Nostalgia & History > EMD SD70 #7001 leading SP freight at Floriston

July of 1994 as SD70 EMD #7001 is Westbound thru Floriston (between Truckee and Verdi) lashed to three SP tunnel motors and loaded coal train. In a little over two years, Donner Pass would be over run by hordes of jaundiced SD70 varients provided by the boys in Omahaha. What I don't remember is if this engine is a demo unit or a leased locomotive.

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that was actually one of the prototype sd70m's. emd had 4 painted in that livery. csx owns all of them i believe.

Will Hemb
Flower Mound, TX

It was a demo unit. Saw a trio (7000-01-02) on the Moffat that summer with a Dash-Nine

> that was actually one of the prototype sd70m's.
> emd had 4 painted in that livery.

Though there were 25 EMD SD70Ms in EMD paint, EMD only had three SD70Ms painted in a special demonstrator paint scheme: 7000-7002.

More were later built for lease as EMD 7003-7024, in simplified versions of the original demo paint. These units had black trucks instead of silver, black fuel tank instead of maroon, amongst other simplifications to the scheme. A few from this group were outshopped in a solid maroon paint.

>csx owns all of them i believe.

Yep.. that's what I recall as well.

Cheers,
Harry

Here are 7002 & 7001 on their demo trip the day before the SP board had a look in June '93, followed by an order. I went over to Oakland after work and found them in perfect sun and nobody inclined to object to a photo.

Jim

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Always liked the paint scheme on the EMD 70 demos. Silver and maroon looks good together.

Kent in Carmel Valley

I agree 100%.

JDE

jimB Wrote:
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> Here are 7002 & 7001 on their demo trip the day
> before the SP board had a look in June '93,
> followed by an order. I went over to Oakland after
> work and found them in perfect sun and nobody
> inclined to object to a photo.
>
Great photo. These units eventually joined the EMD lease fleet, and along with the units Harry described, were commonly seen on the former SP during the late 90's. In addition to the flashier paint scheme than their younger brethren, they were unique in that the front door was on the fireman's side. The location was moved to the engineer's side on production SD70/75s.

jimB Wrote:
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> Here are 7002 & 7001 on their demo trip the day
> before the SP board had a look in June '93,
> followed by an order. I went over to Oakland after
> work and found them in perfect sun and nobody
> inclined to object to a photo.
>
> Jim


WOW! Great photo indeed. I had no idea they came straight to Oakland within their first month in existance. I mean, those wheels, fuel tank and even that plow are completely spotless! Thanks for sharing Jim!

Many miles and many years apart,the 7001 rests at Mulberry,Florida on May 25,2000.

Uncle Joe-Florida

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drew1946 Wrote:
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> July of 1994 as SD70 EMD #7001 is Westbound thru
> Floriston (between Truckee and Verdi) lashed to
> three SP tunnel motors and loaded coal train.

I always enjoyed the color scheme of the 7000 series EMD's. During their lease time with SP they generally were captive to the I-5 corridor along with the 9800 series SD70's in SP colors.

In a little over two years, Donner Pass would be over
> run by hordes of jaundiced SD70 varients provided
> by the boys in Omahaha.

Not quite true. The SD70's rarely saw the grades of Donner until the 1000 UP SD70's in the 4000 series were delivered. I forget what year that was but it had to be later than 2000. I remember chasing the first trip of UP 4000 as it was coming west along the FRC.

In 1995 Brand new SP AC4400's, rebuilt SD40M's along with SD40-T varients ruled the grades of Donner. After the merger in 1996 UP took delivery of the SD90 Mac's and for a while they led some manifests because of their DPU capability and then headed to the coalfields. During the late 1990's we were treated to those "wonderful" paint peeling SD60's, grimey Dash 7-8-9's and later those already worn to a bone 9300-9400's Series Dash 9's that UP used due to their DPU capability. Donner during that time was pretty pathetic for me and I switched to other rail lines for the most part. The arrival of the UP SD70's during the first part of the 21st century was a breath of fresh air.

Yes, CSX owns them now, numbered 4675-4699. 4675-77 were the 3 original demonstrators. 75 & 77 still wear the paint.

Tim Rich
S. Ogden, UT

They were hand washed at Oakland the day before the Board of Directors visit the next day. The board then approved the purchase. Here is a little wider view. They were shiny!

Jim

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The EMD rep - Wally W. that accompanied these units was really friendly too.. I still owe him a photograph.. darn it. I hope he is still around. I remember in the cab of the 7000 that they had a guestbook for visitors to sign!

Best Regards,
Harry