Freericks Wrote:
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> Those units wouldn't go all the way out to Colton
> Tower, would they?

During their tenure at West Colton, they were often run on the yard jobs that handled the interchange transfers to and from the yard at Old Colton. Here are some examples (all photos posted on RailPictures.net):

[www.railpictures.net]

[www.railpictures.net]

[www.railpictures.net]

Here's four of them (plus a U33C) on a Hauler passing through Ontario:

[www.railpictures.net]

In April 1974 SP received six EMD SD38-2 units (Nos. 2971-2976, numbered behind the Alco RSD-12s). They were mated with the three six-axle slugs (Nos. 1000-1002) that SP had built by Railway Supply in Montgomery, AL., the year before using the frames and trucks from retired Alco C-628s #7121 and 7115, and C-630 #7811. They were operated in SD-slug-SD sets at the recently openeded West Colton yard, primarily used to shove inbound trains and cuts to the crest of the Gravity Yard (remember, West Colton is not a "Hump" Yard). The units were specially ballasted (approximately 416,000 pounds for the SDs and 408,000 pounds for the slugs) and were equipped with Extended Range Dynamic Braking. The SDs also came with 12 brake cylinders per unit rather than eight. More-or-less captive at West Colton during their first decade or so of service, they would be run in the power consists of the West Colton - Los Angeles Haulers for heavy repairs and inspections at Taylor Roundhouse. Here's a photo of one set:

[www.railpictures.net]

This particular slug had an interesting history. While still C-628 #7121 it was one of a group that SP had leased to the L&N in late 1970, which managed to wreck it. L&N returned it along with the rest of the group in late Spring 1971, with a GE cab replacing the Alco cab.