Southern Pacific locomotives remembered

The historic Southern Pacific locomotive C. P. Huntington, a 4-2-4T type built for predecessor Central Pacific, poses next to a four-unit EMD F unit set. This shows the disparity between 19^th century and 20^th century railroad equipment. It is preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Southern Pacific photo

Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history, heritage, and style of the Southern Pacific Lines all through February 2022. So, please enjoy this photo gallery of Southern Pacific locomotives selected from the archives of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library.

Southern Pacific locomotives were among the most distinctive in North America. The SP was one of the only large railroads that did not acquire steam locomotives of USRA design. It also applied a trademark light package to its diesels, making them stand out on the secondhand market to this day.

SP steam locomotives are known for two standouts: the streamlined 4-8-4 in bright Daylight passenger colors and “cab forward” 4-8-8-2 articulateds; both locomotive types came in multiple classes.

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