I saw a Southern Pacific locomotive WHERE?!

[BRJN]

Last week (say 4 Feb) I saw a Southern Pacific locomotive on the Norfolk Southern tracks between Chicago and Cincinnati. (Travelling southbound, just outside my house; I live 1/2 block from the tracks.)

It is not unusual for NS to run locomotives painted for itself or Conrail by here; sometimes I see UP and (rarely) BNSF which I suppose are on loan.

If I recall correctly, Southern Pacific was merged away more than 10 years ago.

Does anybody have an idea what an SP engine is doing clear out here in Indiana?

[dano99a]

I have seen 2 of them here in columbus back in October of 2004, it was one of those moments where you have to do a double take cuz I wasn't sure I saw what I saw until I looked at it again.

[canazar]

BRJN

I live out here in Phoenix and it is very commom to old SP units running around. In fact at a siding there is a CottonBelt along with a OLD SP. My guess is they are out there floating around. If UP had to kick up a loaner for someone for extra power, make sense they would send the old dog to do it. Thing I would like tio see how it stays around over there.

Best Regrads
John k

[ericsp]

There are still probably a couple hundred SP locomotives around. It could have been leased to NS or paying back HP hours. Also, GE (GECX) and CIT (CEFX) have a few ex-SP locomotives that are still painted in SP paint with small reporting marks on the cab and/or numberboard housing.

[Anonymous]

If it did not have a UP Yellow "Patch" on the numbers on the cab, then the locomotive is a.) no longer owned by UP, and is most likely the member of a leaser fleet just like Eric said. Or b.) It IS still owned by UP, and they haven't gotten around to "patching" or repainting it. If that is the case, then you saw a truely rare thing, and you should feel glad to have seen it! UP is repainting their SP, D&RGW, and C&NW locos left and right, and there are not many left in their original "skin".

[Jetrock]

One sees quite a few SP engines with only a token "patch" around Sacramento of Armour yellow, and occasionally one without.

[rrinker]

We get UP and BNSF locos here in Pennsylvania, so SP in Indiana is no big thing. Power pools, runthrus, and leasing agreements keep equipmetn all over the place.

At the railroad club I used to belong to, we had this video on Cajon Pass. In the video, there were MORE CONRAIL LOCOS than SP and SF!

--Randy

[Anonymous]

This was captured along the pitt line here in PA ....... Dont see many of these around here! I dont know why but if pic isnt there right click it , it will show up

[rrinker]

Oops, pic didn't work.

Wish I had a pic of that SP SD45 I saw on the connector line from Allentown yard to Saucon Yard in Bethlehem - crosses South Bethlehem with about 5 grade crossings, and had about a 15 mph speed limit. Hauled coal and coke to/from the Bethlehem Steel plant when the coke works was still running, then they hauled all the scrap steel out when they shut down for good. What an SD45 was doing on this line I'll never know, I suspect is was being tested after a rebuild at Mountaintop (this was a good 9-10 years ago I saw this)

--Randy

[sparkingbolt]

A few months ago I saw an SP SD something- 6 axle loco with a UP engine pulling a train. The SP looked beat and MAN was it belching smoke! This was going south through Bend, Oregon. I wondered if this wasn't it's final run somewhere. I didn't note a yellow patch. Dan.

[BRJN]

Thanks for the replies.

I was too far away to see if it had a patch of yellow where the numbers ought to be.

I haven't seen it since (drat), but then I can't watch the tracks during the night or when I am at work. I will guess that UP brought it into Chicago and let NS borrow it for a trip Chicago-Cincinnati-Atlanta-New Orleans-points west.

[Musepro]

Shoot, I live in Marion, OH and I see all kinds of stuff on NS. CP Rail and BN green SD-40-2s, BNSF, UP, old Santa Fe and SP, Wisconsin Central SD-45s, CSX, old Conrail Alco road slugs and sometimes even odder sights. It's hard telling what railroad you're on these days!

jt burke

[dieselfan04]

About six to nine months ago I saw not only a S.P. diesel but also a U.P. diesel down in North Carolina. Both were being pulled by a CSX lead unit. They were coming from Charlotte and headed into the Hamlet yard.

[West Coast S]

There are still over 200 units on the loose with some evidence of SP paint and lettering, patched units being more common, any unpatched is rare and will likely show up as trailing units when encountered .

Here in Southern California NS and CSX units seem to outnumber the UP units.

[Anonymous]

Well since they are owned by UP and u do c UP out there ud expect it to be the same thing as seening a UP on the NS as to see a SP unit on the NS...right?

[underworld]

I have seen them quite a few times in NW Ohio. I see all kinds of names now with all the more recent buyouts, mergers etc.

underworld

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[underworld]

Oh yeah....I also see cabooses sometimes around here...not many of those these days!

underworld

[davekelly]

Maybe UP isn't repainting all of them because they don't want to pay the licencing fee like Athearn does when they slap UP colors on a model [:D]

[#oops] Just forget what I just wrote . . . don't want to start a war here.

[:-^][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Anyone know if the TP&W/Rail America has purchased old SP tunnel motors?

I have been shocked a few times now crossing the bridge over the East Peoria, IL yard! I can't remember if they have the yellow patch. I'm almost thinking they are clean (no patches at all!).

[BRJN]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Maybe UP isn't repainting all of them because they don't want to pay the licencing fee like Athearn does when they slap UP colors on a model [:D]

- begin razz -
But then UP would be paying themselves to repaint their own locomotives...
- end razz -