Nostalgia & History > Taylor Yard Action 1965

Top End of the A-Yard. Photos By Bernard Levine.

#1 5324 coupled to the 5293 performing a bit of switching. The power on the left is about to head down the Roundhouse lead. Also note the Cotton Belt F-unit in the back ground on yet another set of inbound power for the roundhouse.


#2 6050 leads #3’s power this morning as it heads for the roundhouse. It appears that at least two sets of power have been coupled together.

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#3-4 5356 on train #803 as it heads north to Bakersfield.

#5 5874 heads down the roundhouse lead to be washed and serviced. Note, the SP still washed all inbound power except valley power at the time.

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#6 Inbound power makes it’s way to the slide.

#7 Top end switcher in action.

#8 It’s SD35 time.

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Awesome stuff! I can almost taste the pastries...

John Ford

Bueatiful stuff Did the photographer happen to get a few miles south of here at that time and cover the Santa Fe? Would love to see those shots

roberthedgecock Wrote:
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> Bueatiful stuff Did the photographer happen to get
> a few miles south of here at that time and cover
> the Santa Fe? Would love to see those shots


Not much in this batch of pictures, but I know there will be Santa Fe in the future.

John,
Your photos of the TY area are a great education on the SP of that time. Never been to TY as a Nor-Cal railfan, but now it seems like I have. Appreciate the look back.
Dave

Looks like the switch stands still had oil-burning lanterns on them... I wouldn't think anyone was still bothering to light these at night, were they? When did this practice cease on the SP? Did the old lanterns continue to be lit until replaced with electric ones, or what?

Mark

When I started with the SP (1968), there were no lamps...just reflective targets on the switches.

JDE

mwbridgwater Wrote:
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> Looks like the switch stands still had oil-burning
> lanterns on them... I wouldn't think anyone was
> still bothering to light these at night, were
> they?

They were left lit 24/7. Remember, we had maintainer/oilers back then whose job was to maintain them.

When did this practice cease on the SP?

When reflectorized targets came into use.

Did the old lanterns continue to be lit until replaced
> with electric ones, or what?

Never did see electric ones on the SP around LA. The 'J' (LA Junction Ry) however, did use electric switchlamps circa 1960's.

Charlie
>
> Mark

GREAT STUFF AGAIN!!!
Thank you.
Tom

SP6190 wrote of photo #5:

>Note, the SP still washed all inbound power except valley power at the time.


The wash rack at Bakersfield took care of power on the Bakersfield-LA run.

cewherry Wrote:
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> mwbridgwater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Looks like the switch stands still had
> oil-burning
> > lanterns on them... I wouldn't think anyone was
> > still bothering to light these at night, were
> > they?
>
> They were left lit 24/7. Remember, we had
> maintainer/oilers back then whose job was to
> maintain them.
>
> When did this practice cease on the SP?
>
> When reflectorized targets came into use.
>
> Did the old lanterns continue to be lit until
> replaced
> > with electric ones, or what?
>
> Never did see electric ones on the SP around LA.
> The 'J' (LA Junction Ry) however, did use electric
> switchlamps circa 1960's.
>
> Charlie
> >
> > Mark0
Still had oil burners on the Harbor Belt in 1966 Charlie. My uncle was given two of them by a brakeman on the SP.

V

SLOCONDR

SP6190 Wrote:
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> #8 It’s SD35 time.

Nice rare photo of two very clean SP SD35's in their original class numbers. (SP SD35 4838 and 4839)