My Great Grandfather was a train engineer on the Southern Pacific Railroad until his death in Oct 1937. He lived in Ennis, Texas. I have attached a picture of him on his train and want to know if anyone can identify the type of engine this may be. Thanks, Tabitha
I think Socalz has got it. If you are interested in learning more about that particular locomotive there may be information online. I would check for SP 464, keeping in mind that that is probably one of several locomotives over time that carried that number, but you can immediately eliminate diesels and I think it's pretty safe to say this is a 2-6-0 Mogul. Is this a picture of your great grandfather?
Hang onto those photos. Those are precious. My great grandfather was an Army Corps of Engineers hopper dredge first mate. Also, welcome to Trainboard! Let me know if you can't find roster information for the locomotive. I can rattle a few cages here and get some of the walking SP Encyclopedia folks on the case. Adam
Hi Tabitha, Welcome to Trainboard. I have researched the locomotive your great-grandfather is pictured in and found it is a M-8 class 2-6-0 Mogul (as already agreed upon by other members). She was manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1902 and served for the most part on the "Atlantic" or "Mexican" lines of Southern Pacific. There were a total of 10, all Vauclain compounds (#460 - #469) of this class locomotives built. All of these locomotives were scrapped in 1928 and 1929. Hope this helps.
The compound steam engines were built to use the same steam twice to get more energy out of it. However the system did not work very well on a locomotive as opposed to a stationary steam engine. The #464 was converted to a "Simple" steam engine by 1921 and remained so until it was scrapped in Houston on September 27, 1929. Welcome to Trainboard.
SP Mogul The locomotive is from the Texas & New Orleans Railroad. The T&NO was a seperate but SP Owned company until 1961. Thewre was a state law in Texas that required any railroad operating in Texas had to be headquartered there. The law was repealed in 1961 and the T&NO became part of the Espee. In the diesel era the 400 series T&NO numbers were assigned to EMD GP-9's until the renumbering of 1965 when all SP T&NO SSW and other SP owned locomotives were re classified and renumbered by Builder and service.
