Southern Pacific SP Class EF415A-1 F7A 371 sitting outside the Sacramento Shops. Likely in the Spring of 1970. This may be my first train slide ever. Shot on Wards or Sears slide film. This was with a lot of F units stored outside the Sacramento Shops. According to WAF on Trainorders, "your time period is closer to 1969." Evan Werkema said, "Strapac's Southern Pacific Diesel Locomotive Compendium V.1 shows 371 retired 4/24/70 and sold 10/9/70"

SP 371 was built in June 1953 as construction number 18364, SP (T&NO) 355 Class DF-11. It became SP Class EF415A-1 in 1965.

Brian Williams said in an e-mail: Steve, here's a comment from a friend of mine who worked for the espee as a fireman/engineer. The photo of the 371 is a T&NO unit. They were miserable units to work on. Especially on the locals from bakersfield to fresno, picking up beet gons along the way. no mirrors and all of them had an extra handle welded to the throttle so when trying to look backwards out the side window you would have to come completely back into the cab to get to the throttle and then stick your head out the window again and again and again. They were set up for straight forward running. some idiots idea of comfort for probably running through freight or passenger and not thinking about switching with these things. nice to look at, nice to run on throught frieght stuff where one didnt have to look backwards but not for switching



SP F7A 355 at Roseville apparently in Rotary Service. Likely in the Spring of 1970. This may be my second train slide ever. Shot on Wards or Sears slide film.

According to SSW9389 on Trainorders, "SP #355 was classified as a passenger unit, class EP415A-3. It shows up in the 1971 Annual as one of two EP415 units remaining on the SP roster. There were a total of 37 F units included in the 1971 Annual. Don't have the 1972 Annual, but suspect this unit was retired after the major failure you described. The SP was purchasing large numbers of the SD45T-2s at the time and the 355 was most likely traded back to EMD." Topper said, "The retirement date I have for it shows to be 10/72."

Reportedly (sources) SP 355 was built in Dec. 1952 as construction number 17209, SP (T&NO) 355 Class DF-9. It became SP Class EP415A-4 in 1965. It was the last T&NO unit to operate in it's original three unit number when it was retired in June or July 1972, Sold Oct. 1972.

Information, stories, suggestions, comments and/or constructive corrections are appreciated.

~Steve Sloan

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