Nostalgia & History > When SP ALCO RS-11's ruled the East Bay

SP X-5850 east rolls past the C&H Sugar Refinery in Crockett with a reefer block in 1960.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

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Cool shot, Bob.

I don't recall seeing many photos of Espee's low-nose RS-11s in service.

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

Low nose units wereactually RS32's. An upgraded version of RS11.

That the trailing two units in Bob's great photo were RS-32s was my first thought as well, but according to Joe Strapac's 1967-1968 SP Motive Power Annual on Page 8, "Six more (RS-11s) completed the series, going into service  in September 1959.  These units... were built with low-front hoods..."

The number sequence of the second and third units would also seem to indicate that they were all part of the same class.

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/20 13:43 by E25.

Great location. Have to try out there in the morning one day, although not sure if there's any access yonder. 

Great photos. RS11s were 1800 hp and came in both high and low nose versions. RS32s were 2000 hp, sounded completely different from RS11s and were in the 7300s later 4000s on the SP

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Great photos. RS11s were 1800 hp and came in both high and low nose versions. RS32s were 2000 hp, sounded completely different from RS11s and were in the 7300s later 4000s on the SP

- Eric Blasko

Yes the last of SP's order of  6 RS-11's came low nosed at 1800 HP they were not RS-32's which SP had 10 of them at 2000 HP each, the RS-32's were very rare Penn Central had 25 and SP had 10 those were the only RS-32's ever built.  SP did the same with the GP-9's the last 20 Geep 9's were all low nosed!!

That is a solid set of RS-11's, thank you Photo Bob!!