Steam & Excursion > This Locomotive's All Polished Up To Move Her Very Special Train!

Southern Pacific was well known for keeping the steam switch engines stationed at their passenger terminals in excellent states of spit and polish. This portrayed the right image to the passengers who chose SP trains for their transportation.

In 1948 SP #1184 was selected from the roster of SP engines stationed at San Francisco's 3rd and Townsend station to position the visiting American Freedom Train over to the Marina District in San Francisco for it's display. We see her performing these duties in this fine photograph.

The sunny day shows that the time spent by the SP crews to keep #1184 painted and polished has paid off handsomely.


Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/18 05:44 by LoggerHogger.

---

Since this was State Belt Line of California trackage I find it interesting that an SP locomotive was used for the move. Thanks for the image.

What is that big furry thing covering the end of the first car?

An unfortunately placed hedge, piece of landscaping?

W.

wcamp1472 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> An unfortunately placed hedge, piece of
> landscaping?
>
> W.

I will leave it up to you to decide.

Martin

---

SP had joint facility contracts with the State Belt railroad for interchange at 2nd & King Streets and for switching at Pier 90, far to the south. So it is very surprising to see an SP locomotive near the north end of the State Belt. Perhaps a State Belt crew running her?

TonyJ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since this was State Belt Line of California
> trackage I find it interesting that an SP
> locomotive was used for the move. Thanks for the
> image.

Looks like a square-trimmed tree, close to the track, that soneone has lovingly taken care of for some reason?
I think you can barely see the trunk on bottom?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Swarm of bees ?