SP GP9 #3769

: Ogden, UT Sep. 10, 2014

Here, I represent not only Rio Grande but also the survivors of the 70’s which I found during the recent trip.

This locomotive is being displayed at Ogden Union Station since 1987. It seems her long hood is empty. Long hood also lacks unique lights package.

SP GP9 #3769 was built in 1957 as SP #5733 with 1750hp prime mover. In 1965, she was renumbered to #3574. She was rebuilt to GP9E #3769 in 1970, and was retired in 1986.

1978 photo of SP #3769 found at RailPictures Net site;

: Ogden, UT Sep. 10, 2014

Japanese & Comments

SP SD45 #7457

: Ogden, UT Sep. 10, 2014

This locomotive is being displayed at Ogden Union Station since 2002. According to Trains News Wire, she recently had lights package re-installed on short hood, which were long gone and covered.

SP #7457 was built in 1966 as SP #8800, the first SD45 for SP, with 3600 hp prime mover. She was rebuilt to 3200hp SD45R #7457 in 1982, and was retired in 2001.

Trains News Wire;
1979 photo of SP #8800 found at RailPictures Net site;

Japanese & Comments

ECDC SD9E #4355 ex-SP #4355

: East Carbon, UT Sep. 10, 2014

This locomotive was found at the East Carbon Development Corp. (ECDC) waste site at East Carbon, Utah on Utah State Route 123.

ECDC #4355 was built as SP “Cadillac” #5474 in 1956 with 1750 hp prime mover. It was renumbered to #3948 in 1965 and rebuilt to SD9E #4355 in 1988. Light package base on short hood and hump cowl behind the cab suggests its origin.

1967 photo of SP #3948 found at Fallen Flag site;
1982 photo of SP #4355 found at Espee Modelers Archive site;

Japanese & Comments

UP AC4400CW #6311, ex-SP #232

: Helper, UT Sep. 10, 2014

This locomotive was departing Helper as one of the three units manned swing helper. Though she doesn’t fit my era, the speed lettering on her hood drove me to represent a photo in this blog. This is UP AC4400CW (C44AC) #6311.

SP #232 was built in 1995 with 4400hp prime mover. She was renumbered to UP #6311 in 2007.

1995 photo of SP #232 at RailPictures net. site;

Japanese & Comments

SP Caboose #1776

: Sierra Blanca, TX. Sep. 10, 2015

This SP steel welded bay window caboose is found next to the depot now housing Hudspeth County Museum at Sierra Blanca, TX. It seems a museum display assorted with searchlight style signal. It is repainted and lost original letterings but COTS remains intact.

SP #1776 was one of 1750–1799 series C-40-7 class cabooses built in 1967. It was once painted in Bicentennial scheme. Athearn produced the N scale model of the exact car twice in 2004 and 2009, both sold out.

* 1980 photo of SP #1776 in Bicentennial scheme found at Railroad Picture Archives site;
* Athearn model web page;


: Sierra Blanca, TX. Sep. 10, 2015

Japanese & Comments

SP Ancho Depot

: Ancho, NM. Sep. 9, 2015

This former Southern Pacific Railroad depot structure is found opposite the track at Ancho Rd, Ancho, NM.

Ancho, established at the turn of the 20th century, was a town in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Ancho means wide in Spanish. It was once a major plaster and brick shipping point.

According to Marci L. Riskin, the wood frame depot with a hipped roof depot was built in 1902 by the El Paso & Northeastern Railroad[1]. SP took over the line in 1924. The depot was closed in 1959 and moved to the current site north of the track in 1963. It once housed a museum named My House of Old Things[2].

[1] The book The Train Stops Here preview page;
[2] CITY OF DUST web page;

: Ancho brick sold at ebay

Japanese & Comments

SP Alpine Depot

: Alpine. TX. Sep. 10, 2015

This former Southern Pacific Railroad depot is found at 102 W Holland Ave, Alpine, TX.

Alpine, registered in 1883, is a village in and the county seat of Brewster County, Texas with a population of 5971 according to the 1970 Census, 5905 according to the 2010 Census. The name changed from Murphyville to Alpine in 1888 after the petition by the residents.

The Spanish mission revival style depot was built in 1946 by Texas & New Orleans Railroad[1]. T&NO merged into SP in 1961. The depot hosted SP Sunset Limited. Today, it hosts Amtrak Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle. Notice the still surviving “Point-less Arrow” Amtrak logo. Unfortunately, however, no Amtrak agent stationed here: UP seems uses the former agent office space.

[1] The Great American Stations web page;


: Alpine. TX. Sep. 10, 2015
: postcard maybe printed in 1949

Japanese & Comments

SP Caboose #4605

: Alpine, TX. Sep. 10, 2015

This SP steel welded bay window caboose is found next to the depot at Alpine, TX. Unfortunately, however, it seems repainted and not even a number is left. The number is of suggested on the web.

SP #4605 was one of 4600–4649 series C-50-7 class cabooses built in 1978 by Pacific Car Foundry. Note the single red light attached to the base on the roof replacing ‘bug-eye’ marker light.

* 1978 photo of SP #4614 found at Fallen Flags site;

: Alpine, TX. Sep. 10, 2015

Japanese & Comments

SP B70-7 #7863

: South Fork, CO. Sep. 7, 2017

A SP locomotive with "speed" lettering was found at South Fork, Colorado on former D&RGW Creede Branch.

SP B70-7 #7863 was built by General Electric Company in 1979. It became Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (Denver & Rio Grande Historical Foundation) #7863 in 2003[1]. It was once used on Rio Grande Scenic Railroad's tourist train to La Veta Pass on San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad.

[1] Holmes, ND, Mar. 31, 2003, New Alamosa branch Sale Rumor Update, DRGW.Net;
* 1983 photo of SP #7863 by Jim Matsuka at Railroad Picture Archives;

: South Fork, CO. Sep. 7, 2017

Japanese & Comments

SP MWT #SPMW-5810, MWTK #SPMW-4256, MWTK #SPMW-63113, and MWF #SPMW-509473

: SPMW-5810

These former SP maintenance of way (MoW) equipment are found at Grand Junction, Colorado.

MWT #SPMW-58(10) is the tool car for UP Grand Junction Wreck Outfit. It once sported large speed lettering and “TOOL CAR HOUSTON DIVISION”[1]. Letters 1 and 0 were dropped from the number unnoticed, and finally covered with silver paint.

[1] 1995 photo of SPMW-5810 by Duane Simmons;
* 1998 photo of SPMW-58 by James R. Griffin;
* 2006 photo of SPMW-58 by Rodney J. Sorensen;


: SPMW-4256
: SPMW-63113

MWTK #SPMW-4256 is a water car for the fire train. It seems rebuilt from one of SP #58575 – 58774 (later 62798 – 62995) series O-50-13 class tank cars built in 1942.

The Official Railway Equipment Register for July 1974 shows the O-50-13 class tank cars with 75 cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation T and description “Tank, Stl.” and capacity 110,000 Lbs.

* 1978 photo of SP #62820 by Ron Hawkins;

MWTK #SPMW-63113 is also a water car for the fire train. It was rebuilt from one of SP #63105 – 63135 series O-100-4 class tank cars built in 1965.

The Official Railway Equipment Register for July 1974 shows the O-100-4 class tank cars with 28 cars of possible 31 in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation T and description “Tank, Stl., (Sulfuric Acid), Not Equipped With Bottom Outlet, 2” Safety Vents in Place of Safety Valves” and capacity 200,000 Lbs.

* 1978 photo of SP #63113 by John Huey;


: SPMW-509473

MWF #SPMW-509473 is a bulkhead flat car assigned for MoW service. According to Southern Pacific Color Guide to Passenger and Freight Equipment Vol. 2, SP #509473 was one of SP #509325 – 509574 series SP F-70-50 class cars built by Gunderson Brothers Engineering Co. in 1968.

The Official Railway Equipment Register for July 1974 shows the SP #509325 – 509574 series cars with 243 of possible 250 in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation FMS and description “Flat, Stl., Blkhd.” and capacity 149,000 Lbs.

Japanese & Comments