When SP was moving power around; re-building engines, selling them or sold to scrapper, re-numbering, etc. they thought they needed a couple of motors for their SP Pvt. cars. All the F units were gone so they picked these two motors.

They rebuilt the 50 & 51 (Huff & Puff) for just that service. Only trouble was they could not keep up the MPH. They did try them on the commutes but it didn't work out. I caught one in helper service out of SLO, shoving the circus train over Cuesta and stayed with them to Wellsona. We cut off on the fly to go on the point of the east peddler. When that was done, the fireman took over and I fired up the Vapor/Clarkson and we had fun blowing it down on the way back. I mean, who see's steam coming out from under a diesel? All you had to do is hit the blow down. It was around for awhile with the other SD-9s they were trying to use in helper service but finally went back to the City.


Nudge