Nostalgia & History > Friday Night Bytes-New SP GE's at Shawmut, AZ

Three shots of some clean SP C44-9W's passing through Shawmut, AZ on SP's Sunset Route. After seeing so many dirty EMD's over the years, it was refreshing to see fresh, clean units plying the rails. It was their first new GE's since they bought U33C's in the 60's.

1. 8116 westbound with a stack train approaching the east switch of Shawmut siding on 12-17-94.
2. My first shots of these new units was the 8117 & 8126 down on their hands and knees lifting an eastbound manifest train up the grade at MP868 on 6-25-94. This train would normally have 4 EMD's on it.
3. 8179 westbound around the curve from the above photo with a manifest train on 6-3-95.

Thanks for looking,

Tom

---

---

---

I could have sworn SP bought some B23-7s, B30-7s, B36-7s, and DASH8 40Bs before they got the 8100s. Hmmmmmmmm!

I wonder if he meant first 6 axles GE since the U33C??

In addition, Railfan4Christ, I really enjoyed your photos for the past 4 years. Thanks for posting!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/14 17:09 by ClipX.

ClipX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wonder if he meant first 6 axles GE since the
> U33C??
>


My mistake, I meant 6 axle GE's. That's what I get for being in a rush out the door for the family walk! Thanks for the correction.

Tom

Fantastic views! Thanks for posting these gems.

Awesome trio.
JB

Railfan4Christ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> My mistake, I meant 6 axle GE's. That's what I get
> for being in a rush out the door for the family
> walk! Thanks for the correction.
>
> Tom

Hey, go for the family walk. You can count the axles later.

Marty Bernard

Loved the pics, nice addition! Those particular GE's were first ordered for Utah coal/WC taconite service, but quickly migrated to the Sunset Line once the AC's started arriving. They never really strayed too far away from there, with a few I-5 Corridor exceptions.

Excellent shots, Tom. I always thought it was interesting that SP had the front letteres spaced out like that on the 8100's, just another of SP's spotting features.

Thanks for sharing,
~Ryan

Posted from iPhone