Bad news... There are 4 remaining SP C44-9Ws currenty in Speed lettering units are SP 8107 -SP 8135-SP 8151-SP 8182, SP 8191 is now patc hed, Get your photos of these now, SP's start ing to fade away, When it's all yellow Im put ting away my Camera, this is sad.
Here is a photo that should go well with this post. Photo is from May 2000. While I too am an SP fan, I have tried to look at the positive side of the UP takeover. While I will always miss those gray monsters, I too remember a railroad that was coming apart at the seams in the 1980's that was first saved by Phil Anschutz, and finally by Uncle Pete. The SP will live on forever in our memories...
Yes, unfortunately it will soon be time for that dreaded 'moment of silence' Never thought I'd see the day when my favorite road went under. (Again another tear hits the floor ) There is a bright side though. It can be an adventure to try and get pics of the last remaining units It will be like hunting big game [ 31 May 2001: Message edited by: John Barnhill ]
Just traced the 4 today... SP 8182 is at NLR possibly for Overhaul and repaint, another one fades away, I'm hoping to catch SP 8107 this Sunday as it rolls thru Jack London, I'm really happy that one of them is coming my wa y... I haven't seen alot of these units latly Well brings it down to 3.
From timie to time ya'll talk about "tracing" an engine or group of engines. How do you do that? Is there a web site that does it? Scot
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by my UP: From timie to time ya'll talk about "tracing" an engine or group of engines. How do you do that? Is there a web site that does it? Scot<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You can trace equipment on the Union Pacific by using their Public Equipment Tracing. This system uses equipment scanners along the UP right of way and reports the date and time each piece of equipment last passed a scanner. You can trace up to 5 pieces of equipment at a time. For example, using the trace I found the following locations for the 4 remaining SP C-44's: SP8107 departed Hermosa, WY on 6/1 at 7:48 AM and is scheduled to arrive in Oakland, CA on 6/3 at 3:25 AM. SP8135 was placed at Roper, UT on 5/31 (placed usually indicates that a unit is receiving some kind of maintenance) SP8151 departed Topeka, KS on 6/1 at 9:20 AM and is scheduled to arrive in Tucson, AZ on 6/3 at 10:35 PM. And SP8182 was placed at Jenks Shops (Little Rock, AR) on 5/31, and as previously noted may emerge in UP Yellow.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CoastFoamer: Btw... Nice shot Kevin, It's nice to see a 4 SP C44-9W lashup on that Z train.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Thanks, it was especially memorable for me knowing that it was a sight that would not last. I thought I would provide a little background for those unfamiliar with UP's West Coast operations. The train pictured is symbolled Z-SELC which is an expedited intermodal train that runs between Seattle and Los Angeles at least six days per week. While I am not certain, I believe that part of this train consists of contract US Mail shipments. The Z-SELC and Z-LCSE saw solid sets of SP C44-9W's as power for almost two years in 1999 and 2000. In late 2000, many of the SP C44's began showing up on the train in UP Yellow making the consists a mix of Yellow and Gray. Today, the regular power for the "Seattle Train" (as it is called by crews over the radio) seems to be 3 or 4 new 4000 series SD70M's. This train is one of the highest priority services on the I-5 corridor, receiving an abundance of reliable power to ensure minimal delays.
...and then there were three... As of today (6/11/01), SP C44-9W #8182 now shows "Not in equip. register" on the UP Public trace, which means it has likely been painted yellow. For your tracking of the remaining three, here is their reported location as of 9:30AM Pacific time: SP8107 Arrived at Bloomingt, TX 06/11/01 07:05 SP8135 Departed Blabuttes, WY 06/11/01 10:29 ETA Destination Eightenst, KS 06/12/01 22:30 SP8151 Departed Ostrom, CA 06/11/01 09:46 ETA Destination Roseville, CA 06/11/01 13:10 Catch this endangered species soon, as they will be gone soon.
We are down to 2 SP C44-9W's.. SP 8107 was interchanged with the CSXT so its possibly heading to Altoona for a overhaul & new paint most of the Ex SP Dash 9s were sent to Altoona for there new look, Catch them while you can.
