Nostalgia & History > SP #2424 On Train #54

My parents recently gave me this framed photo from Hobby Lobby for my new apartment. No idea on when it was taken, where it was taken or who took it. All I can see is what the numbers tell me, that it's taking on water, and I can vaguely make out a builting to the right of the locomotive. Apologies for the glair from the glass.

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Here is a picture of the same class.

From the www I found. in #52 with 9 cars leaves from Oakland and Train #54 with 5 cars leaves from Sacramento, they combine at Lathrop becoming a 14 car train to Los Angeles.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/19 20:01 by Railpax71.

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Railpax71 Wrote:
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> Here is a picture of the same class.
>
> From the www I found. in #52 with 9 cars leaves
> from Oakland and Train #54 with 5 cars leaves from
> Sacramento, they combine at Lathrop becoming a 14
> car train to Los Angeles.

So then this would be the Sacramento Daylight somewhere between its namesake and Lathrop. Doing some research myself, given the fact that A-6 Atlantics #3000-3003 were regularly assigned to this train, and were retired in 1952, it's possible that this was taken sometime after that.

I understand that the aluminum paint on the front of the smokebox was standard in the 1950s, so likely earlier.

railstiesballast Wrote:
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> I understand that the aluminum paint on the front
> of the smokebox was standard in the 1950s, so
> likely earlier.

Started to be applied in 1946 same time the Southern Pacific Lines was replaced with a larger Southern Pacific on the tender.

The original 54s had Atlantics with some Daylight paint on the engine and tender.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

PHall Wrote:
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> railstiesballast Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I understand that the aluminum paint on the
> front
> > of the smokebox was standard in the 1950s, so
> > likely earlier.
>
> Started to be applied in 1946 same time the
> Southern Pacific Lines was replaced with a larger
> Southern Pacific on the tender.

In general use, yes, 1946. But aluminum on SP steam made its debut in 1937 with delivery of the GS-2s. All GS-2s and beyond got it and certain skylined MT classes before 1946. The idea, of course, was higher visibility to the motoring public at grade crossings and the SP believed the new high-speed locomotives would benefit from the aluminum face. 

I think this photo present a bit of a mystery.  First off, the Sacramento Daylight was inaugurated in 1946.  In my reference.....a 1942 Official Guide, there is no SP train 54.  The appearanace of the engine shown tells me it was shot before '46, or she would be silver faced.  Perhaps the shot was in/after '46, and this locomotive has so far escaped the modernization process.

Two 3000 class Atlantics, likely the last in service on the railroad, were given the Daylight treatment for this assignment.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

In the late 1930's, SP train #54 was the "Sequoia", an overnight schedule from Oakland to Fresno and Porterville.  By 1940, the number was assigned to an unnamed morning local from Oakland to Fresno.  So SP 2424 in the photo was likely on one of those trains.  The locomotive was sold for scrap in 1951 by the way.

Best,
RL Cabin 

I think that in the photo #2424 does have an silver smokebox.....she is just filthy dirty and in desperate need of a bath!

Apologies for not replying. I wanted to be more involved in this discussion but I wasn't getting notifications. I agree that it looks as if this engine does have dirty silver/aluminum paint, meaning that this shot was taken some time between 1946 when the design was first applied, and 1951 when the engine was retired, meaning that this is, in fact, the Sacramento segment of the Sacramento Daylight. So it is indeed a rare picture, as the afformentioned 3000 series Atlantics were the primary power for that train. Not bad for less than $10 at Hobby Lobby. The final question is where is this being taken?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/19 19:46 by SD80MACfan.

Maybe at Tracy, thats where the train ran too, after leaving the Los Angeles Coaches at Lathrop.

Getting ready to return to Sacramento as # 53.

I rode SAC-Tracy back in the 50's, the only passenger.