Nostalgia & History > SP 9017 and 9171 Back in the Day

Haven't posted in a while. Thought this was of an interesting photo subject matter, so...

Southern Pacific freight operations back in the day. Passing the cement plant in San Jose. JR didn't notate this one, so I'm not 100% sure what's going on, but it makes for a good look back.

Enjoy

Walter
 

---

The one on the left is making a pickup at Newhall Yard while the one on the right is bypassing Newhall to Oakland

I like it!

WAF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The one on the left is making a pickup at Newhall
> Yard while the one on the right is bypassing
> Newhall to Oakland

Other way around. Both eastward - 9017 is on the eastbound mainline bypassing Newhall Yard headed for Watsonville and 9171 is on a yard lead and could be going to either Watsonville or Oakland via the Milpitas Line (if going this way it would be a westward train).



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/15 08:02 by Railbaron.

It's a race! ... and 9171's going to lose. Assuming that both trains were headed for Watsonville Junction (9171 could have been a Pool 1 job headed towards Milpitas), the 9017's crew must be getting a kick out of bypassing San Jose and running around the other crew (9017 is on the Eastbound Main; 9171 is on the Newhall (Yard) Lead; in between them is the Westbound; next to 9171 is the College Park Drill. I never liked picking-up and setting-out in San Jose, because my trains seemed to derail there a lot. The tracks were pretty bad, something that I found out first-hand while working for the track department. On the other hand, having work in San Jose often resulted in more overtime pay, so I guess my dislike was nevertheless well-compensated. I say "more" overtime, because during busy seasons, crews often pushed the hog law trying to make that 100 miles from Oakland to Watsonville Junction. Looking at things as they are today, it's kinda hard to fathom, eh?

EO

Maybe they got wind of the upcoming SP-UP merger and were practicing sitting in sidings of the "Usually Parked" waiting for the meltdown about to occur?

Dick Samuels



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/15 09:43 by EMDSW-1.

Wish I could make out the hoggers.  I worked the OAK/WJct. route at that time.  I know I must be in someone's photos somewhere.  I would imagine a lot of photos were taken between 1974 and 1979 on that route. 

4 MU hoses on both, not sure when the sand hose was dropped.  Looks kinda like 9171 is waving at the passing 9017.   Can't really tell if 9017 Mars light is rotating.  

Sphogger  

I tried editing the pics to see if the hoggers were identifiable. I don't think there's enough info in these old photos. You can just make out some of 9171's man, but I can't make out anything of 9017's. At least we know whoever he is/was, he is waving!

Thanks

Walter

ExStarlightHog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wish I could make out the hoggers.  I worked the
> OAK/WJct. route at that time.  I know I must be
> in someone's photos somewhere.  I would imagine a
> lot of photos were taken between 1974 and 1979 on
> that route. 

---

---

Sorry Walter.  Those hoggers are just shadows.  I know the 9171 is not me.  I never wore clothes like that.