Nostalgia & History > Saluting roster shots (#12): Fresno Alco!

Here’s a roster shot that didn’t make the “final cut” for our recent 3-part WAG Wednesday series on the SP at Fresno, CA. During my career I never ran an Alco for a switch engine. I kinda wonder how this beast loaded up for regular switching moves such as kicks & quick stops…

1. SP 4008 working a switch cut(?) in Fresno, CA on March 21, 1968. Bill’s slide notes indicate the 4008’s original number was 7308. And if I transcribed correctly, this unit went on to become NYC 2038*.
Photo by William A. Gibson (WAG) Sr.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
Art Gibson (wag216)

*Corrected, per masterphots' reply below.
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/23 23:17 by santafe199.

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The 4008  was sold by the SP for scrap in May 1978 to Proler International in Houston.   Source:  Joe Strapac's SP Historical Diesels, Vol 8,  page 69.

masterphots Wrote: > ...  sold by the SP for scrap ...

Thanks! I will adjust my errant transcription accordingly... :^)

Lance

Love it!  - Eric B.

The 4009 at the Fillmore & Western would pull the yard tracks up with the cars if you let it. With the independent set, you could open the throttle and it would squeel off into the sunset against the iron shoes. It blew a $2 transistor on the excitation module and when opened to run 1 the load meter buried and off it would go, brakes set, handbrake tied and cars tacked on to it. I stalled the priime mover more than once. 

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here’s a roster shot that didn’t make the
> “final cut” for our recent 3-part WAG
> Wednesday series on the SP at Fresno, CA. During
> my career I never ran an Alco for a switch engine.
> I kinda wonder how this beast loaded up for
> regular switching moves such as kicks & quick
> stops…
>
> 1. SP 4008 working a switch cut(?) in Fresno, CA
> on March 21, 1968. Bill’s slide notes indicate
> the 4008’s original number was 7308. And if I
> transcribed correctly, this unit went on to become
> NYC 2038*.
> Photo by William A. Gibson (WAG) Sr.
>
> Thanks for looking back!
> Lance Garrels (santafe199)
> Art Gibson (wag216)
>
> *Corrected, per masterphots' reply below.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> count-down to norman ah bates