General Information

1. Locomotives WERE assigned by division. The quarterly division assignment booklets can be found various places, and do list the region a locomotive would LIKELY be found. Assignments or temporary usage could shift at any time.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

3. 
   

4. You can get engine assignment data on David Coscia's website.
   

5.                             http://webpages.charter.net/altalair/rrindex.html
   

6. 
   

7. The engines appearing in a given picture on a particular date might "hang out" at that location for months, or even years. On the other hand, if they were called to the backshop at Sacramento for major work, upon emerging they could have been re-assigned to an entirely different area. Backshops were the locomotive banks for outlying roundhouses.
   

8. 
   

9. That a particular location didn't "own" its locomotives, especially standard C-8 or C-9  2-8-0s. They were interchangeable and could be used almost anywhere.
   

1. You will have a hard time finding a particular list of locomotives at a given terminal at a given time. There are division assignments, but that will show all the locomotives assigned for a six month period.
   

2. 
   

3. The 52-82 SP Annual shows 1952 assignment by division but not by individual facilities. Photos and enginemen-trainmen timebooks for crews working out of a city like SLO will most likely be your best bet.
   

1. Just because an engine was assigned to a division didn't that it always stayed on that division. I saw at lest one Daylight 4300 in commute service. I have a photo of the 4352 in Daylight paint on the commute ready track in 1950.
   

2. Charles Givens
   

Figuring Out What Steam Engine to Model

1. Steam power was distributed depending on requirements. Era? Things are going to be way different between 1890 and 1950. Having this kind of knowledge will help you avoid investing in models that aren't usual to your area. If you can find a list of division assignments for the year(s) you are interested in, that would be a good start to figuring out what specific models you need. Engines wandered, but generally not that far.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

Specific Steam Locomotive Assignments

AC-4s

1. In the 50‘s in California, AC-4s were assigned to the Western Division (Oakland/Tracy/Sacramento triangle) but were somewhat frequently seen on the Coast Division.
   

AC-5s

1. In the 50‘s in California, AC-5s were assigned to the Western Division (Oakland/Tracy/Sacramento triangle) but were somewhat frequently seen on the Coast Division.
   

AC-8

1. Out of the AC-8 order for 28 engines, Nos. 4177-4204 delivered in 1939, some 16 were assigned to the Coast Line."
   

2. J. Sweetser
   

1. SP fireman Bob McNeel's timebook for the period from August 1942 to July 1943 stated: "The McNeel time book shows cab-forwards as almost exclusive power on through freights passing through Santa Barbara between Los Angeles and points north."
   

AC-9

1. The AC-9s weren't worked regularly over Donner because crews there were used to cab-ahead operation. However, they made their way from El Paso to Los Angeles to Bakersfield to Roseville to Sparks under their own power, one at a time. A beautiful photo taken near Tracy in April 1953 shows the 3809 (?) working an endless freight. It appears in Guy Dunscomb's A CENTURY OF SOUTHERN PACIFIC STEAM LOCOMOTIVES on page 289. A later photo on page 285, after 3809 went to work on the Modoc, shows it hauling a railfan excursion. By then a stenciled warning reading "This engine excess width" has been painted on the front cylinder casing. See also Dunscomb's SOUTHERN PACIFIC STEAM PICTORIAL, page 73, for this same statement.
   

2. Joe Strapac
   

3. 
   

Cab-Forwards

1. Cab Forwards were used in places with heavy grades. But the curvature on the Donner Pass line made the Cab Forwards more suited for the track -- so long wheelbase locos like x-10-x were not used or at least they were very unusual.
   

2. 
   

GS’s

1. GS-2 & GS-3 were not infrequently changed out at SLO. they were replaced by the GS-4 on #96-97 and #98-99 in 1941.
   

2. Fred Stindt
   

1. There were a dozen GS-4s and GS-5s assigned to the Daylight pool. GS-4/5 were on the point of a Coast/Morning/Noon Daylight.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

1. Don't forget when the GS locomotives were shopped and had repairs made, it wasn't unusual for them to be tested on a drag freight to make sure everything worked prior to be assigned back in the passenger pool. So if you had a GS on the head of a reefer block, this might have taken place.
   

2. Jim Scott
   

Mikes

1. Mikes produced a lot of horsepower at speed so they could be used for moving heavy trains on moderate grades.
   

2. Local freight hauls sometimes used the larger locomotives like the Mike’s.
   

3. 
   

MT’s

1. Daylight painted Mts were all assigned to the LA Division, and the Oakland section of the Coast Daylight would (should) draw a Western Division locomotive.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

1. Concerning Daylight-paint MT-4 at the head of a Coast Daylight consist, while you can't say it never happened, but you'ld be pretty surprised if it had. There is a more reasonable possibility of a Daylight painted Mt-4 pulling the Oakland Daylight between San Jose and Oakland. I've seen pictures of these engines pulling the SF Overland from Oakland Pier to Sacto. 
   

2. Jeff Cauthen
   

3. 
   

4. The Daylight Mts were usually used as helpers and as such did not normally operate west of Bakersfield. Of course there may have been exceptions, and the Daylight Mt engines were occasionally used as road engines in rare cases.
   

5. Wouter J.K. De Weerdt
   

6. 
   

7. From photos of the "San Joaquin Daylight", trains 51 and 52, from 1946 to 1950, five of the Mt-4s got the partial "Daylight" paint on cab and tender and were usually assigned to these trains because they were equipped with the electro-pneumatic brake equipment. The 4352 and 4353 were doubleheaded from LA to Bakersfield almost on a daily basis. At Bakersfield, either 4350, 4361 or 4363 would take over for the run to and from Oakland. Of course there were always exceptions, but this appeared to be their principal assignment off and on in those years. #4361 was on No. 28, the "Overland", in August 1946 around Stege, but it might have been on that train only to Sacramento, possibly for shopping. The San Jose-Oakland connection with the "Coast Daylight" was almost always handled by a non-streamlined Pacific. And, the "Sacramento Daylight" from Lathrop to Sacramento used partially "Daylight" painted 4-4-2s 3000 and 3001 for a couple of years starting in 1946 and then it was usually P-8 and P-10 Pacifics. Prototypically speaking, finding one of the five 4-8-2s mentioned being used on the "Coast Daylight" would be a rarity.
   

8. Stan Kistler
   

1. Mountains produced a lot of horsepower at speed so they could be used for moving heavy trains on moderate grades. Mountains were especially good for moving heavy passenger trains. Long haul freight used 4-8-2s for just about everything.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

Northerns

1. Northerns were especially good for moving heavy passenger trains.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

2-10-2's

1. 2-10-2's were used in places with heavy grades. But the curvature on the Donner Pass line made the long wheelbase locos like x-10-x were not suited for the track or at least they were very unusual. Long haul freight used 2-10-2s for just about everything.
   

2. The 2-10-2s were fairly common in the mountains, especially in helper service. 2-10-2s were nimble enough to work many of SP's signature passes.
   

3. 
   

4. In the 50’s in California, 2-10-2s F-3 and F-4 were used as Cuesta helpers and around Dunsmuir, Donner, and Tehachapi.
   

5. In 1953, ALL the F-5s were assigned to Shasta Division.
   

6. Arved Grass
   

4-10-2's

1. 4-10-2's were used in places with heavy grades. But the curvature on the Donner Pass line made the long wheelbase locos like x-10-x were not suited for the track or at least they were very unusual.
   

2. The 4-10-2s weren't as nimble as the 2-10-2s. The 4-10-2s were banned many of SP's signature passes for the damage they did. The 4-10-2s spent most of their lives on Beaumont, east of LA, before heading to Oregon.
   

3. Arved Grass
   

2-6-0's

1. In the San Joaquin, Sacramento and other flat valleys small locos like 2-6-0's ("Valley Mallets") were versatile power for small freights. They called the 2-6-0s "Valley Mallets" because they could haul the same train up the Central Valley that a Cab Forward would haul over a mountain pass.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

2-8-0's

1. After 1910 or so, a 2-8-0 was "big power".
   

2. Tim O'Connor
   

3. 
   

4. In the early 1950s in California, you'll find the 2-8-0s at smaller yards (probably because they'd also go out on locals).
   

5. In the San Joaquin, Sacramento and other flat valleys small locos like 2-8-0's were versatile power for small freights.
   

6. The 2-8-0 was a very versatile engine, and they were ubiquitous. Think of them as the GP9 of the steam era.
   

7. Arved Grass
   

4-6-0's

1. In the San Joaquin, Sacramento and other flat valleys small locos like 4-6-0's were versatile power for small freights.
   

2. Local freight hauls used the 4-6-0.
   

3. Arved Grass
   

4-8-0's

1. Local freight hauls sometimes used the larger locomotives like the 4-8-0s.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

Pacifics

1. Even Pacifics served on freight trains in low grade routes.
   

0-6-0s

1. In the early 1950s in California, you'll find the 0-6-0s more at larger yards.
   

2. Arved Grass
   

1. 
   

Pacific Lines Division Locomotive Assignments

Coast Line Steam Locomotive Assignments

1. You need to understand that these lists were a billing list as to what division was to do the repairs and rebuilds on those engines. The engines themselves could and did wander the system. The RR tried to balance the miles between the assigned engines and the divisions that they were working on. If your interest is the Coast Div. then you'll be looking at engines mostly from the Coast, Western, and LA assignments. Use photos to show were engines were mostly. The engine assignment lists are also useful in showing how many engines total a Division needed to operate.
   

2. Jason Hill
   

References

1. For Pacific Lines Locomotive Assignment Roster go to the Espee Yahoo Group File Folder.
   

2. Included are:
   

3.      1949 Steam
   

4.     1950 Steam
   

5.     1950 Diesel
   

6.     1957 Steam
   

7.     1958 Steam
   

8.     1959 Steam
   

9. Paul Deis
   

Pacific Lines Division Assignments - Steam Roster

Coast Line Sub-Division   Sept. 30, 1948

DES         0-6-0           4-6-0           4-6-2       2-8-0     2-8-0      2-8-0     2-8-0       4-8-0      2-8-2     2-10-2    2-10-2  4-8-8-2   4-8-8-2   4-8-2      4-8-4

1112     1200        2315        2401     2517    2617    2701    2804    2915    3218    3612    3700    4166    4201    4307    4430

1116     1201        2322        2402     2525*   2642*  2702*   2815    2916    3224    3614    3703    4179    4222    4311    4432

1121    1202        2335        2409     2532    2646*   2707    2817    2918    3225    3638    3706    4181    4236    4324    4435

1124    1204        2345        2410     2552*  2665*   2712    2829    2920    3232    3658     3711               4237    4343    4437

1177    1207        2374        2419     2656    2669*   2733    2833   2921                 3664     3713               4286    4355    4439

1184    1211        2375        2424  2566    2677*   2740    2837   2923                  3675    3727               4287    4368    4454

1185    1212        2381        2438     2581                2743    2846                             3675    3737               4288    4369     4455

1194    1220                        2444     2583*              2752                                         3679    3756                            4373    4457

             1221                        2447     2587                2777                                         3684                             

             1228                        2448    2592                2781                                         3698                                      

             1234                        2452     2594                2786                                         3699

             1235                        2453                           2791

             1242                        2454                                                                          

             1249                 2458                                                                           

             1253                 2462

             1257                 2466

             1261                        2468  

             1277                 2471

             1278                        2472

             1285                        2473

             1287                 2474

    1288                       2476   

                                   2477

                                   2478

                          2479

                          2480

                                             2487

                                             2489

                                             2491

1. * means assigned to yard service
   

Engines Leased From Outside Companies

SDAE  103Coast

SDAE  104Coast

Coast Line Sub-Division   Jan. 1, 1949

DES         0-6-0           4-6-0           4-6-2       2-8-0     2-8-0      2-8-0     2-8-0       4-8-0      2-8-2     2-10-2    2-10-2  4-8-8-2   4-8-8-2   4-8-2      4-8-4

1112     1200        2315        2401     2517    2642    2701    2803    2915    3214    3614    3700    4179    4201    4305    4430

1116     1202        2322        2402     2519    2646    2702    2804    2916    3218    3658    3703    4181    4222    4307    4432

1121    1204        2335        2409     2525    2665    2707    2815    2918    3224    3664    3706                4236    4311    4435

1124    1207        2345        2410     2532    2669    2712    2817    2920    3232    3671    3711                4237    4324   4437

1177    1211        2374        2419     2652    2677    2733    2829    2921    3264    3672    3713                4286    4343   4439

1184    1212        2375        2424  2556                2740                 2923                3673    3727                4287    4350   4454

1185    1220        2381        2438     2566                2743                                         3675    3737                4288    4355   4455

1194    1221                        2444     2583                2752    2837                             3678    3751                            4368   4457

             1228                        2447     2587                2760    2846                             3684    3756

             1234                        2448    2592                2777                                          3698

             1235                        2452     2594                2781                                          3699

             1242                        2453                           2786

             1249                        2454                          2791

             1253                 2458

             1257                 2462

             1261                 2466

             1277                        2468  

             1278                 2471

             1285                        2472

             1287                        2473

             1288                 2474

                                   2476   

                                   2477

                                   2478

                          2479

                          2480

                                             2487

                                             2489

                                             2491

MOW Shop Engines in service (non-revenue)

966Coast ex-1010

Engines Leased From Outside Companies

SDAE  103Coast

SDAE  104Coast

CCT             32Coast

P.E.         1650Coast

Abbreviations

CCT = California Central Traction

P.E. = Pacific Electric Railway

SDAE = San Diego Arizona & Eastern

Salt Lake Division Locomotive Assignments

1948

1. In 1948 22 F-5s were on the Salt Lake Division. Salt Lake had more F-5s than any other division.
   

2. Kenneth R. Clark
   

San Joaquin Division Locomotive Assignments

1953

1. SP 3734 S.Jqn F-5 2-10-2
   

2. SP 3744 S.Jqn F-5 2-10-2
   

3. SP 3758 S.Jqn F-5 2-10-2
   

4. SP 3765 S.Jqn F-5 2-10-2
   

5. 
   

6. 
   

Shasta Division Locomotive Assignments

1948

1. In 1948 nine F-5s were assigned on the Shasta Division.
   

2. 
   

3. Shasta had 8 engines assigned to yard service in 1948, none were from the switcher classes.
   

4. Shasta also did not have any 4-6-2s at that time, but some did pass through.
   

5. Kenneth R. Clark
   

1953

1. SP 3718 Shasta F-5 2-10-2
   

Pacific Lines Diesel Locomotive Assignments

Diesel Era Division Assignments

1. In the diesel era, locomotives even got identifiers under the cab windows as to where home was. The SP put out locomotive assignment rosters at least every six months for use primarily by roundhouse foreman, locomotive inspectors, road foreman of engines and dispatchers. They began to assign road diesels to certain "pools" where they were based, such as Oregon, Roseville, Tehachapi, and LA. Local freight power and yard engines continued to be assigned to a certain Division. There was also a "Condition of Diesel Power and Shopping Schedule" that was put out every month for use by shop forces, which listed the locomotives by Division or "Pool."
   

2. 
   

Pacific Lines Division Assignments - Diesel Roster

1. The 1964 Locomotive Assignment Book (9-30-64) listed;
   

2. 
   

3.     34 units assigned to System Passenger Pool (Ogden Maint):       5 PA-1, 22 PA-2 and 7 PB-2
   

4.     27 units assigned to San Francisco San Jose Commute Pool:  1 FP7A; 10 GP9 and 16 H24-66
   

5.     87 units assigned to System Passenger Pool (L A Maint):         13 F7A; 15 FP7A; 30 F7B; 1 PA-1; 12 E7B; 6 E7A; 1 E8A and 9 E9A
   

6. 
   

7. In the pre 1965 classification, the F units were classified as DF (diesel freight), even the FP7s. In the later classification the FP7s and F7As with high speed gearing were classified as passenger locomotives. The GP9s and H24-66s were classified as diesel freight in the old classification system.
   

8. 
   

9. The one PA-1 assigned to Los Angeles was the #6063, the former T&NO #204. It was retired 0n 1-20-65 and may have been out of service. Data on the #6063 from Strapac's SP Diesel Locomotive Compendium, Vol. 1.
   

10. 
    

11. There were 5 F7As that were specially equipped to MU with ALCO passenger units, #6394-6397, #6399.
    

Specific City Locomotive Assignments

San Luis Obispo Facilities

1948  SLO Locomotive Assignments

1. #2592  2-8-0  with whale back in stall would be seen.
   

   #2803, 2534, 2381, 2646, 1811

1. #2829 was the "signature" SLO 2-8-0 with whale back. #2829 also used a rectangular tender.
   

2. #3711 (2-10-2) was a helper in SLO on Daylight.
   

3. #3727 was used at SLO with a square tender.
   

4. #4187 assigned to Coast Div.
   

5. #4191 assigned to Coast Div.  helper
   

1. A Road Switcher plus cab forwards and freight diesel were on the ready tracks. Engines from other divisions could be found in San Luis Obispo on a daily basis. Trains 71/72 (the coast mail) changed engines there, thus the layover of the GS series. Mountains were also frequent in the area. There are photos of ten wheelers and even 4-10-2 passing through but these were relatively rare.
   

2. Andrew Merriam
   

3. 
   

1949  SLO Locomotive Assignments

    #2592 w/ whale back

    #2829 w/ rectangular tender

    #3711 (2-10-2) was a helper in SLO on Daylight.

    #3727 used at SLO with a square tender

1953 SLO Locomotive Assignments

1. A count of engines at the San Luis Obispo Roundhouse for December 1953  included the following:
   

2. 
   

3. 2-8-0 Consolidation    6    (including SDAE #103 as switcher)
   

4. 2-8-2 Mikado                 1    (was typically used on the King City turn)
   

5. 2-10-2 Santa Fe             8     (Decs to SP, primarily used in helper service)
   

6. 4-8-4 Northern             4
   

7. 
   

1954  SLO Locomotive Assignments

    #2534 on work train (1954)

1956 SLO Locomotive Assignments

1. On page 93 of SP's Coast Line book, it gives a list of steam at SLO in Jan. 1956, which came from RH employee Malcolm Gaddis.