Which SP Diesels mostly pulled the PFE?

A gentleman by the name of Joseph A. Strapac authored several books on the SP diesels.  Try some searches using his name and you may find what you seek. 

OPeg posted:

Hi, I'm a newbie here, thanks for conversation!

I'm considering adding the new Lionel PFE set 6-84296 to my collection.  This would be my first diesel, other than the Christmas RS3 reindeer run.   I would buy the set and add the second SD40R they have listed separately to run.  

What kind of PFE refrigerators are you referring to? Are the ice reefers, or mechanical "modern era" reefers?

My question is, did SP use the SD40R on PFE?

Again, what type of PFE reefers are they? Without don a lot of research, I'm pretty sure that ice reefers of any kind were pretty well gone the era/time frame of SP "SD40R" diesel units. 

 I've been doing some research, but not finding a good resource.  I'd kinda like to use my UP#844, or even SP#4449, with the SD40Rs pushing, but I'm thinking that would be rare to see.

Yes, pure fantasy.

Ultimately not a huge deal, as I'm just running 'em for  me and the hubby, but wouldn't want a visitor to guffaw, you know?

Well, you never know. For what it's worth, I model in the very late 1940s thru the early/mid 1950s, when the SP still had a lot of steam power in service. I tend to use large SP steam locomotives to haul my 40 car PFE reefer train, but occasionally use a four unit set of MTH F3 A-B-B-A diesel in the famous SP "Black Widow" paint scheme (which would be VERY prototypical for a PFE train from the mid 1940s thru the mid 1960s .

 

There is a pretty good video on amazon about the PFE  ..  From its start until now.   I think its trains unlimited but just search amazon movies for TRAINS.    

Jim 

Steims posted:

A gentleman by the name of Joseph A. Strapac authored several books on the SP diesels.  Try some searches using his name and you may find what you seek. 

Thanks Steims, lots of material there, I'll start reading!

I worked on 4th street in Berkeley in the 1960s. Right next to the SP mainline. There was train after train of PFE refers went by all day. As I recall they were all pulled by F units. 

Hot Water posted:

OPeg posted:

Hi, I'm a newbie here, thanks for conversation!

I'm considering adding the new Lionel PFE set 6-84296 to my collection.  This would be my first diesel, other than the Christmas RS3 reindeer run.   I would buy the set and add the second SD40R they have listed separately to run.  

What kind of PFE refrigerators are you referring to? Are the ice reefers, or mechanical "modern era" reefers?  Mechanical reefers lettered both UP and SP

My question is, did SP use the SD40R on PFE?

Again, what type of PFE reefers are they? Without don a lot of research, I'm pretty sure that ice reefers of any kind were pretty well gone the era/time frame of SP "SD40R" diesel units. 

 I've been doing some research, but not finding a good resource.  I'd kinda like to use my UP#844, or even SP#4449, with the SD40Rs pushing, but I'm thinking that would be rare to see.

Yes, pure fantasy.

Ultimately not a huge deal, as I'm just running 'em for  me and the hubby, but wouldn't want a visitor to guffaw, you know?

Well, you never know. For what it's worth, I model in the very late 1940s thru the early/mid 1950s, when the SP still had a lot of steam power in service. I tend to use large SP steam locomotives to haul my 40 car PFE reefer train, but occasionally use a four unit set of MTH F3 A-B-B-A diesel in the famous SP "Black Widow" paint scheme (which would be VERY prototypical for a PFE train from the mid 1940s thru the mid 1960s&nbsp.

Lionel's  text on the set indicates that they've detailed the SD40R #7350 circa 1990. My understanding was that PFE was disbanded in '78.  I'm feeling that I would be closer to history by trying to model about 1975, with mechanicals and a diesel from that time.

 

 

 

carsntrains posted:

There is a pretty good video on amazon about the PFE  ..  From its start until now.   I think its trains unlimited but just search amazon movies for TRAINS.    

Jim 

Thanks Jim, I'll check it out!

I would think that the SD40R's could be appropriate for a modern reefer block as this set might represent. The tunnel motors were used also at this time as well . Thinkining if you want to run your 844 with it, You might conceive that the steamer is on a break in run after some work in the shops. Have fun but try to keep the reindeer out of the consist  

David Johnston posted:

I worked on 4th street in Berkeley in the 1960s. Right next to the SP mainline. There was train after train of PFE refers went by all day. As I recall they were all pulled by F units. 

Nothing like first hand experiences!

LIRR Steamer posted:

I would think that the SD40R's could be appropriate for a modern reefer block as this set might represent. The tunnel motors were used also at this time as well . Thinkining if you want to run your 844 with it, You might conceive that the steamer is on a break in run after some work in the shops. Have fun but try to keep the reindeer out of the consist  

I like that..and yes the reindeer will be 'stabled' until December....ok, maybe November!

OPeg posted:

Hot Water posted:

OPeg posted:

Hi, I'm a newbie here, thanks for conversation!

I'm considering adding the new Lionel PFE set 6-84296 to my collection.  This would be my first diesel, other than the Christmas RS3 reindeer run.   I would buy the set and add the second SD40R they have listed separately to run.  

What kind of PFE refrigerators are you referring to? Are the ice reefers, or mechanical "modern era" reefers?  Mechanical reefers lettered both UP and SP

My question is, did SP use the SD40R on PFE?

Again, what type of PFE reefers are they? Without don a lot of research, I'm pretty sure that ice reefers of any kind were pretty well gone the era/time frame of SP "SD40R" diesel units. 

 I've been doing some research, but not finding a good resource.  I'd kinda like to use my UP#844, or even SP#4449, with the SD40Rs pushing, but I'm thinking that would be rare to see.

Yes, pure fantasy.

Ultimately not a huge deal, as I'm just running 'em for  me and the hubby, but wouldn't want a visitor to guffaw, you know?

Well, you never know. For what it's worth, I model in the very late 1940s thru the early/mid 1950s, when the SP still had a lot of steam power in service. I tend to use large SP steam locomotives to haul my 40 car PFE reefer train, but occasionally use a four unit set of MTH F3 A-B-B-A diesel in the famous SP "Black Widow" paint scheme (which would be VERY prototypical for a PFE train from the mid 1940s thru the mid 1960s&nbsp.

Lionel's  text on the set indicates that they've detailed the SD40R #7350 circa 1990. My understanding was that PFE was disbanded in '78.  I'm feeling that I would be closer to history by trying to model about 1975, with mechanicals and a diesel from that time.

 

Except, does any manufacturer make/offer correct mechanical PFE refrigerator cars for that era?  

 

 

Hot Water posted:

OPeg posted:

Hot Water posted:

OPeg posted:

Hi, I'm a newbie here, thanks for conversation!

I'm considering adding the new Lionel PFE set 6-84296 to my collection.  This would be my first diesel, other than the Christmas RS3 reindeer run.   I would buy the set and add the second SD40R they have listed separately to run.  

What kind of PFE refrigerators are you referring to? Are the ice reefers, or mechanical "modern era" reefers?  Mechanical reefers lettered both UP and SP

My question is, did SP use the SD40R on PFE?

Again, what type of PFE reefers are they? Without don a lot of research, I'm pretty sure that ice reefers of any kind were pretty well gone the era/time frame of SP "SD40R" diesel units. 

 I've been doing some research, but not finding a good resource.  I'd kinda like to use my UP#844, or even SP#4449, with the SD40Rs pushing, but I'm thinking that would be rare to see.

Yes, pure fantasy.

Ultimately not a huge deal, as I'm just running 'em for  me and the hubby, but wouldn't want a visitor to guffaw, you know?

Well, you never know. For what it's worth, I model in the very late 1940s thru the early/mid 1950s, when the SP still had a lot of steam power in service. I tend to use large SP steam locomotives to haul my 40 car PFE reefer train, but occasionally use a four unit set of MTH F3 A-B-B-A diesel in the famous SP "Black Widow" paint scheme (which would be VERY prototypical for a PFE train from the mid 1940s thru the mid 1960s&nbsp.

Lionel's  text on the set indicates that they've detailed the SD40R #7350 circa 1990. My understanding was that PFE was disbanded in '78.  I'm feeling that I would be closer to history by trying to model about 1975, with mechanicals and a diesel from that time.

 

Except, does any manufacturer make/offer correct mechanical PFE refrigerator cars for that era?  

Yes, true.  hmmm, I might rethink this whole gambit.

 

 

 

The produce traffic in ice reefers was gone by the early 70's.  Any road freight diesel power used after 1947-1949 woudl be appropriate.  In the case of the SP, that means F3 or F7.  The SP bought 

80 F3 A

80 F3 B

250 F7 a

220 F7 B

For more info non this subject, refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_F3 and similar Wiki articles.

Malcolm Laughlin

I’m not an SP guy, but a quick search finds  the espee railfan site, which says the SP’s SD40R rebuild program began in 1980:

http://espee.railfan.net/spsd40r.html

My hunch is that the difference between a circa 1975 SD40 and a post 1980-81 rebuilt SD40R will be beyond the ken of your visitors. But I’m also guessing that PFE is a red herring here and the set is properly dated as representing 1990. Lionel doesn’t call it a “PFE” set; they call it The “Salad Bowl Express” and the cars look to have SPFE reporting marks, not “PFE.”  

The UP/SP mechanical reefers were still around on UP and SP as late as 1990 and beyond. I’m guessing the set cars represent SP cars or former PFE cars turned over to SP after 1978. At any rate it strikes me as a very plausible combination of locomotive and cars for the early 90s and looks like a nice set. Maybe search SP railfan or historical sites or Google “Salad Bowl Express” for more information.

RM

In some of my Sunrise books I remember the SP F units were black widows, my third favorite color scheme.  

I saw them in 1949 and 1950.  They were a hundred cars long, with a late model AC on front and a four unit matched set of black widow Diesels pushing.   I cannot remember where the caboose was - probably behind the Diesels.

I never saw black widows in less than ABBA configuration until the late 1950s.

I never saw a PA without two PBs behind it - even on the mail trains.

I would consider a BW big 6 axle FM unit from the San Jose commute fleet.  Say it is a weekend!  Refers would have to be correct for the BW locomotive!

Dominic Mazoch posted:

I would consider a BW big 6 axle FM unit from the San Jose commute fleet.  Say it is a weekend!  Refers would have to be correct for the BW locomotive!

OK, just what is a "BW locomotive"?

That is highly unlikely for several reasons.

1. They were geared for passenger service.

2. There is no reason to think that there was a lack of the usual freight power on weekends.

3. Power for a fruit block in that area would not have made a deadhead move from San Jose to the freight origin and from its destiantion back to San Jose.