locomotive was upgraded in by MK in October 1994 emerging as SP 8663 EMD/MK SD40M-2, SP Class EF630LK-1.
The disposition of this locomotive is, assigned UP 2739 and patched.
8663 in Truckee
SP 8663, 8679 and a UP SD40-2 are in a set at Truckee, CA on Tuesday, Aug 12, 1997.

SP 8679 EMD/MK SD40M-2, SP Class EF630LK-1

SP 8679 was a SD40M-2. Reportedly SP 8679 was built in 1970 by EMD as a high nose model SD45, builders number 36115, SR 3166.
This locomotive was upgraded in by MK in 1994 emerging as SP 8663 EMD/MK SD40M-2, SP Class EF630LK-1. This locomotive became UP 2755. Other numbers and owners associated with this locomotive include: HLCX 3166, ST 689, CNW 3166.
8679 in Truckee
Southern Pacific (SP) 8679 is in the set 8663, 8679 and a UP SD40-2 in Truckee, CA on Tuesday, Aug 12, 1997.

SP 8795 GE U33C, SP Class GF633-9

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8795 was built in March 1974 by General Electric as a model U33C, builders number 39742, SP 8795 GE U33C, SP Class GF633-9.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired Dec. 1986, sold for scrap December 1987.
SP 8795 in the Tehachapi Mountains
Southern Pacific U33C 8795 leads two EMD's on the point of a beet train over the Tehachapi Mountains. Photographed first at Walong then while going through the town of Tehachapi. Finally, after dropping off helpers at Tehachapi, the train heads east. It is shown at sunset in Monolith, CA on October 21, 1974. According to WAF, the beets were heading to Spreckles Sugar at Chandler Arizona. The high cost of railing the beets a great distance, compared to other beet moves, and the low water supply in Arizona made the Chandler plant a white elephant. It only operated about 10 years or so. WAF said:
When sugar was king for drinks and canning prior to 1980, there were many beet trains running all over the state of California as the various sugar beet campaigns began. These beets (in the photos here) came from the lower San Joaquin Valley and picked from fall into early winter for Spreckles in Arizona. You have to remember, SP had to distribute the cars to cover all the campaigns. Imperial Valley beets for Union Sugar at Bettervia were picked in May-July. The same time while Holly ran its Santa Ana plant, a second beet train came out of the Imperial Valley for them. Spreckles has a plant in Brawley in the Imperial Valley. When there were excess beets grown, many of those were sent to the San Joaquin Valley in the summer to Mendota, Manteca and Woodland, all Spreckles plants. This is the (beet) train you would see going up the Cutoff and over Tehachapi to Bakersfield.
Its amazing the wooden racks and friction bearing wheels lasted so long with all the use they got, almost non-stop. Feb-Mar were the only months the fleet was idle.
Another person on Altamont Press's discussion group, added the following:
The sugar plant in Brawley was built in the 1950's by Holly Sugar. Holly Sugar was bought by Imperial Sugar in 1988 and all eight of it's beet plants (Tracy, Betterave, Hamilton City, and Brawley in California, Hereford TX, Torrington, WY; Worland WY; and Sidney, MT) were operated as Holly Sugar. During this time Spreckes sugar had three plants located in Woodland, Manteca, and Mendota, CA. In 1996 Imperial Sugar bought Spreckels sugar and the 4 remaining California factories operated as Spreckels Sugar and the 3 remaining factories in Wyoming and Montana operated as Holly Sugar. Imperial Sugar sold all sugarbeet factories after it went bankrupt in 2001. Southern Minnesota beet Sugar Cooperative bought the Brawley factory and still operates it as Spreckels. At one time Imperial Valley sugar beets were sent by train to Santa Ana, CA (Holly); Chandler, AZ (Spreckels), Betterave, CA (Union Sugar) and Spreclels, CA (Spreckels) and well as being processed in Brawley.

SP 8802 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8802 was built in August 1966 by EMD as a model SD45, builders number 31993, SP 8802 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-1.
This locomotive was upgraded in Sept. 1981 emerging as SP 7401 SP Class EF636R-2.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired May 1999, sold to Helm and scrapped in 2004.
8802 Roseville, CA
A classic view of a classic SP SD45, Class EF636-1 8802 at Roseville, CA on September 29, 1974.

SP 8805 EMD SD45, SP Class EF636-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8808 was built in 1966 by EMD as a model SD45, builder's numbers 31996, 7887-06, SP 8805, SP Class EF636-1.
This locomotive was upgraded in 1981 emerging as SP 7403 SP Class EF636R-2.
The disposition of this locomotive is, wrecked in 1995 in Acoma, Nevada, scrapped on site. On this topic, on December 14, 2018 Barrey Jewall said on Facebook, (quoting Don Strack):

The collision was between a loaded SP westbound FARLAC coal train (detouring over UP due to heavy rains via its normal Roseville, California, route) and an empty UP eastbound CMAUP coal train from the Moapa, Nevada, bound for reloading on Utah Railway. The road power (4 units) on the SP train was SD45R 7403 (destroyed) and SD40M-2 8681 ($85,000 damage), SD40T-2 8570 ($75,000 damage), and SD40T-2 8330 ($150,000 damage). The road power on the UP train was C40-8 9274 ($400,000 damage) and leased LMS C40-8W 712 ($100,000 damage).
The SP train was slowing to go into the siding for the approaching UP train. The UP train over-ran the switch and collided with the SP train, at 35 mph. The lead UP unit, UP 9274, climbed onto the lead SP unit, SP 7403, shearing off the front half of the SP unit.
SP SD45 8805 in Roseville
On Sunday, April 11, 1976 SP SD45 8805 is in the Inbound Locomotive Receiving area of Roseville Yard in Roseville, CA.

SP 8814 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8814 was built in Aug. 1966 by EMD as a model SD45, builders number 32005, SP 8814 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-1.
The disposition of this locomotive is, wrecked Oct. 1978 in Santa Margarita, scrapped.
SP 8814
In almost darkness and fog an SP eastbound led by SD45 8814 goes under the Pepper Street overpass in West Colton, CA on November 17, 1974.

On September 27, 2010 Larry Fredeen said about this photo:

That was the Pepper Avenue Operator's shanty. At the other end of the very small building was a heated or cooled crew waiting area, with benches and a small table. The silver tank was a part of the ground-air system. The locker next to it contained spare parts, etc. Air hoses, gaskets, wrenches, "hot box" coolent, spare water jugs and bailing wire and other things. Another portion held bags of ice. Later, a small ice machine was placed in the entry area of the shanty. More water jugs were also kept in the waiting area. After the era of trainorders, the operator was gone, and the 'entire' space was used for waiting crews, and a few 'hobo's' too. Sometime in the late 1980's, the building, tank, and the storage bin were destroyed by a derailment. Just so happens nobody was in the area at the time. Had that derailment happened a few years eariler, with crews and an Operator there, someody would have been hurt or killed. One of the displaced Operators, Clyde Bennett, who had also worked as a Yard Clerk at Kaiser Siding yard, went into engine service in the L.A. area. He is still working as a locomotive engineer in Roseville, as of today, September 27, 2010. Last I heard, we will retire in the next year of so.

The person you see in the building, thru the window, is the train-order Operator, BTW. And it could be Clyde!

SP 8834 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-1

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8834 was built in September 1966 by EMD as a model SD45, builders number 32025, SP 8834 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-1.
This locomotive was upgraded in Oct 1982 emerging as SP 7459 SP Class EF636R-2.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired Feb. 2001, presumed scrapped.
SP SD45 8834, with elephant ears
SP SD45 8834, with elephant ears, goes east under the Pepper Street over crossing in West Colton, CA on December 29, 1973.

SP 8881 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-2

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 8881 was built in March 1967 by EMD as a model SD45, builders number 32796, SP 8881 EMD SD45 SP Class EF636-2. This locomotive was upgraded in July 1982 emerging as SP 7445 SP Class EF636R-2.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired July 1997, to Boise Locomotive Co. Rebuilt to SD40M-2 CEFX 3139.
SP 8881 at Bayshore
SP SD45 8881 sitting on one of the whiskers at the old Bayshore Roundhouse, likely on August 11, 1977.

SP 8985 EMD SD45, SP Class EF636-4

According to good sources (including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series) SP 8985 was built in 1969 by EMD as a model SD45, SP 8985, SP Class EF636-4, builder's number 34353. This locomotive was upgraded in 1985 emerging as SP 7551 SP Class EF636LR-3. 7551 was the first locomotive released in SPSF Kodachrome paint.
The disposition of this locomotive is: wrecked in 1989 Cajon-San Bernardino runaway and scrapped on site.
SP 8985 in Roseville
Southern Pacific (SP) SD45s 8985 and 8851 are in a locomotive consist in Roseville, CA on a warm Sunday, September 8, 1974.

Special Notes

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