Espee - Southern Pacific

Matt Siber

4449fandom

Bridges of Northern California #2: I Street Bridge Location: Sacramento River, providing transport from the city to Yolo County Date: 1910-1912 Length: 400 ft (120 m) Photo: Steve Rouhotas

Just past the west switch of Mott siding, this Southern Pacific lumber drag is just about to start the descent into the Sacramento River Canyon. Only three miles as the crow flies from the depot in Dunsmuir, the westman is nine rail miles and nearly a half hour of travel time away from the crew change. June 13, 1985

FP7’s were still the regular power on Amtraks’ San Joaquin in January of 1976 as AMTK 122 (ex SP 6459) and 116 (ex SP 6453) roar away from the old SP station in Martinez. Shortly, the train will reach Port Chicago and move over to the Santa Fe for the run down the Valley.

SP train, engine number 701, engine type 4-8-4 Train #1, Sunset Ltd.; 13 cars, 30 MPH. Photographed: El Paso, Tex., July 24, 1935.

Look what I saw today l🚂

SP’s one and only E8 heads train No. 99, the Coast Daylight, through Burlingame at something close to 79 mph. Well, after checking some special instructions maybe it was only 70 mph. But it was fast for a camera with a maximum shutter speed of 1/350th! The little tower controlled the crossing gates, and disappeared not long after the picture was taken. Anscochrome. 1958

Smokebox Inspection Back in 1977, Los Angeles’ Union Station was not nearly as busy as it is today (2 Southwest Limiteds, 2 Coast Starlights, 8 San Diegans and, three days per week, 2 Sunset Limiteds). It was quiet enough, if fact, that there were enough tracks that American Freedom Train 4-8-4 4449 could be serviced up on the platforms, rather than finding space at one of the nearby engine facilities. The former Southern Pacific engine was in town for a little maintenance during its trip from Birmingham, Alabama, to it home in Portland, Oregon. To make the trip, Amtrak operated the Transcontinental Steam Excursion as a series of fan trips. And on Monday, April 25, 1977, received some light maintenance and even a wash.

Caltrain/Southern Pacific Commuter Trains by Roger Puta by Marty Bernard Via Flickr: SP 3188 with an eastbound exiting the curve at Sierra Point in Brisbane, CA in June 1985

Apparently I'm a grumpy old man on the internet, ranting into the void...

Southern Pacific PA-2’s are on Track #1 at Martinez, California with train #101, the westbound “City of San Francisco ” during March of 1965.

Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4412 on the Coaster. San Francisco, CA 1937