Southern Pacific (SP) 2538 led black widow GP9 3611 and GP9 3581 at the Homestead Yard, West Oakland, CA, on Monday, December 17, 1973.
SP 2538 was an SW1500, SP Class ES415-3. Reportedly: it was built in 1969, construction number 35231. In 2006 it was renumbered (and repainted?) UPY 1123. It later became Knoxville & Holston River Railroad (KXHR) 1123.

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Southern Pacific (SP) SW1500 2479 showed its unique solid red rear cab paint job in Eugene, OR on Friday, June 21, 1974.
SP 2479 is an SW1500, SP Class ES415-1. Reportedly: it was built in 1967, builder number 33139. It was retired in 1994 and sold in 1995 to Omni-Trax being resold to Minnesota Corn Processors (MCP) 2479 in Columbus, Nebraska. It was repainted green with gold and beige bands.

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Southern Pacific (SP) GP20E 4107 was in Fresno, CA, in early 1978.
This is one of many scans I am revisiting with new tools and methods to obtain better results. Please do not edit, crop, "correct" or "improve" my photos without permission from me.
SP 4107 was an EMD GP20E, SP Class EF420E-2. Reportedly: it was built in 1962 as a model GP20, builders number 5634-10, SP 7209, SP Class DF-617. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 4059 SP Class EF420-1. It was upgraded in 1976 emerging as SP 4107. The reported disposition of this locomotive is, retired 1993, scrapped.

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SSW 5004 in Fresno
Southern Pacific (SP) Cotton Belt (SSW) GP30 5004 was waiting in Fresno, CA, for a call to work in early 1978.
This is one of many scans I am revisiting with new tools and methods to obtain better results. Please do not edit, crop, "correct" or "improve" my photos without permission from me.
SSW 5004 was an EMD GP30, SP Class EF423C-1. Reportedly: it was built in 1963, builders number 5650-05 28176, as SSW 754, SSW Class Z-22. In 1965 it was renumbered and reclassed.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired 1986 & sold.

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UP 8242 on the TCSME
My HO model of Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) 8242 was at "Sunol" on Friday, January 23, 2026, on the Tri-City Society of Model Engineers (TCSME) model railroad club in the historic Niles depot in Fremont, CA. This is a Kato model.
The Real UP 8242 was an EMD SD9043MAC. Reportedly: it was built in 1998, serial number 976800-64. It was wrecked in a grade crossing accident in 2011 and subsequently retired and scrapped.

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #tcsme #kato #emd #niles #fremontca

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, my HO Model of Southern Pacific (SP) 1427 was leading a local westbound on the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA. This train was approaching "Shasta" on the CCMRC. SP 1427 is a Walthers model.
The real SP 1427 was an EMD SD7, SP Class ES615-4. Reportedly: it was built in 1953 as SP 5320, SP class DF-118 builder number 18385. In 1965 it became SP 2727, SP Class ES615-4, later it became SP 1427. In 1980 it was rebuilt to SP Class ES615R-1 1522. It was sold in 1995, subsequently scrapped.

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Southern Pacific (SP) SD7 2716 was sporting improvised extended sunshades to protect from the early summer heat in Roseville, CA on Sunday, June 28, 1973. It was doubling over an eastbound train that was led by UP power.
This is one of many scans I am revisiting with new tools and methods to obtain better results. Please do not edit, crop, "correct" or "improve" my photos without permission from me.
SP 2716 was an EMD SD7, SP Class ES615-3. Reportedly: it was built as SP 5309, SP Class DF-117, in 1953, construction number 18381, the first of it's class, and was built with 62:15 gearing, steam generators and signal lights at each end. Renumbered to 2716 in the 1965 renumbering, it was renumbered again to 1416 in 1973. SP 1416 was upgraded in 1979 to SP Class ES615R-1 1511. SP 1511 was retired and sold in 1995.

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Southern Pacific (SP) SW1500 2630 led a motley assortment of SP motive power including GP9E 3384, two SD45T-2’s and two Alco S6’s at Newhall Yard in Santa Clara, California. According to Wesley Fox this is the OASJY, on Monday, February 10, 1975.
SP 2630 was an SW1500, SP Class ES415-5. Reportedly: it was built in 1972, serial 4608-40. Retired in 1994. Sold to Omni-Trax became CTI Bank Leasing CEFX 2630.

#trains #railroads #railroading #southernpacific #ALCo #emd #sp #santaclara #santaclaraca #trainspotting