hello, i am wondering did the southern pacifics alco centurys ever switch out industries at all? or was it mainline and later yard switching only? thanks, dan
Would this help? http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt... C-628&fr2=sb-top&fr=ush-mailn&pqstr=SP C-628 This answers your question as in it states "The units rebuilt for yard service." http://espee.railfan.net/spc-628.html
mainline at first, leased to the PC, BN and L&N (1970-1971), then rebuilt as either a heavy switcher or a slug, they were used in Colton for a while. When in Colton and the other LA yards, they were used as locos to drag blocks of cars from one yard to another. They were not used like the SD7R/9E's as a go anywhere local switcher/road loco without dunamic brakes. IF you are looking for a good local loco for a model railroad, look at the geographical area first, then try to ask the locals, When I grew up in the LA basin, the line from Santa Ana to Paramount used a pair of SW1500's, the Anahiem local used a pair of GP9E's, and a lot of other areas used SD9E's. The SD7R's were used a lot in the Colton yard and Delores used a pair of SD38's. When I moved out to Arizona, I was thinking about a GP9E/SD9E local, well, the SP in Tucson liked to use a pair of GP35R's....so now, I have built a model of GP35R 6300...and will look at getting another one.
schucks, oh well, one will be on my switching layout anyway because they look so dang cool. does any video footage exist of the sp big alcos?
What I would use if your heart is set on on an ALCO road switcher, I would look at a RS11, the SP downgraded most to a switcher status, but they were used as local power: http://www.railpixs.com/sp2/SP2915_HoustonTx_Oct78.jpg http://www.railpixs.com/sp2/SP2916_EnglewoodYd_Houston_Nov77.jpg http://www.railpixs.com/sp2/SP%20at%20HardyStShops%20in%20Houston_Oct79.jpg here is a trio of C-628's working the hump http://www.railpixs.com/sp2/SP3135_EnglewoodYd_Houston_Dec77.jpg
