Thursday Proto Photo, Apr 16/15

[Lenny53]

Unique VIA Rail lounge car Glenfraser brings up the tail end of an eastbound heading into Montreal.

[C855B]

An especially poignant "funeral train" for me this past Monday:



Third unit from the left is an ex-SP SDP45, in a string of a dozen mostly ex-SP SD45s, probably technically SD40Ms now. The train is BNSF's branchline turn from Beardstown to Marion, IL, the retired power on their way to National Railway Equipment in Mt. Vernon for scrapping and parts recovery. I had no idea any SDPs made it to the UP acquisition, but there it is, yellow patch and all.

The ten SP SDP45s were a mainstay of my earliest railfanning days, given they were the sole power in the last years of the San Joaquin Daylight. I would meet #52 at the station almost daily once my folks let me ride my bicycle beyond our block. I was too young to have seen the Daylights in crimson and orange, and the F units were already superseded by the SDPs in regular operation. So seeing "an old friend" nearly 50 years later en route to his demise... well... you know.

[Philip H]

Recent catches in Riverdale, MD

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[Bob Bufkin]

Numbers

[jwb]

Third unit from the left is an ex-SP SDP45, in a string of a dozen mostly ex-SP SD45s, probably technically SD40Ms now. The train is BNSF's branchline turn from Beardstown to Marion, IL, the retired power on their way to National Railway Equipment in Mt. Vernon for scrapping and parts recovery. I had no idea any SDPs made it to the UP acquisition, but there it is, yellow patch and all.

The ten SP SDP45s were a mainstay of my earliest railfanning days, given they were the sole power in the last years of the San Joaquin Daylight. I would meet #52 at the station almost daily once my folks let me ride my bicycle beyond our block. I was too young to have seen the Daylights in crimson and orange, and the F units were already superseded by the SDPs in regular operation. So seeing "an old friend" nearly 50 years later en route to his demise... well... you know.

I believe the donors for the MK rebuilt SD40ms that had SDP45 bodies were all ex-CR, exx-EL units. Here's one that I caught at West Colton in 2004:

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[C855B]

I believe the donors for the MK rebuilt SD40ms that had SDP45 bodies were all ex-CR, exx-EL units. Here's one that I caught at West Colton in 2004:

[...pause for research...] Hmm. You're right. Amazing. Thanks, never saw them in service... hell, didn't even know they existed. Pretty much lost track of SP stuff after moving away from SoCal in '82. So can I surmise the real SP SDPs were scrapped before the UP acquisition?* I can't imagine they would have taken them through the 'R' program... did they?

SP's ongoing relationship with MK always threw me, especially after the disappointment of the U25B rebuilds into TE70-4s, with Sulzer PMs. They threw a couple of million into that program - back when a million dollars meant something - and completely shot craps. Of course wouldn't you know it that the time I stumbled into the just-delivered set of four in the fuel racks at W.C. I didn't have a camera. Ugh.

* - Yes. Further digging, all were stricken from the roster by 1990. Seven were scrapped outright, three went to MK for rebuilding but never made it out, and cut-up in '95.

[Ntrainz1]

slug 120




started life as RS-11

Bob.

[seusscaboose]

Is that WW rs-11 an ex NKP unit?

[Ntrainz1]

per the diesel shop:
Ex-Conrail 1020 > Conrail RS11 7647 > Penn Central 7647 > nee PRR 8647.

[seusscaboose]

Thanks

[C855B]

From this morning, yet more ex-SP SD45s en route to NRE (note the "NREX"). I should wander over to their yard in the next few days. Last time I was over there the property was chock full of derelict locos, frames and prime movers just everywhere, so with 16 SDs arriving this week alone I can't imagine where they're putting all this stuff.

[lock4244]

An interesting catch, imo. I know there are a few of these floating around, but I find it somewhat remarkable that this Frisco covered hopper has largely avoided becoming an canvas for a vandal... at least on this side. 35 years since Frisco was absorbed by BN. Poor quality photo, was getting too dark and had to shoot at F1.4!

[C855B]

Robyn and I were working outside at the layout building this afternoon, heard a horn, and turned around for this pleasant surprise. Very cool:

[Spikre]

 
   the SP SDP45s were gone before 1990.
   the loco pictured is an ex-EL SD45M,rebuilt by M-K about 1994,
   and included in the 100+ SD40Ms rebuilt in that time period.
   there were several of the EL SD45Ms included in that program.
        Spikre
         

[eja]

Robyn and I were working outside at the layout building this afternoon, heard a horn, and turned around for this pleasant surprise. Very cool:

Can anything be more beautiful ..  except the CUP !!

Go Habs Go !