SP unit spotted

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

This past Friday I stopped in New Brighton, MN to photograph a CN/WC
freight in the Minnesota Commercial yard doing a pickup. I also
noticed on the north interchange track (parallel to the old Soo main)
two six-axle GE units. One was a UP unit and the other was still in the
red/grey Southern Pacific colors, and I assume they were run-through
power.

I snapped a few photos which have yet to be developed but I didn’t
write-down the unit numbers. The SP unit appeared in almost pristine
livery - no paint-outs of the reporting marks or unit numbers. There were
no visible indications (on the outside anyway) that would indicate the
unit was in UP service at all (if one didn’t know the SP was taken-over by
the UP). That merger occurred quite some time ago and I would’ve
thought the Union Pacific would’ve at least painted-over the reporting
marks by now (not that I mind, of course - I like being able to still snap a
photo of an SP unit in its original livery).

Comments?

2

Unpatched SP units are really rare. Ones with the road name still intact are almost unheard of. It’s great to know they’re still around.[:)]

3

I got a picture of one in Green River, last friday. The unit number was 163. as soon ans i get the picture uploaded i will post it for everyone.

4

I see them come through flagstaff all the time mixed with bnsf. There must be allot of them still around.

5

I saw an old SP tunnel moter head through MN last week. Too bad is was lettered for a lease company…

6

On my way to work, I saw SP100 on a grain train. On my way home I saw SP 153 on another grain train.

7

This past Thursday, SP AC4400, 117 was on CSX in New Castle, Pa. And it was pure SP. It had not been touched by UP in any way. And all lettering was intact and readable. In pure SP fashion though, the unit was quite dirty. And, it was the lead unit.

8

I saw two SP units today that had not been touched by the Borg[:)].

9

I believe most of the old SP SD40T-3 ( T-3’s) now operate on the Canadian National ( former DMIR)

10

I am not sure if you are refering to tunnel motors rebuilt and renamed to SD40-3s only. According to the Missabe Road Historical Society (http://www.missabe.com/) DMIR only has 18 former SD45T-2s (http://www.missabe.com/diesellocos.html). I don’t know how many SD40T-2s and SD45T-2s were rebuilt to SD40-3 standards, so I do not know if DMIR has most of the former tunnel motors called SD40-3s, however they do not have a majority of the tunnel motors. By the way, the Missabe Road Historical Society shows that the “T” was dropped from the name.

SP and SSW bought 239 SD40T-2s and a simlar number of SD45T-2s and Rio Grande bought 73 SD40T-2s. Although a probably significant number have been scrapped for various reason, most are probably still around.

11

UP most be power short. Today I saw SP 7316 (an SD40R), it was still SP, not a leasing company. And the paint job was in good condition also.

12

the only thing keeping all those SP AC4400’s alive and in their original paint is that the Union Pacific doesnt need those numbers anytime soon. there are still quite a few Southern Pacific AC4400’s running around unpatched and i hope they stay that way for a while. sadly, most of the other SP units have been patched. along with almost all of the D&RGW and C&NW units.

13

Here are the ones still around on Christmas Day. It looks like UP has been on a rampage, but there are still quite a few around.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=26271&REPLY_ID=265983#265983

14

I agree with all the reponses that affirm the plethora of SP units still existing as originally painted.
As I traveled through Texas on the Amtrak during the Christmas season of 2003, I saw many SP units either in action or in yards. While riding my local Metrolink, I saw several SP units while traveling through the West Colton yard.
I have mentioned this before, the UP is slow about everything. The intend to repaint and number all the SP units, but only when they come in for overhaul or some other major repair. I am not complaining, I like the SP colors, though they look quite faded today.

15

Last friday I also saw a patched SP unit, #9617, as well as an NS unit.

16

That’s got to be it. Last night I saw SP 7110 (I’m pretty sure that was the number, I was driving at the time). And not only was it still un-patched, but must have just been washed too…looked pristine. The engine in front of it was SP too, I’m not sure if it was un-patched or not though.

17

SP 7110 still exists. The reason I was surprised to see SP 7316 is that UP got rid of almost all of the SD40Rs (rebuilt 1980 and 1981), actually, I figured they probably had got rid of all of them, appearently not. SP 7110 is a GP40R (rebuilt 1991), UP is keep, and unfortunately patching, them.