March 1972 -- The first time I went to Summit at the top of Cajon Pass, I caught Santa Fe 5923 East.
1972 -- Leading Amtrak's Super Chief through Devore was Santa Fe F45 5934, nee Santa Fe 1934, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1968. It was rebuilt as F45u 5984 in July 1983, sold to Boise Locomotive and scrapped in March 1999.
January 1974 -- Santa Fe F9B 288B, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1956, was sitting south of the main shop building.
January 1974 -- Santa Fe GP7 2665, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1951. That April, it was converted to GP7u 2004.
January 1974 -- Rolling through San Bernardino was Santa Fe SD45-2 5704, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1973. It was painted in bi-centennial livery from February to June 1975 then returned to Santa Fe colours in June 1978. It was rebuilt as SD45-2u 5384 in September 1986 and became BNSF 6484 in January 2000.
August 1974 -- At Hobart Yard on a Boy Scout 50 mile bicycle trip for the Cycling Merit Badge was Santa Fe SW1200 2441:1, nee Santa Fe NW 2402, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1959. It was retired in September 1979, rebuilt and renumbered to Santa Fe SSB1200 1241:2 in December 1979 and was acquired by Amtrak in August 1984 and re-numbered 567.
1974 -- At Bakersfield was Santa Fe SD26 4554, nee Santa Fe SD24 954, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1960. It was converted to an SD26 in October 1974 and this photograph was taken that month, the date lost to time. It was traded to Electro-Motive Division in Spring 1985 for a GP50 series and scrapped in spring/summer that year.
October 1974 -- In the dead line at San Bernardino was Santa Fe RSD-15 9838, nee Santa Fe 838:1, built by American Locomotive Company in 1960. It was retired in January 1975 and became Lake Superior and Ishpeming 2405 from April 1975 to May 1975, then sold to Fox River Valley Railroad 2405 in November 1989. After that, it became Green Bay and Western 2405 then Wisconsin Central 2405 in August 1993 and was scrapped in 1996.
November 1974 -- Climbing the grade to Sullivan's Curve was Santa Fe SD45-2 5698, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1973. It was rebuilt as SD45-2u 5849 in January 1987 then became BNSF 6499 in April 1998.
1975 -- Also at Bakersfield was Santa Fe S4 1535, built by American Locomotive Company in 1953. It was retired in 1977.
1975 -- At Blu Cut, Santa Fe SD45-2 5702, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1973 and painted in bi-centennial livery, from February to June 1975. It was rebuilt as Santa Fe SD45-2u 5842 in October 1986 then became BNSF 6952 in March 2000.
April 1975 -- Leading its train east through Colton was Santa Fe GP30 3270, nee Santa Fe 1270, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1963. It was rebuilt as Santa Fe GP30u 2770:2 in June 1982, repainted to SPSF 2770:2 from July 1985 to July 1986, then repainted back to Santa Fe 2770:2 before January 1991, then became BNSF 2468 in 2000.
August 1975 -- Starting its journey up the Joint Line at Bragdon, Colorado was Santa Fe U23B 6345, built by General Electric in 1971 and sold to them in September 1988 for the Super 7 program, then subsequently scrapped.
October 1975 -- At Redondo Junction was Santa Fe F7A 300C, nee Santa Fe 46C, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1952. It was re-numbered 300C in 1971, leased to Amtrak in June 1971 then returned before October 1973. The following month, it became Santa Fe CF7 2543 then was sold to Indiana Railroad, retaining the same number. In 2011, it was traded to MEI, current whereabouts unknown.
November 1975 -- Descending Cajon Pass at Cajon was Santa Fe SD26 4654, nee Santa Fe 954 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1960. It was re-numbered 4554 in 1969 then rebuilt as SD26 4654 in 1977 before being traded to Electro-Motive Division in 1985 for a GP50 series, sold to Pielet Brothers and scrapped in 1985.
November 1975 -- At Cajon siding was Santa Fe SD40 5015, nee Santa Fe 1715, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1966. It was wrecked at Levy, New Mexico in January 1986 and rebuilt as Santa Fe slug 141:3 then re-numbered 1141:2 in 1988 before being transferred to BNSF and becoming BNSF 3972 in 1997.
January 1976 -- In front of the crew change office at San Bernardino was Santa Fe RS1 2394, built by American Locomotive Company in 1950.. This was the last of six RS1s ordered to be delivered. The rest of these road switchers were assigned to the Chicago area, except 2394, which was assigned to the Coast Lines, initially serving San Diego as the passenger station switcher. The steam generator on 2394 came from an FT B-unit after delivery as the other five units were factory-installed and had a much different appearance.
After being in San Diego, it was sent to Los Angeles where it was used primarily as a coach yard switcher at 8th Street and the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. There was not much need for the steam generator as most of the passenger trains terminated or originated in Los Angeles. Before passengers boarded trains at LAUPT, carmen would already have the steam lines coupled after the road power was added to the head end. Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific shared switching responsibilities at LAUPT and not uncommon for a Union Pacific crew to be using a Santa Fe power to switch the facility.
As the S2s and S4s were delivered, 2394 was used elsewhere in Southern California. Chronicles indicate the 2394 was used in Orange County serving citrus grove packing houses assigned to Fullerton and Santa Ana, including the Inland Empire outside Los Angeles. It did not venture too far from Southern California except records demonstrate it was assigned as far north as Bakersfield and served its final days at San Bernardino until retirement in 1975. It has been preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.
February 1976 -- At the Bakersfield roundhouse was Santa Fe CF7 2492, nee Santa Fe F7A 301L, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1949. It was leased to Amtrak in 1971 then returned to Santa Fe before October 1973 then rebuilt to CF7 2492 in November 1974 It later became Midwest Coal Handling 2492 before being scrapped in 1993.
1976 -- In my home town of Santa Ana, Santa CF7 2509, nee Santa Fe F7A 224L, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1974. It was rebuilt to CF7 2509 in August 1974 then retired and sold to Railroad Inc., date unknown, then to Cadillac and Lake City 2509, where it was re-numbered CLK 50. It was later sold to Florida Northern Railway, retaining the same number, then became Florida Central 50. It is preserved at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
4/17/1976 -- On a San Bernardino shop tour was Santa Fe GP20 3132, nee Santa Fe 1132, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1961. It was rebuilt to GP20u 3082 in June 1981 then became BNSF 2022 after the merger.
July 1976 -- Another timeless shot of the Bakersfield turntable.
September 1976 -- Leading a trio of U36Cs through Cajon Junction was Santa Fe U36C 8760, built by General Electric in 1974. It was retired in September 1992 and scrapped that month.
1977 - Climbing out of Cajon Junction was Santa Fe GP35 3350, nee Santa Fe 1350, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1965. It was rebuilt to GP35u 2850:2 in June 1982 then became BNSF 2550 in March 2000.
February 1980 -- Seen at Barstow was Santa Fe FP45 5944, nee Santa Fe 104:2, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1967. It was wrecked at Toland, Texas in September 1981, retired the same month and scrapped.
February 1980 -- In San Bernardino was Santa Fe S2 2350, built by American Locomotive Company in 1945. It was retired in 1977, sold to GE Power Systems then acquired by the Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in Houston, Texas.
February 1980 -- Rounding the ten degree curve into Summit was Santa Fe 5500 East, led by Santa Fe SD45 5500, nee Santa Fe 1800, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1966. It was rebuilt as SD45u 5535 in September 1982, then repainted as SPSF 5535 from July 31, 1985 to July 24, 1986 before being repainted back to Santa Fe 5535 before January 1991. In 1995, it became BNSF 6404:1 and was off roster in May 2002, being sold to National Railway Equipment and retaining the same number.
July 1980 -- At Bakersfield was Santa Fe SSB-1200 1227:2, nee Santa Fe SW9 2427, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1953. It was re-numbered Santa Fe 1427 in August 1974, then retired in February 1979 before being rebuilt as SSB1200 1227:2. It was retired in December 1984 and became Goodyear 1227 in June 1987, then J&M Locomotive Inc. 60.
March 1981 -- On a San Bernardino shop tour Santa Fe SD26 4634, nee Santa Fe 934:1 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1959. It was re-numbered 4534 in 1969 then rebuilt as SD26 4634 in 1977 before being traded to Electro-Motive Division in 1985 for a GP50 series, sold to Pielet Brothers and scrapped in 1985.
March 1981 -- Rolling through Summit was Santa Fe GP30 3201:1, nee Santa Fe 1201:1, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1962. It was rebuilt to a GP30u and numbered 2701:2 in March 1984, became BNSF 2401 in February 1999 then BNSF GP39-2 2589.
March 1981 -- Santa Fe HH-1000 2321:1, built by American Locomotive Company in 1939, was seen at Redondo Jct in 1971. It was retired in March 1971 and sold to Precision National Corporation in June.
April 1981 -- During a San Bernardino shop tour, outside the shops were Santa Fe SF45 5933, nee Santa Fe 1933, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1968. It was rebuilt to F45u 5983 in August 1983 and later became Morrison-Knudsen 5983; Santa Fe SD40 5044, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1977. It was rebuilt to an SD40-2u in May 1988, retaining its number then became BNSF 6358 in April 1998; and Santa Fe SD26 4634, nee Santa Fe 934:1, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1959. It was re-numbered 4534 in 1969 then rebuilt as SD26 4634 in 1977 before being traded to Electro-Motive Division in 1985 for a GP50 series, sold to Pielet Brothers and scrapped in 1985.
May 1981 -- A scene that can never be repeated, the interior of the San Bernardino Shops.
March 1982 -- Making a rare appearance at San Bernardino was Santa Fe U33C 8522, built by General Electric in 1969. It was retired in December 1984 and acquired by Precision National Corporation in 1985.
August 1983 -- Resting in Albuquerque, New Mexico was Santa Fe SD39 4010:1, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1969. It was rebuilt to SD39u 1558 in 1985 then transferred to BNSF and became 6202 in September 1998.
November 1986 -- Santa Fe H-12-44TS 543:1, built by Fairbanks-Morse in 1956. It was assigned to Chicago's Dearborn Station its entire service life before being retired in May 1974 and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was subsequently preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento from 1988 to 2009, when it was acquired by the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.
With a passing caboose, namely Santa Fe 999142, built by American Car and Foundry in 1929, I return you to the present.
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