HO SP 2150 in Mission Bay

Click Photo To Enlarge

On Saturday, January 3, 2026, my Bowser HO model of Southern Pacific (SP) 2150 was working in "Mission Bay Yard" at the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA.
The real SP 2150 was an MU equipped Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH) S-12. Reportedly: it was built in 1953 as SP 1543 Class DS-118, serial number 75918. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 2150 SP Class B412-4. The disposition of this locomotive is reported as, Retired 1974 sold to Chrome Crankshaft. Resold to Kerr-McGee 100, renumbered to 844. Donated 1990 to Orange Empire Railway Museum.
--
Apple iPhone 13 Max,
Image: 2026.1.4.3.26-ph

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #ccmrc #bowser #baldwin #southernpacific #blh #trainspotting #santaclara 

ACE Saturday Train

Click Photo To Enlarge

On Saturday, January 3, 2026, Altamont Corridor Express (ACEX) 3103 led a special southbound move of power and ACEX passenger cars past the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA.
ACEX 3103, is an EMD/MPI F40PH-3C. Reportedly it was built by EMD as an F40PH this locomotive was rebuilt by MPI a an F40PH-3C with a Cummins generator.
--
Apple iPhone 13 Max,
Image: 2026.1.4.3.6-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #ace #acex #trainspotting #santaclara 

SP 2150 on the CCMRC

Click Photo To Enlarge

On Saturday, January 3, 2026, my Bowser HO model of Southern Pacific (SP) 2150 is approaching the "Salmonella" fishery at the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA.
The real SP 2150 was an MU equipped Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH) S-12. Reportedly: it was built in 1953 as SP 1543 Class DS-118, serial number 75918. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 2150 SP Class B412-4. The disposition of this locomotive is reported as, Retired 1974 sold to Chrome Crankshaft. Resold to Kerr-McGee 100, renumbered to 844. Donated 1990 to Orange Empire Railway Museum.
--
Apple iPhone 13 Max,
Image: 2026.1.4.3.43-ph

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #ccmrc #bowser #baldwin #southernpacific #blh #trainspotting #santaclara 

SP 2150 in LA

Click Photo To Enlarge

"Frank's Office" was written in chalk over the door of Southern Pacific (SP) 2150. The Baldwin S12 was captured on December 28, 1973, in Taylor Yard, Los Angeles, California.

On trainorders (TO), October 15, 2010, "rehunn" said, "2150, 2154 and 2157 were the "J" yard switchers right up to the end of the use of the Baldwins.

Years ago, "miralomarail" said, "During the 90's we had a former S.P. employee working at Amtrak in LA, Ca. His name was Frank, and had heard about "His Office "

"OPRRMS" said, "Possibly refers to Frank Watkins, who was the engineer on 7:59 AM yard job at River Station (a.k.a., the Links) during the early Seventies. The S-12s were quite common at that yard. Frank was a very nice gentleman and well-liked by everyone."

"Charlie" said on TO in April 2021: 

Frank Watkins was indeed a gentleman. I fired for him for several weeks in the early 70's.

The Frank that is referenced in "Frank's Office" was a SP yardmaster who, as the story goes, would drive his own truck on various 'errands' while on duty and was caught filling its tank and paying with a SP credit card. 

Forever-after he was known as "Gas Tank Frank" and the 'brothers' delighted in chalking those words where ever a palette could be found; such as bridge abutments, yard office urinals, anywhere it would be seen by fellow 'rails'.

I did enjoy the post, Steve.

Charlie

SP 2150 was an MU equipped Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH) S-12. Reportedly: it was built in 1953 as SP 1543 Class DS-118, serial number 75918. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 2150 SP Class B412-4. The disposition of this locomotive is reported as, Retired 1974 sold to Chrome Crankshaft. Resold to Kerr-McGee 100, renumbered to 844. Donated 1990 to Orange Empire Railway Museum.

Please do not edit, crop, "correct" or "improve" this photo without asking me first.
--
Analog Image, Ektachrome Slide 2.5-360, Scan 2010.10.12.1.6-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #southernpacific #blh #trainspotting #film #filmphotography #baldwin #la #blackandwhitphotography 

SP MT-1 4314 in Sacramento, CA

Click Photo To Enlarge

The notes with the collection say: on Saturday, October 14, 1939, Southern Pacific (SP) 4314 was in Sacramento, CA. Photographer most likely Bill Darrough, from the Darrough Collection. Since negatives were extensively traded it's possible Bill was not the photographer. Photos from this collection have been shared with permission from Jack Darrough, obtained before he died.
SP 4314 was an ALCo 4-8-2, SP Class MT-1. Reportedly: SP MT-1 4-8-2 4314 was built by ALCo in 1924, builders number 65384. It was vacated and scrapped in 1953.
--
Negative 1.1.46.29.1, Scan 2018.8.21.1.1-ph 

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #film #filmphotography #ALCo #steam #steamengines #steamtrains #southernpacificrailroad #southernpacific 

Kodachrome GP35 on Kodachrome

Click Photo To Enlarge

Southern Pacific (SP) 6356 a Kodachrome GP35R was in Bakersfield, CA on Sunday, February 23, 1992.
SP 6356 was an EMD/CN GP35 (GP35R). Reportedly: it was built by EMD in 1965, as a model GP35, builder number 29729, SP 7727, SP Class DF-625. It was renumbered and reclassed in 1965 becoming GP35 6624, SP Class EF425-3. It was rebuilt in 1979 by Canadian National emerging as SP 6356 EMD/CN GP35 (GP35R), SP Class EF425N-1. It was retired in 1995 eventually becoming Arizona and California 3503.

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #trainspotting #southernpacificrailroad #southernpacific #filmphotography #kodachrome #emd
--
Nikon FM2, Kodachrome 25 Film:
Slide YB.33-935.3, Hand Scan: 2022.1.22.1.9-ph 

SP Passenger Train at Niles

Click Photos To Enlarge

On Friday, December 26, 2025, at the Tri-City Society of Model Engineers (TCSME) model railroad club in the historic Niles depot in Fremont, CA, my HO scale Rapido Southern Pacific (SP) passenger engines 6046 and 6044 were pulling a passenger train.
The real SP 6045 was an EMD E9A. Reportedly: It was built in 1954, serial number 20095, SP Class DF-12. In 1965 it was reclassified to SP Class EP624A-1. It was retired in 1970.
--
Apple iPhone 13 Max,
Images: 2025.12.30.13.7, 10, 13-ph

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #tcsme #niles #emd #alco