I was just reading this other thread, Trains list top 10 locomotives of all times - TrainBoard.com . It got me thinking about the ten essential Southern Pacific locomotives. I don't know if I would be able to pick the ten most essential locomotives, but if I were making a Southern Pacific list I think it would include GS-4s, SD-9s, Alco PA/PBs, cab-forwards (which model?), 4-4-0s (because any RR that is old enough to have used these needs to include them), and tunnel motors (but which model?). Any thoughts? Anyone want to identify the essential SP diesel switcher?
Depending on the era it would have to be either Alco S4's or Baldwin S12's. Later it would have to be the EMD SW1500 as thye were everywhere. Espee had the most at 240 SW1500's
The two locomotive models (at least in N scale) that are ignored are: The Baldwin DRS-6-6-1500(28 cab units, 1 B) and the AS-616 (59 cab units and 5 B's). These were some of the first "road switchers". They would be cool, Over N Out, Wolf
For me, I would have to include one of these. One of my earliest memories of the SP is flagging the Imperial in Benson, Arizona while on a kindergarten field trip. I'm the one in the "Straw" hat.
Yes agreed it would depend on the era modeled; cause the list could get much longer than 10 otherwise. I would think of AC12 SD 7 GP35 SD70M of course SD70ACe SP/UP Heritage to name a few
I am pretty sure I would not include the GP-7 as they didn't have any of them. I would include the GP=9 though...
GP9 SD9 SD45 and its T-2 variation SD40T-2 F7 SW1500 AC4400W I'm a diesel person, and these were the ones that came to mind. I included the AC4400Ws mostly because of their use in hauling coal out of Colorado & Utah on the ex-DRGW
i have slowly learned over the years , that when it comes to the SP " never say never" ... turns out they had 1 GP-7 in their subsidiary's roster, SSW and yes cotton belt painted it in daylight too ... but for the rest of them they were all GP-9's including a3 or 4 with Torpedo tubes on top i believe...and not in any order ( only as i thought of them ) here they are... 10-SD40T-2 9- Trainmasters 8-GP-9 7- 4-4-0 6- GS 1-6 ( the whole series yes including the 'war babies' too) 5- Cab aheads AC-12 4- F units (FT thru FP9) 3 MT Class 4-8-2 2- SW1500 1- SD-9 Honorable mention ALCO PA's and PB's and the ALCO RS 11's and any flavor silver smokebox black widow or bloody nose... SP is SP whoo hoo may she rest in peace , the SP ... 73' kd7
I was indeed aware of the solitary daylight GP-7 on the SSW. But, the topic being the Top 10 Essential SP Locomotives, I figured that a, it belonged to the SSW and not the SP proper, and B, there was only one of them. The SP did order many GP-7s, and they were to be delivered in tiger stripe, but ended up cancelling the order due to delays in manufacturing.
I would give a thumbs up to the very first successful SP cab forward conversion. It blazed the way for all following classes on their roster. Boxcab E50
I see the SD-9 coming up on lots of lists. I also put that one up. I don't think any self-respecting fan of the SP in Oregon could forget the SD-9. Right up until the merger you'd still see SD-9's plying the branchlines. Even today, there are former SP SD-9s to be found, mostly LLW and WPRR/PNWR, some of which are still in whatever remains of their last SP paint job. Some even appear to have pre-merger era dirt still on them.
USAF Andrew's right, SP did not own any GP7s. Cotton Belt did have a single GP7 though, delivered in Daylight colors. Regardless, I would agree on the GP9 being an "essential" Espee diesel...they had a large fleet that lasted a long time in all kinds of duty.
Hmmm, dunno if I'd include the SP/UP SD70ACe "thing" on any iconic SP locomotive list!:mwacko::merr::tb-err:err:
10 Essential SP engines? Steam (5): 1. CP #229, the first 4-8-0 2. Harriman 2-8-0 3. Mt-1/3/4/5 4-8-2 4. MC-2/4/6 2-8-8-2 (rebuilt as AC-1/2/3 simple articulateds). Set the pattern. 5. GS 4-8-4's (all classes) Diesel: 1. Baldwin AS-616 2. EMD F7. 3. F-M H24-66 4. EMD SD45 5. EMD SD40T-2 Andre
Engines I most associate with SP? In no particular order: AC-7/8/10/11/12. These are the Cab-Forwards everyone thinks of when they use the term; the final form of the steam freight locomotive on SP. GS-series. MT-series. 4-10-2. S-12. SW1500. GP60. SD9 including rebuilds. SD45 including rebuilds. SD45T-2 including rebuilds.
When you say SP these units come to mind and in no particular order. F7's, FP7's, GP9's, GP35's, FM H-24-66, U33C's, SDT-2's (40 &45's) SW1500's, (Alco) S6's and SD45's. Bear in mind, those are engines I saw growing up watching the SP in CA's central valley. Greg
AC, MT, MM, P, GP40X, Flare45, Snoot Tunnels (SD40T-2), SD45T-2, U50, DD35B, SD45X, U33C etc etc.... I know more then 10 are there!:ru-tongue:
I'd drop the Trainmaster, as they were pretty much confined to the Commute service in one location, with the occasional trip on freights on the weekend, and replace them with the classic SD45 which were used all over the system and lasted a long time. And I would drop the 4-4-0 and replace with the 2-6-0, especially the last classes used and loved as the Valley Mallets. That a large heavy duty Class 1 used such a small engine for so long and until the end of steam is noteworthy.
Okay, I'll bite. 1. 4100's and 4200's - the AC's 2. 2500's - the C-9 consolidations 3. 4300's - SD9E's 4. the modernized moguls 5. Tunnel motor SD45's 6. 5200's - Baldwin AS616's - for a short time, anyway! 7. 5100's - GE 70 tonners used as branchline power in MU strings 8. GP9E's 9. 2900's - twelve wheelers 10. the modernized ten-wheelers One of the most notable roster facts about the SP in my opinion was how it used "outdated" wheel arrangements (2-6-0, 4-8-0) right up to the end of steam. A similar story was repeated with SP's first generation diesel hood units, in that they were rebuilt and run for as much as 42 years.