Sorry been a bit busy but here we are on the SP& S in 1971 Ektachrome

Sorry been a bit busy but here we are on the SP& S in 1971 Ektachrome
Found a box of SP. When I say a box I mean a copier paper sized box full of Kodak slide boxes – see below. The marking says SP + SP Special three boxes. Looking at the first slide I’d say they are pretty likely to be special
I googled a bit and struck out – but I want to say Oregon yellow plates on the Maverick and the Honda CB may help. Where are we ?
My Dad’s friend David Hardie, seems to have made several duplicates and shared with him over the years. I usually don’t scan those and share since I don’t own the content, but I scanned this one in my assembly line and it’s worth a share.
Sometimes Dad would organize by company when sorting slides for Friday night slide night at Iron Horse Hobbies. This box must be one of those. As usual, the slides are only marked with the Kodak mount date but I recall that year’s trip was in August from home to South Dakota on another meandering route.
I have always liked switchers and these are no exception. The shadows and textures of the first two contrast nicely against the fresh looking paint.
The last two are washed out – I skipped Photoshop this time – but they are a study in weathering and details.
I can smell the creosote and oil on the ties. The smells of my childhood.
As far as I can tell this is in Portland. There is a similar car images here in Como, but the big building & Coke sign tells me Portland.
Usually I can find something on the Google machine that tells the story of named passenger cars. I went on the Railway Preservation News and got this :
P-S, 1950, Lot #6828:
One Car, Plan #4107, 1950, 8RM-4S-4DB “Pass”-Series:
SP&S #700 “Indian Pass”. No disposition information whatsoever.
I think we are in San Jose or Santa Clara but I don’t know. What I do know is that in June of 72 we lived in Burlingame and Dad worked in the San Jose office sometimes so I base my guess on that alone.
The website that I get information from is http://www.rrpicturearchives.net and it’s not looking good today so I cannot state what type of engine this is. I mean I can guess its an Alco product but I am unsure.
Milwaukee EMD SDL39 Number 590 was only a toddler when these were taken – born 11/72.
As far as I can tell this unit eventually spent the crazy 80’s & 90’s on the Wisconsin Central and there is a note about the Soo Line as well.
All three were favorites of Fred’s so it seems fitting somehow.
Personally, I like teh clean lines and proportions and the short range fuel tank too.
We drive past Colton yard when we go visit my mother in law in Palm Desert so I recognize these near Cherry Ave.
February of 1984 would be cool days and colder evenings in the very busy Colton.
They are on a loop so I hope that you can stop them and zoom in for details.
So much variety back then.
Desert run by in October of 1984
Not sure where but must be in Southern California – maybe towards Tehachapi, California .
I can almost smell the exhaust