Nostalgia & History > SP Class EF418-8 GP9s

Reportedly these are the first SP units delivered in gray and red. These are new scans:

Photo One - Southern Pacific GP9 3701 sits in Suisun, CA on Monday, August 12, 1974.
Reportedly, according to Strapac's great SP Compendium series, SP 3701 was built in April 1959 by by EMD as a model GP9, builders number 25138, SP 5838, SP Class DF-612. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 3701, SP Class EF418-8.
This locomotive was remanufactured in Nov. 1976 emerging as GP9R SP 3839 SP Class EF418E-4.
The disposition of this locomotive is, it was retired in April 1991 and is presumed scrapped.

Photo Two - SP GP9’s 3706, 3658 and black widow painted 3611 approach Stockton tower on January 1, 1973.“SP westbound Santa Fe Tower, SP Westbound.”
SP 3711 was built in Aug. 1959 by EMD as a model GP9, builders number 25634, SP 5875, SP Class DF-616. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 3711 SP Class EF418-9.
This locomotive was remanufactured on Dec 1977 emerging as SP 3884 SP Class EF418R-5.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired Dec 1986, sold Jan 1988 to Southwest Rwy Car Parts. Oct 1988 Leased to Buffalo & Pittsburgh, 1996 leased to Alaska RR. Aug 1999 went to Rock & Rail 201. Current status not known.

Information, stories, suggestions, comments and/or constructive corrections are appreciated.

~Steve Sloan

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My work, presented here, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Used on Coast Piggybacks and other freights.

Came along when I was around ten years old and I originally thought they were GP18s especially since
there was a series that came will low hoods looking like GP20s. Large center fan made these destinctive.

Regards, Jim Evans

Got bumped from piggybacks as GP20s, GP30s, GP35s, U25Bs, Alco 721s came along. Great locomotive in the RV pool to handle Bay Area trains when RV needed to turn back the big C-C for the mountain trains

Thanks for the comments. It's fun to look back!

~Steve