Athern still sticks to a shipping date of late November (2012;-) of the Genesis SP GP9R with bloody nose paint scheme.

I have a (very big!) eye on that model but have serious doubt if SP used GP9 to do industry switching in general and particular in the time frame 198x in the LA area. SP had a bunch of SW1500 in that area and there are lots of photos serving industry with those switchers. I could not find photos of SP GP9 serving industry as I would need it for my ISL.

Do we have some witness to history that remember the use SP GP9 in the 1980'th in the LA area?

Even if they don't use a bit of modelers license & get one anyway

I've always gone with the idea its my layout, my world & i'll run it my way. I too have an eye on one of those.

SI

Well, I guess I qualify as a witness to history (and am getting sorta historic myself, if you know what I mean). The SP jobs in the 1980s were generally similar to the jobs you see for UP ex-SP trackage in the Charles Freericks SoCal Locals book, with the exception that a number of lines, like the Santa Monica Air Line and the ex-PE San Bernardino Line through Rialto, etc, are now gone. However, GP9Es were very common on those lines, too. Here is a c 1980s version of what Charles would call the Kaiser Local in his book:
[attachment=12408]
In 2012, this is three gensets, in 1985, three GP9Es. The Santa Monica Air Line was the one that ran closest to where I lived for a good many years, so I was pretty familiar with it. During the 1980s, the daily train (which did industry switching) out of J Yard ran with either a GP9E or an SW1500 -- no rhyme or reason. The difference was that an SW1500 had no toilet, while a GP9E did, so if there was an SW1500 that day, the train had a caboose, otherwise not. I would say that yard jobs were almost always two SW1500s:
[attachment=12407]
While locals more commonly had GP9Es. You could certainly get away with them on your layout.

A nice little bit of information there. As my planned switching layout for the Guilford line has gone tits up I've changed to the SP & the info regarding the switchers & the caboose for the toilet is great. Now I can model this into my layout & have a porta looh on site

Si

There are some very good shots of GP9Es on the ex-PE San Bernardino Line at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/thread-6800.html">http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/thread-6800.html</a><!-- m -->

jwb Wrote:Well, I guess I qualify as a witness to history (and am getting sorta historic myself, if you know what I mean). The SP jobs in the 1980s were generally similar to the jobs you see for UP ex-SP trackage in the Charles Freericks SoCal Locals book, with the exception that a number of lines, like the Santa Monica Air Line and the ex-PE San Bernardino Line through Rialto, etc, are now gone. However, GP9Es were very common on those lines, too. Here is a c 1980s version of what Charles would call the Kaiser Local in his book:
In 2012, this is three gensets, in 1985, three GP9Es. The Santa Monica Air Line was the one that ran closest to where I lived for a good many years, so I was pretty familiar with it. During the 1980s, the daily train (which did industry switching) out of J Yard ran with either a GP9E or an SW1500 -- no rhyme or reason. The difference was that an SW1500 had no toilet, while a GP9E did, so if there was an SW1500 that day, the train had a caboose, otherwise not. I would say that yard jobs were almost always two SW1500s:
While locals more commonly had GP9Es. You could certainly get away with them on your layout.

This is an example of why we should read all threads. I would never have made the connection between the different locomotives and the caboose for a toilet. I'm sure that would apply for many years. The new rules about toilets are a little complicated, but basically all locomotives are required to have them unless you are within a certain time from a rest room.
Charlie

Here are a couple more GP9Es, this time in Petaluma on the Northwestern Pacific (also gone in that form). These would have switched the feed mills in the area.[attachment=12409]

John, thank you. That is the information I was looking for. I did miss the thread in the West coast forum too while I was on vacation. Thanks for pointing!

jwb Wrote:... The difference was that an SW1500 had no toilet, while a GP9E did, so if there was an SW1500 that day, the train had a caboose, otherwise not. ...

Ok, they got their mobile out house

ps. Athearn slipped the GP9 availability date from November to December

Reinhard, that would almost have been my layout, were it not that your caboose and SW1500 have different road numbers from mine. :-)
I model the CFNR, but at their first year of operation, so I can throw in a healthy mix of SP power.
Now with the release of a correct shape Atlas genset, IF they release one in CFNR scheme, I will be tempted to move the layout to a few years ago for some sessions, then wind the clock back again etc. Should be fun

Koos

torikoos Wrote:... I will be tempted to move the layout to a few years ago for some sessions, then wind the clock back again etc. Should be fun

That is what I do rather frequent. My UP Genset, BNSF GP60 etc. are the 2005-10 setup and the SP SW1500, ATSF GP7U are the 198x setup. Just two sets of rail cars and automobiles and a new world is set within 29 minutes!

Some times I do assume the surrounding scenery is quite green but the immediate area around the tracks is quite sparse vegetated by chance. That enables lots of sceneries far north and east (CSX, CN .... ) as the buildings are quite universal in the US.