SP/SSW The 10 essential Southern Pacific locomotive models

SteamDonkey74 Jun 23, 2009

  1. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    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?
     
  2. Mr. SP

    Mr. SP Passed away August 5, 2016 In Memoriam

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    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
     
  3. SP-Wolf

    SP-Wolf TrainBoard Supporter

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    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
     
  4. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    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. ;)
    [​IMG]
     
  5. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

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    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
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2010
  6. USAF_Andrew

    USAF_Andrew TrainBoard Member

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    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...
     
  7. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    • 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
     
  8. kd7

    kd7 New Member

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    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
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2009
  9. USAF_Andrew

    USAF_Andrew TrainBoard Member

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    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.
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    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
     
  11. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    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.
     
  12. SP 8299

    SP 8299 TrainBoard Member

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    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.

     
  13. SP 8299

    SP 8299 TrainBoard Member

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    Hmmm, dunno if I'd include the SP/UP SD70ACe "thing" on any iconic SP locomotive list!:mwacko::merr::tb-err::perr:

     
  14. andrechapelon

    andrechapelon TrainBoard Member

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    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
     
  15. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    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.
     
  16. Greg Elems

    Greg Elems Staff Member

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    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
     
  17. ctxm

    ctxm TrainBoard Member

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    CP huntington, backup malleys, GS4449, F3-7's, FM switchers,Gp9E, SD9, SD 45, tunnel motors , SD70's
     
  18. SP 9811

    SP 9811 TrainBoard Member

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    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:
     
  19. n6nvr

    n6nvr New Member

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    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.
     
  20. 72V

    72V New Member

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    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.
     

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