Nostalgia & History > SP SD9 3800, "Puff" in 1973

Date: 06/14/21 14:27
SP SD9 3800, "Puff" in 1973
Author: ssloansjca

On Monday, June 25, 1973, boiler equipped Southern Pacific, (SP) SD9 3800 leads a train under the BART tracks at the SP wye in West Oakland, CA. According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic SP Compendium series, SP 3800 was built in April 1954 by EMD as a model SD9, builders number 19442, SP 5353, SP Class DF-120. In Jan. 1961 it was renumbered to second SP 5339. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 3800 EMD SD9, SP Class EF618-1.
This locomotive was upgraded in Feb 1974 emerging as SD9R SP 4451 SP Class EF618E-2.
The disposition of this locomotive is, retired Aug. 1995. January 1996 sold to Progress Rail. Went to the Northwestern Pacific where it reportedly is rotting away still in Schellville, CA. It's sister 4450 was scrapped in Portola, CA.

I hope you enjoy this post:

Steve Sloan
San José, CA
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About my sources and the information presented here:
[url=http:// http://www.ssloan.net/trains/sources]http://www.ssloan.net/trains/sources[/url]

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Date: 06/14/21 15:08
Re: SP SD9 3800, "Puff" in 1973
Author: Milwaukee

Was there any particular reason these two SD9's were selected by the SP to retain their steam boilers and act as backup power for the commute pool or were they randomly pulled from the available options SP had? Weren't there quite a few SP SD9's delivered with steam generators?

Thanks in advance for any info.

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Date: 06/14/21 15:51
Re: SP SD9 3800, "Puff" in 1973
Author: photobob

Here's what she looked like four years ago at Schellville.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography