Nostalgia & History > SP Low-nose GP9's in California in the 70's

Photo 1 - Southern Pacific low-nose GP9 3718 is on the Isleton Branch in Sacramento, CA on April 7, 1975. I was railfanning with someone, either Dave Stanley or Bob Black, as I remember, on this day. Does anybody know what street this is?

According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 3718 was built in August 1959 by EMD as a model GP9, builders number 25641, SP 5882, SP Class DF-616. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 3718 EMD GP9, SP Class EF418-9.

This locomotive was downgraded in Nov. 1978 emerging as SP 2880 SP Class ES418-9.

The disposition of this locomotive is, it was retired in April 1985 and sold in June 1986, presumed scrapped.

Photo 2 - Southern Pacific low-nose GP9 3720 is in East Pleasanton, CA on an unrecorded date in 1973. Analog Photo Ektachrome Slide.

SP 3720 was built in August 1959 by EMD as a model GP9, builders number 25643, SP 5884, SP Class Class DF-616. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 3720 EMD GP9R, SP Class EF418R-5.

This locomotive was upgraded in March 1977 emerging as SP 3880 EMD GP9, SP Class EF418-9.

The disposition of this locomotive is: Retired March 1997, sold July 1998, became Central Western Railway 4002.

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

~Steve Sloan
San Jose, CA

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/14 18:20 by ssloansjca.

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Wow, the Isleton Branch. If you have any more photos from there, please post. It was gone before my time, unfortunately.

L.F.

Steve, the road in photo #10 is Freeport Blvd. Nice shot, BTW.

John Ford

It's at Del Rio Road. Looking at Google Maps, I can identify the same power poles as still being there today, complete with the streetlight. The topography fits, too.

Bill



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/14 11:20 by SP8404.

This is great information, thanks for passing it along. I think the official name for this was the The Walnut Grove Branch, which according to one source by this time ended at MP 104.96 near Hood Jct.

Thanks everyone!

~Steve

I'm surprised I never saw those, just saw the high hoods all the time, including some on the Oil Cans!