ATSF San Francisco Chief

Was wondering if the ATSF ever used EMD E8/9's on the San Francisco Chief?

 

If you want an E-unit powered train with 'goodies' and a full consist, try the "Chicagoan" #12. "Santa Fe Trackside" (Stagner) has a collection of color photos of E's with this train, at least two of which show A-B-B or A-B-A consists and a train with a full dome in it. Dates of the shots are mid-late 50's. Makes for a pretty train, for sure. And a long one!

The E8's assigned to the shorter connecting trains at the end (El Paso, La Junta-Denver, etc) were handy because the single unit had a steam generator - and the route wasn't excessively mountainous. But in the 50's they were still very much in the power pool, just not necessarily on the top handful of trains.

I haven't seen shots of hi-levels behind the E's, but heck, I just recently saw photos of hi-levels on the Grand Canyon and the Texas Chief behind the U30CG's, and I didn't think that happened either.

 

Thanks to ALL, for the replys. I model the San Fran Chief and the El Cap. I custom painted a set of PA's for it. Just checking to see if any E 8/9's would have been on it.

 

I am going to custom paint a set of P-42 Genisis engines for it???

 

Never, ever, ever. The early E1 (which later became the E8m), E3 and E6 types did transcontinental work until 1947 only. They had unpowered idler axles and were too slippery.

You can run them beside your pretty trains if you model either Illinois/Iowa,Missouri/Kansas, as they Kansas Cityan and Chicagoan did use E8m cab units with E6B boosters for a time, or if you model the San Joaquin valley, as the Golden Gate used E8m cabs and boosters. Interestingly, I've seen a pic of a cab/booster set of them with an F7B on that train, the only example of mixing those types I've encountered.

 

Never, ever say "Never, ever". That's about when someone will decide to pop up with and provide a picture of such....or at least try.

I do agree with you. My memory of the trains that left Barstow for Los Angeles and San Francisco and points east via Needles, Ca., as well as trains returning from these points. In 1955, by the time I was old enough to remember and note the different diesels the trains all had F type units in the pool power. I don't remember any E types. As I would sit outside the diesel shops waiting for my grandad to tie up and get off work I would oogle and drool over the various locomotives. I don't recall seeing any E type's, in for service. That's not to say there wasn't.

Seems to me Chard Walker took a picture of some E types on the front of one of Santa Fe's Passenger trains, Summit, Ca.. Or was that on the front of SP passenger train detouring via Cadiz to Phoenix? Hummm, I will need to dig around and see if I can find his book.

The San Diegan sported some unusual E's and PA's on there trains.

 

I'd sure be interested to see it. Cajon is pretty tough terrain for them as well. Of course, they did run all transcontinentals through WWII and until about 1947. But there's a reason the Santa Fe was a pioneer in the use of F types in passenger service--unlike the UP, which seemed perfectly happy putting a dozen E units on the head of a train, the Santa Fe just did not like their performance on tough grades.

But you're right. I should never say never. After all, they got the E8m cab and booster that handled the Golden Gate to the north side of Tehachapi somehow--and I'm pretty sure they didn't use a helicopter.

 

LOL

You are so right.

Yep, about the time I get ready to stick my kneck out there's usually somone there with a turkey hatchet. Grin!

Here are some resources you can check out: http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/sfa1.html

http://coastdaylight.com/sb/san_berdoo_64.html

And: http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/sfa9.html

 

And some more:

http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/sfp.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/high_iron/2563502344/

Look very carefully at this next photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/high_iron/2563500964/in/photostream/

Enjoy!

 

It's a pleasure! A real pleasure.

I'm saying Chief and San Diegan. Wish we could know for sure. In any case, it's surely not the San Francisco Chief in L.A!

And thanks for the great links. Wonderful to see so many shots of the Frisco Chief with ALCOs in charge.

 

Ya gotta love the San Diegan. E1As initially, later E6As, PA-1s, E8m's, finally F-3s and F-7s--and on a really, really bad day in the early years you might get a 3700 class Mountain! That's what they considered a bad day!

Those plebian push pull pigs they run on that line now... *shakes head*

 

Your welcome.

A friend.

 

ATSF never bought any E9's. The E8's they had were rebuilt from earlier version E's into what was classed as E8m. By the time of the SFC it would have been very unlikely that they would have been used. Possible between Argentine and Chicago in an emergency or after a major (class III?) servicing.

On the other hand, it is your railroad and you can do what you want with it aslong as you enjoy it. If I ever get to build the layout as Deb keeps promising "in two years" I will have ATSF trains running over the Belen cutoff that likely never did or only in case of a major problem on Raton or Glorieta.

 

In 1970 in Dec I road the SF Chief from Amarillo to SF (Richmond) and back to Amarillo. It had El Cap cars at that time. I got to see it lots of times in Fresno when I was in the Calif. State League. I remember how good the food was. Wow..they even had halibat on the menu.......

 

P-42 in Classic Warbonnet View attachment 45263