George Andrews Wrote:
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> I recall that Espee's " Torpedo - Boat " GP - 9's
> were ordered specifically for the Del Monte,
> wherein the larger fuel & water capacity allowed
> for a roundtrip from The City to Monterey. This
> allowed Espee to retire the servicing facilities
> in Monterey.

George
It was quite common that early diesel orders, in that period when diesel was replacing steam, were made for specific locomotive assignments to very specific service duties. NP did this with most of their earlier diesel orders. For example in the early 1950's I recall NP assigning 552 & 553 to the P&L branch and 554 , which had a larger than normal front snowplow, to the CW branch. A couple of years later 560, which also had a large front snowplow, and 563 arrived for branch line service out of Spokane. Here is a picture taken 2/28/1955 at Pullman WA where 560 had put it's big plow to good use: