I was doing some research for my SP and Cotton Belt locomotives and came across a lot of negative input on SP’s fleet. Some people said that SP did not take care of there locomotives or clean them period? Some went as far a few yrs back when I was looking up some info to say they polluted ect. LOL!@ First off I would love to hear from some REAL SP workers or SP rail fans who lived by SP for the real back story on SP Locomotive maintenance. From what i have foun d so far for my own interest they did an incredible job of taking care of there locomotive fleet and went as far as a rebuild program around 1989 for the SD45T2s and many are still in use today aftre yrs of heavy slow drag service in tunnels out west. One short line has about 8 or so and bought them for there “new” 1989 electrical cabinets ect. Next off I bought some books went online and it does for sure seem they did take care of there fleet. Also as far as the many “few” who’s claim to fame about SPs dirty locomotives go’s I cannot agree with them. SP ran tunnels ( tunnel motor’s) where grime found its way onto there locomotives from severe duty cycles. As far as there standard SD45s go they too were used at max power slow drag and had some over heating problems in the tunnels that put EMD on the spot to develope the T series. Next if anyone can help me out. When did SP aquire the AC4400s and SD70s? Was that after the UP merger or pre merger (1995?) or was it when RIO GRANDE mrg’d SP and then used the SP name? As U can see I am no expert on SP. I love mountain west RRing. U guys who live out west have it pretty good back in the day. GOD BLESS ALL
The Espee had some pretty dirty looking units for sure, they tended to run their stuff for all its worth. They also had some asthetically good looking units right up the UP merger - units such as the GP40M-2 fleet (7274-7299, 7100-7137) remained in decent looking condition throughout their tenure on SP. Same for the GP60s and the B40-8s that were used predominantly in intermodal service. Granted these units were not that old at the time of the merger - GP60s from 1988 through to 1994, GP40M-2s in 1990 and 1991, and the B40-8s from the late 80s.
The grimiest looking units tended to be the tunnel motors and the SD45Rs. Of course, these were the ‘get down and dirty’ units.
The only units I have first-hand knowledge of having some issues were some GP35Rs that wouldn’t fully load. My understanding is these units had plugged fuel filters. Aside from that, most any SP owned unit that I had been on seemed to be in very good mechanical condition.
Yes I did read that about the GP35s also. Not sure right now which mag ran a great article last year on the GP35s, but it was very indepth look at the GP35s and engineers who ran them. I can look up the mag later today. Recently I started to watch the Charles smiley DVD series on western rail roading or at least last year and it “hooked” me on western RR for sure. Now I am a full fledge fan of the old school SP , WP, Santa FE, UP and Mopac ect. MIll road. The Mag called The RR press is a great source of information and stories by actaul RR employess. I am even buying up all of the HO scale “old” school EMD SD’s and GP 60’s that I can find with DCC and sound and the ones that dont I put DCC sound myself. Dont get me wrong being from the midwest i do love out RRs out here but western RR from the 50’s to the mid 90’s was way way cooler than Penn Central, NYC, B&O , C&O or Conrail. I can say that with some fun becuse I grew up pro union and froma RR family from all the way back from steam up to present. Anyway the GP 60 unit sI was reading on the ever “right” You Tube viewers that the GP60 was a mistake that SP made , I mena there is like more than a few people who said that the SP and Cotton Belt wanted SD60s instead!? I would assume that the SP new what they wanted since they bought a HUGE amount of GP60s. And the B40-8s U spoke of seem to “pop” up often on the DVD series mixed with GP60 and other four axle “road” units. Of course I am catious when i speak here becuse I am not all that inform’d on the SP yet. I do thenak you for the info. GOD BLESS you.
See http://utahrails.net/all-time/all-time-index.php = “All-Time UP Diesel Roster” and
http://utahrails.net/all-time/all-time-loco-chron-03.php = “UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD - Timeline of Motive Power, 1983-2001”
- Paul North.
Regarding your SD70 and AC4400 question; after the merger No units were delivered painted or lettered for Espee, they were all in the UP scheme…SP had had AC6000CWs on order and these were delivered
Regarding your SD70 and AC4400 question; after the merger No units were delivered painted or lettered for Espee, they were all in the UP scheme…SP had had AC6000CWs on order and these were delivered
Hey thanks brother. I am gonna be checking out them web site that were put up here for me. I tell you, I cannot get enough trains now!LOL. When I was a kid I joined the army went off to do my duty and when i got back home my all knowing CSX engineer father threw out my entire HO scale train layout. All gone and the cars and engines were ina box junk’d. So aftre yrs away from trains about 5 yrs ago I came back but my heart and soul never left it. I did manage to keep piles and piles of Conrail, Chessie system and B&O and C&O railroad material from him and two uncles. I suppose it is worth some money but I have it all piled away ina storage unit. probably will just leave it. Anyway thanks for the info. I am getting ready to buy some SP SD70s HO scale and AC4400s same. Funny becuse I keep breaking small parts on them. I have my train layout in my gym and knife collection area so i tend to pick them up while working out. bad idea. GOD BLESS ALL and may he watch over you and your familys
See Richard Percy’s Espee webpage for information on the SP SD70Ms and AC4400s. The 25 SD70Ms were delivered in 1994 and the 279 AC4400s were delivered in 1995.