I spotted two SP GP60's in their old bloody nose paint and speed lettering heading a UP train near Navasota, TX today. The front unit is 9721, the second is 9794 (I think). The photo was taken from a considerable distance with my cell phone camera, so the quality is not so hot. I just thought it was cool to see those, don't see too many around here anymore.
9721 has a yellow UP patch below the numbers. ...and yes, they were pulling empty gons, most likely a rock train.
I thought I saw Willamette and Pacific using one the other day, but it was dark and I couldn't tell for sure.
I think those are just yellow doors off another loco, Not actually a patch. I was just referring to them having their original SP #'s. Too bad they were on a TX rock train..... I heard that where UP assigns locos on their way out.:tb-sad:
The other three appear to be repainted former SSW GP60s... pretty much all of the former SSW and SP GP60s are in secondary service in TX... have been for a while too.
Yup, that seems to be what they do. At least that consist seems to be in better condition than many I have seen in that service.
I'll have to keep my eyes out for those. As rare as SP locos are theses days, even a far away shot with a cell phone camera is a worthwhile picture.
I drive through Navasota on a daily basis. The UP line forks just south of town...one track (the old Southern Pacific line) goes south to Hempstead, the other track (the old Missouri Pacific line) goes east for a bit and then cuts south to Magnolia. It's common to see trains waiting for another to pass or for a crew change at Navasota. I'm going to carry my real camera and watch for more SP units in the near future.
I was just through the Tehachapi Pass earlier today and saw an unpatched Dash9 leading the way just out of Mojave! I was loaded with my travel trailer and a full truckload of family so I wasn't about to dig out a camera or pull over. I read the road number and repeated it 100 times so I wouldn't forget it. Guess what... I forgot it.
