This is most likely going to solicit all kinds of responses from “OK I will explain” to “Have your lost all your marbles”. But it is something I do not understand. What is the fascination with the Southern Pacific railroad? It does not matter which website I visit, but there is a fascination with this particular railroad over all others. So, what gives?
Being from the Pacific Northwest it seems we all think that Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Burlington Northern, are the only railroads that matter. Could it be that so many people, hence modelers, live on the SP route that it is only natural that this is a 'big' choice. Back East Pennsy and NYC seem to be the primary choices. I'm thinking also that SP probably has the most varied terrain to cross as well and of course as modelers this is also appealing. M2CW, Jim
I can think of a dozen railroads that I would consider more "overhyped" than SP. Depending on what sites you are viewing though, I imagine. I guess a big part of SP's "relative popularity" has to do with Tehachapi, and their colorful passenger schemes. Marketing works, I guess!
When my Dad was growing up in the depression era in Milwaukee and Chicago, "things out west" seemed to have a special mystique about them. Even in bad economic times there was plenty of advertising to snair those fortunate enough to travel west, the land in all the Hollywood movies. He told me of a trip he made to Kansas City to visit family. His mom could hardly drag him off the platforms where all those trains with exotic destinations like the big National Parks, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland were lined up, all in one terminal, unlike Chicago. Naturally when he started modeling he picked railroads like the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe. I guess I picked it up from him.
I also believe it has to do with the history and challenges faced that is involved. With the Central Pacific, later SP, being half of the transcontinental railroad and all. It also crosses some of the most veried environments. Had great paint schemes and lots of uniquely SP details on there locos, etc, etc.
Looks like I am getting the responses I imagined I would get. Please do not think I am bashing those who model or enjoy the Southern Pacific. I was just curious as to it's popularity, even over todays railroads. I have to agree to the marketing of its passenger trains. I have seen many specials on TV on passenger trains and not one has aired without mention on the SP trains. Thanks for the input.
I'd never noticed such a proliferation of SP oriented sites. Not that there aren't quite a few. I know for my favorite RR, there are quite a few places to be found. I'm sure there are also plenty for the Borg... Hmmm. Going off on a short tangent, this started me wondering- So just for fun, I looked around a little. Is there a an SP yahoo Group, other than espee_forever? (659 members this afternoon.) As far as US RRs with fan followings, that were associated with the far western US, the biggest two seem to be UP(1449), and Milw(1432) Yahoo Groups. With GN, NP, BNSF, CB&Q many hundreds less. Boxcab E50
I feel like I may have started something that was truly not my intention. All I wanted to know is what I was missing? I admit to a poor knowledge of western railroads but I'm working on it. Sorry if I am offending anyone.
Yes there is a very active one with over 1400 members at: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Espee/ Also there is the T&NO group at: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TNO/
In the 50s especially, when Hollywood needed a train, they went to the SP or ATSF and got one for filming. So people saw a lot of them in the movies. A while ago I saw Bad Day at Black Rock and it had all kinds of cool shots of SP trains.
They even had a little ol' railroad went from St. Louis to TEXAS called the Cotton Belt. Started a freight train in 1931 called the Blue Streak Merchandise. You may have heard of it.
I often find myself wondering the same about the Western Pacific. I'm not a fan. Don't know why. Sometimes it seems like WP has a cult following. Its weird cause I love most all other Nor-Cal railroads. I just don't get it for the WP either. No offense to all the WP fans here. I think when you come down to it, SP was one of the big western roads. It got its share of fans just as ATSF or UP. SP just seemed to have more charachter. Friendly to railfans. Lots of both mainline and brachline activity. Just about every type of loco ever made. Oddballs and one of a kinds. Great mountain passes. Small niche operations. A Narrow guage line. Again, history. Yeah, maybe to others, we SP fans seem like a cult too.
Yeah John WP fans are a cult. For a small railroad, we have a lot of pieces of our history saved. We have to be a cult to retrieve, restore and maintain our museum. Surprisingly many of the museum members are ex-WP employees. We did not take lightly to UP's take over. WP has been the underdog since its inception. SP used to be called the friendly. It seemed like you couldn't go anywhere out west without tripping over SP rails. SP was the Pennsylvania of the west. The variety sure helps interest in the railroad. After all if you want tonnage SP had it. Time freights SP had it. Narrow gauge, branch lines, electric commuters, trolleys, interurban and they even had their own design department for equipment. SP has a lot to offer for modeling and studying. Greg
The perception seems to be, right or wrong, that the Southern Pacific just went where no one else would; They constructed their physical plant right where it couldn't be done; they devised special equipment that would get them where they wanted to go when they needed to be there. Cab-forwards & tunnel motors, flangers, etc. Who else built a major turntable inside a snow shed? Who else built a turning wye in the mountains with the tail track ending inside a single ended tunnel? From Cajon Pass to Donner Pass to Willamette Pass to the Siskiyou's to the Tehachapi's — where the going was tough, the SP was there and damn few others were! Only about 15 years after the Donner Party of settlers, emigrants from the east — Pioneers if you will, virtually all died due to the horrible weather conditions commonly encountered over the Sierra Nevada range, this group of railroaders (the Central Pacific at the time) went and built a railroad, of all things, directly through virtually the same area. Seemed the SP just about did it all! The loop in the Tehachapi's was considered engineering genius at the time. Their track remains hallowed ground because of the trials & tribulations they went through, but always managed to get the job done. I don't know exactly when it was, but at some point in time, I think early to midway in the last century there was a major flood somewhere in valleys of southern California with all the inherent problems along with the potential loss of farm acreage, the SP took it upon themselves to do all that was necessary to save the valley from total ruin. They brought in all sorts of equipment to build levee's and canals — whatever it took. The US government, so thankful for the SP's efforts, told them they'd reimburse them for their efforts. Perhaps had the government kept their word, we wouldn't be referring to the SP in the past tense as I write this. I don't hardly think Armour Yellow/Harbor Mist Gray will ever look right on Donner, Cajon, or Tehachapi or anywhere out west that the SP built. The only reason they are there is their money. That is their only investment and that is the only connection they will ever have. No matter who's operating on SP's tracks, its only on purchased trackage rights. we know the underpinnings and ownership is really the... Southern Pacific!
