Nostalgia & History > SP 3611 The Last Of Its Kind

Southern Pacific GP9 3611 is switching its train at the Antelope end of Roseville Yard in July of 1971. By this late date one can safely say the 3611 was the last hood unit to wear black widow paint. (Rattenne Collection)

In fact, the unit was so tenacious in keeping its colorful paint job that at some point, when painted, the long hood remained in black while the rest of the GP9 was repainted to Grey and Scarlet. Date of the second photo is January 16, 1975. SP 3611 kept this hybrid scheme at least into early 1976 and was nicknamed the "Half Widow" unit. It's shown here on the roundhouse whiskers of the Lenzen Ave Roundhouse in San Jose.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/14 10:27 by CrudPunko.

---

---

I shot it with the black long hood at Tracy on 12/30/75. Never photo'd it in full gray.

Alan,

I'm almost positive that 3611 wore the "half widow" attire into the Sacramento rebuild program emerging in new dress under a new number.

John Ford

Lone Star Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Alan,
>
> I'm almost positive that 3611 wore the "half
> widow" attire into the Sacramento rebuild program
> emerging in new dress under a new number.
>
> John Ford


I concur with John.

CrudPunko Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Southern Pacific GP9 3611 is switching its train
> at the Antelope end of Roseville Yard in July of
> 1971. By this late date one can safely say the
> 3611 was the last hood unit to wear black widow
> paint. (Rattenne Collection)

True for the SP, but SSW 3642-3646 were also in black widow then.