Steam & Excursion > The work horses of the SP

SP used the 2-8-0's in all sorts of service and here are just three jobs that were handled by those hard working 2-8-0's....Photo # 01.....The location is Roseville and its a hot July 1954 and 2833 is about to complete a SB train that will head to Fresno, still a caboose to be added, but its all in a days work...
Photo # 02.....2568 on a cab hop from doing a all nighta work switching at Pittsburg is head to Port costa, note...the 2568 has the more modern tender and is rolling by the depot at Martinez, both the 2833 and the 2568 were good runners and lasted to the end of steam and both went to Pittsburg to be scrapped...
Photo # 03.....2816 has the Pittsburg turn with about 30 car loads of coiled steel in a 45 car drag, 2816 is closing in on the east end of Ozol siding, will pick up orders while passing Martinez and head onto the Mococo line, the date is June 1955 and like the 2833,2568, 2816 lasted until the end of steam.
The 2-8-0's could be seen all over the SP, working locals, yard work, drags and even main line service, engines you could count on...

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Barstool, you were an artist with a camera, recording these fascinating scenes at just the right moment those 60+ years ago. Thanks for doing it then and posting them now.

Joe Strapac told the SPH&TS meeting a few years ago to think of the 2-8-0 as the "GP-9" of the steam era.

The SP saved so many of them it's a wonder more were not restored to service.

Those are great photos of a nice looking steam engine design. I really like the tenders.

Nathan

Txhighballer Wrote:
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> The SP saved so many of them it's a wonder more
> were not restored to service.

Too common, not sexy enough compared to a 4-8-4.

Txhighballer Wrote:
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> The SP saved so many of them it's a wonder more
> were not restored to service.

I didn't know that any SP 2-8-0s were restored to service.

The 3420 in El Paso, TX ran a bit in the 1980s.

The other thing about them which was remarkable to me is that few if any of them were ever updated with Walschaerts valve gear to go with the piston valves....