Nostalgia & History > SP #6459 at Martinez, April 1971 Last SP Excursion

I have posted this before (I think) but it is one of my favorite SP FP7 photos---The Truckee Limited of April 25, 1971, the last excursion on the SP before Amtrak.

Whoever said SP didn't keep thier engines clean?

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Beautiful!

Beautiful is right... The entire trip was like SP in the 40's.. Dining Car ops, Lounge car, Porters, Waiters, 22-car consist (matched), except for WK652 Obs Car.. Left Oakland about 7:30AM at 16th St.// Returned after midnight that evening...
The trip is on FILM-- about 400 feet--Color..

Nice photo, Drew...

"Key Route Ken"...

It didn't match... had one of GWT's sleepers in GN Sky Blue in the consist and if you want to get right down to it, the open baggage is dark grey, but I'll let that slide.

Hey there, ""WAF"", you're absolutely right.. There was a blue & white car in there. How 'bout that.. However, MOST of the train was those Red & Silver chair cars that SP had several of.
Were you aboard ?? It was the same basic consist from the Rio Vista Juncdtion Limited of April 4th... Locomotives were diferent on April 4th. FOUR total.. The Truckee Limited of April 25th had FIVE. ALL same or similar to the one shown in Drew's great photo..

KRK

Yes, I was aboard. It had five units, A-A-B-B-A, I have the numbers somewheres. The lead unit was 6459 and then 6453 and the other A was I think 6448. Very similar consist as the Rio Vista Ltd, but there a Reno Fun Train and Tehachapi special in the same month. LA special trains came out of Oakland too.

Sound Recorded this beautiful train starting at Colfax, April 25th, just opened the track just west of Truckee because of that runaway down Cold Stream. The SP at its finest, and F's without spark arrestors, 567's under heavy grades pulling a long train. This was SP at its best, everything squeaky clean, and running perfectly.

TerexGM

Dramatic SP image !
Sure like those FP-7's. Were any saved ?