Nostalgia & History > SP 7478 E Cape Horn CA 1994

Here's a typical Espee manifest from the last years before the UP merger. It was shot on 5-31-94 around 2:30pm. It was following Amtrak #6, but it wasn't running right on its block. It has the 5x2 power arrangement with the Colfax helpers cut into the middle because of some TTX front runners on the very back. The train is making track speed when the head end passes by, but it sure slows down when the rest of train begins climbing above the trestles at Long Ravine.

SP 7478
DRGW 5413
SP 7613
SP 6776 ? I couldn't read it; too dirty and peeling paint
SP 8387

SP 7627
SP 7661

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A little bit of everything on that train.

Just spectacular! What a treat to see the last of the SP making a run for it.
GP40-2's were an interesting selection for helpers. I don't recall this happening too often, or did it? I know SD40/45's/T-2's in the 70's and 80's, then GP60's, then MK-rebuild GP40's, then tired 8200-series SD40T-2's after the merger were routine.

They pretty much tried many combinations of power; but the bigger sd40s and tunnel motors were preferred.

They even tried pairs of the b30-7. That lasted at most 5 days. I tried to give chase when GE power was around, but school and work tended to get in the way.

My favorite unit assigned to the Colfax helper was a DRGW gp30 that was facing west. It was a pleasure to find it drifting downgrade as lite engines to help a train a heavy eb. Then you would get a nice going away shot as it shoved east.