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Post by espeelover on Aug 10, 2008 2:12:07 GMT -5
April 20, 1978 finds this SW1500 working the industries between Firestone Park and Downey.
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Post by SSW9389 on Aug 10, 2008 6:33:43 GMT -5
Terry Kirkland found this NW2E at Espee's Miller Yard in Dallas. The date was likely in late 1972 or early 1973. Photoshop by J. D. Huey.
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Post by espeelover on Aug 10, 2008 15:12:04 GMT -5
Thom, the above reply was your....[glow=Orange,3,000] 666th[/glow]post, and it ain't even Halloween yet!
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Post by SP 9811 on Aug 10, 2008 15:51:17 GMT -5
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Post by espeelover on Aug 10, 2008 18:35:49 GMT -5
Here we see TR6A 1100, with journal covers open, sitting behind Taylor Roundhouse, with a yellow tag near the front. This unit was initially EMD demonstrator #1600 and with B-unit 1600B, was sold to SP in 1951, but shipped in Nov. 1950.Note the "groovy" beverage dispenser on the "rear patio", what luxury! Taken in August of 1978; dang, I'm getting old!
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Post by SSW9389 on Aug 10, 2008 21:37:12 GMT -5
Here is another one of Terry Kirkland's photos. This one was likely shot in Dallas, but I don't really know for sure. Note the difference in the gray paint under the cab window. Ed
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Post by espeelover on Aug 10, 2008 23:45:07 GMT -5
Perhaps it stems from the fact that I have never had what I consider adequate space to build the ideal SP flavored layout; Tehachapi Pass, Mojave Yard, and the branch to both Creal and Owenyo. I have built and operated lash-ups which I would see in real life, on the clubs I have been a member of.. My favorite club was in Long Beach CA, we'd run 100+ car freights with 4 or 5 SD45's on the point, maybe an SD40, U33C, and two SD35's midtrain, and a GP35 or SD9 shoving on the caboose. All done before DCC, using Proto-Power-West chassis under Athearn wide body shells that were kitbashed or detailed as needed. All that was fun, but the best times I can remember were using a lone switcher, or maybe two MU'd together, and turning a local trick. Arranging a cut of cars into workable blocks, putting a train together and heading out to switch local industries was always great. I guess that is why, ever since I can remember, I always operated a big stable of switch engines. I have bashed SW’s and FM’s with barrel headlights, even a BLW S12 with the double light SP package before they were available. Alco’s, EMD’s, Baldwin’s, and even a Lima have, at times, been working local service for me. I even built a pair of single fuel tanked SD7’s for use as “big” yard power. Too bad folks kept offering me stupid prices for my stuff; when you are a flat broke kid, money can make you do things you’ll regret later. I wound up selling off all of my SP equipment a long time ago. Only in the last few years have I started over in HO. Switchers are still my favorite power; in fact, my power roster is upside down for SP this time. I have some L.A. to Colton power in the form of 4 six axle Alco Centuries, a U50 and DD35, 2 GP20’s and some SD and GP 9’s too. My mainstay will still be switchers though; I have a lot of small Alco’s and EMD’s that will be doing the duty on the small 17’ X 14’ railroad I am working on. I even plan on a few of the HH660 from Atlas, power for my private line and a local cement plant. You can’t have too many switchers either!
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Post by espeelover on Aug 11, 2008 13:55:03 GMT -5
SP, always being a huge consumer of tractive effort, sometimes dabbled with slugs; basically extra traction motors under a weighted frame, taking their operating power from another unit. SP had planned to convert its TR6B's to this service, but they found an offsite vendor to do it for less, so they bought 4 of these to use with MP15AC's, they must have had more power than they needed for low speed switching service.Built as NW2 15 for Chicago Indianpolis & Louisville (Monon); then it became L&N 2204; retired 11/16/77; rebuilt 7/79 by GE Apparatus Service Shops (Minneapolis, MN) as SP slug 1013. Photo Date: 09/07/1980; taken at Taylor Yard shops.
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Post by espeelover on Aug 16, 2008 5:45:53 GMT -5
I remember taking this pick, but it had been so long since I looked at this slide I forgot I had this unit. SP 1150 is a rare TR6B, pre 1965 SP #4700, ex EMD Demo 1600B.Taken just weeks before the unit went to Chrome Crankshaft in 1978. I'm crazy about Karma ;D
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Post by thespcaboose on Aug 21, 2008 17:08:22 GMT -5
Wow!!!! Great photos and stories!!
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Post by espeefoamer on Aug 25, 2008 21:06:17 GMT -5
Perhaps it stems from the fact that I have never had what I consider adequate space to build the ideal SP flavored layout; Tehachapi Pass, Mojave Yard, and the branch to both Creal and Owenyo. I have built and operated lash-ups which I would see in real life, on the clubs I have been a member of.. My favorite club was in Long Beach CA, we'd run 100+ car freights with 4 or 5 SD45's on the point, maybe an SD40, U33C, and two SD35's midtrain, and a GP35 or SD9 shoving on the caboose. All done before DCC, using Proto-Power-West chassis under Athearn wide body shells that were kitbashed or detailed as needed. All that was fun, but the best times I can remember were using a lone switcher, or maybe two MU'd together, and turning a local trick. Arranging a cut of cars into workable blocks, putting a train together and heading out to switch local industries was always great. I guess that is why, ever since I can remember, I always operated a big stable of switch engines. I have bashed SW’s and FM’s with barrel headlights, even a BLW S12 with the double light SP package before they were available. Alco’s, EMD’s, Baldwin’s, and even a Lima have, at times, been working local service for me. I even built a pair of single fuel tanked SD7’s for use as “big” yard power. Too bad folks kept offering me stupid prices for my stuff; when you are a flat broke kid, money can make you do things you’ll regret later. I wound up selling off all of my SP equipment a long time ago. Only in the last few years have I started over in HO. Switchers are still my favorite power; in fact, my power roster is upside down for SP this time. I have some L.A. to Colton power in the form of 4 six axle Alco Centuries, a U50 and DD35, 2 GP20’s and some SD and GP 9’s too. My mainstay will still be switchers though; I have a lot of small Alco’s and EMD’s that will be doing the duty on the small 17’ X 14’ railroad I am working on. I even plan on a few of the HH660 from Atlas, power for my private line and a local cement plant. You can’t have too many switchers either! Was this club the one in the back of a hobby shop on 4th St. near Junapero? My grandparents lived about 2 blocks from that shop and I hung out there a lot.Were you a member of the cllub on floor level,or the one upstairs?
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Post by espeelover on Aug 25, 2008 22:49:26 GMT -5
Yes, that was the club I was in, and I was member of the ground floor group. I was a member for the last three or so years the club was there.
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Post by espeelover on Aug 26, 2008 2:03:14 GMT -5
The hump at Taylor got some of the best "super switchers" SP ever fielded. They were not fast, but they could lug all day and all night without complaining.Photo taken June of 1979; just months before the upgrading in September to SP 1508.
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Post by thespcaboose on Aug 26, 2008 4:40:00 GMT -5
I just noticed the new title for SP. And just think, my T-shirt told me it meant Super Power LOL.
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Post by espeelover on Sept 12, 2008 1:17:21 GMT -5
Here is the former 1421 after her "spa day" in Sacramento. ;D
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