On The Espee: Unique Came in Many Forms |
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| Standardization was an important equipment strategy on many railroads, during the
latter part of the 1950s and 1960's. However, Southern Pacific was among the few that did
not fully subscribe to that theory. The Espee was more intent on experimenting and finding
the right motive power mix for the job at hand, and its diesel purchases underscored the
fact. From Fairbanks-Morse Trainmasters in commuter service to dual-engined freight locomotives
to 4000-hp hydraulics that whistled in Germam, the SP's locomotive roster was uncommon. Here
are some locomotive examples to help illustrate a few of the ways the San Francisco-based
railroad's motive power stable was unique.
Photographer Roger Puta caught this trio of Espee "popsicles" in March 1978 leading what appears to be an intermodal train somewhere in California. The orange and red roadsters are Morrison-Knudsen model TE70-4S - 70,000 lbs tractive effort, four-axles and a Sulzer V12 powerplant. One source suggests that the TE70-4S units worked mostly in tandem because they did not work well with locomotives from other builders. The M-K units are just one more example of SP's willingness to experiment in search of the right motive power combination. | |
