When Giants Roamed the Southern Pacific
August 6, 2011
The Union Pacific is renowned for its fleet of 102 8-axle diesel locomotives that operated system-wide between 1963 and 1984. The best known example of this era is UP DDA40X 6936, preserved in operating condition as part of UP’s Heritage fleet. I have several posts about this unit, here and here.
With much less fanfare, the SP rostered a grand total of 6 8-axle locomotives, 3 GE U50’s and 3 EMD DD35’s. They operated between 1964 and 1977, when they were all scrapped. I have two other posts that touch on the topic of U50’s on the Southern Pacific, here and here.
I recently came across a nice collection of SP’s 8-axle locomotives that were posted online by Ron Hawkins. Click on either image to view the full collection.
- SP U50 9951 at City of Industry, CA on 1/22/77
- Recently re-numbered SP DD35 9900 is at City of Industry, CA on 1/22/77
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