Re: What became of SP 3201 and 3207
Author: Mistertower
Date: 02-19-2012 - 19:12
These units are indeed incredible all right. Purchased in 1967 and used on all major Passenger Trains (Del Monte and Sacramento Daylight Excluded for obvious reasons) until SP got out of long haul Passenger Business in May 1971. These units would be used in many Passenger Specials on SP and later Amtrak in the first few years. Leased to Amtrak from then until 1974, then placed in SP Commuter Service between San Fransisco and San Jose, with trips for some being made on the weekends on freight trains. Seems to me (correct me on this one I'm a little rusty) displaced from SP Commuter Service in 1985, most units placed in freight service except 3201 and 3207 that were repainted into SPSF Colors and regeared for 79 MPH, for SP Business Passenger Train Service. About the time the SPSF Merger was turned down by ICC, these engines were then released for freight service, but found their way on the head end of Amtrak Trains once again for "incentive pay guarentees" for running Amtrak ontime and even when an Amtrak unit broke down, they would be placed on Amtrak Trains for that purpose as well. Then when Mr. Anshutz bought SP, that was the end of them. Very reliable locomotives per the crews I spoke with.