In 1953 Western Pacific became the first railroad in the West to get rid of steam in favor of diesel-electric locomotives . Why did the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific did not follow suit
SPer In 1953 Western Pacific became the first railroad in the West to get rid of steam in favor of diesel-electric locomotives . Why did the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific did not follow suit
The larger railroads needed many more diesels to replace steam. The WP was a much smaller railroad and started getting diesels early with the FT's and continued with other F units until steam was not needed. The diesels cost less to maintain and used no water plugs in dry areas.
Santa Fe was using almost all diesel power on mainline trains in the western states by 1953. SP was about the last steam in California and it was gone by late 56 and early 1957. The UP also replaced mainline steam in California and Nevada in 1948, but used steam helpers on Cajon in 1950 for a short time. Steam power in dry areas was the first to be replaced. Water had to be treated and carried in tank cars to remote sites in California since water was not available in some areas.
CZ
WP got a flying start on dieselization when the War Production Board substituted 4-unit FTs for the Challengers they wanted. Most other railroads had the opposite - steam instead of diesel, because the diesel engines were needed for destroyer escorts (DE) submarines and LSTs.
Chuck