Santa Fe E8

I thought the E8's were kept on secondary passenger trains, not on the E-W transcons.  However, the SFC was the most unusual passenger trains in the ATSF "tribe", considering it did run a lot of head end business.

Dominic is correct.  The E8's were used on secondary trains, mostly in the flatlands of the east end.

Rusty

Interestingly all the E8 units were rebuilt by EMD from the original E1 As [8 E8Am] and Bs [3 E8Bm] and the first box cab units [2 E8Bm] used to pull the Super Chief. The m designation for modified for a total of 13 units.

hibar posted:

Interestingly all the E8 units were rebuilt by EMD from the original E1 As [8 E8Am] and Bs [3 E8Bm] and the first box cab units [2 E8Bm] used to pull the Super Chief. The m designation for modified for a total of 13 units.

Actually, the 1A wound up in a slightly less glamorous role:

and the 1 became no E8Am:

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

hibar posted:

Interestingly all the E8 units were rebuilt by EMD from the original E1 As [8 E8Am] and Bs [3 E8Bm] and the first box cab units [2 E8Bm] used to pull the Super Chief. The m designation for modified for a total of 13 units.

Actually, the 1A wound up in a slightly less glamorous role:

and the 1 became no E8Am:

Rusty

Those were interim variations in 1953 both were rebuilt into B units #s 83A-84A

Thanks everyone 

Interesting, but with nose like that, this girl couldn't get a date if she paid for it. Looks like she ran into a wall.

Yes, the modified Class 1 box cab. What I'd really like to see them produce is the originals. Maybe 3rd rail will do them. This is their kind of unique project.

hibar posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

hibar posted:

Interestingly all the E8 units were rebuilt by EMD from the original E1 As [8 E8Am] and Bs [3 E8Bm] and the first box cab units [2 E8Bm] used to pull the Super Chief. The m designation for modified for a total of 13 units.

Actually, the 1A wound up in a slightly less glamorous role:

and the 1 became no E8Am:

Rusty

Those were interim variations in 1953 both were rebuilt into B units #s 83A-84A

What kind of trucks are those under the number 1 cab unit?

Brandon Cole posted:

Question for you guys. When the Santa Fe used the E8 on there San Francisco Chief was it a single A unit or AA or some other consist? I can't find any pictures or I wouldn't ask. 

Thanks. 

Brandon, a transcontinental train like the San Francisco Chief required 6,000 horsepower or more to keep speed up enough to make its schedule.  The most common locomotive consist was a 5-unit rednose F3 or F7, or a 4-unit Alco PA1/PB1 consist.  After the government diverted a lot of mail to air and highway service in 1967, the engine consist was normally 4 F3's/F7's, but Alcos were also used east of Barstow for an additional year or so, usually 4 of them.

You may be acquainted with the geography of the Santa Fe:

• EASTERN LINES: Chicago to Wellington, Newton, or Arkansas City, Kansas.  This is all prairie, fairly flat, some slightly undulating.  A few climbs out of river valleys, but no significant grades.
• WESTERN LINES: Kansas to Galveston, Texas, all prairie; Wellington, KS, to Belen, NM, via Amarillo, mostly prairie, but has sustained grades of 1% or more for mile after mile across New Mexico, and Curtis Hill, 1.5% grade in Oklahoma; Kansas to Dalies, NM, prairie to Trinidad, CO, two mountain grade districts exceeding 3% (Raton and Glorieta).
• COAST LINES: Belen/Dalies, NM to Los Angeles or Richmond, CA.  Sustained grades of 1% to 1.6% across New Mexico, Arizona, and the California desert.  Cajon Pass and Tehachapi Pass have mountain grades. San Joaquin Valley is very flat, except for moderate and short grade through Oakland Hills.  San Bernardino to Los Angeles mostly flat coastal plain.

Transcontinental Passenger Pool:  4-5-6-unit F3 and F7; 3-4-or 5-unit Alcos; 3-unit Erie-Built until 1959; 325 Class dual service F7's on extra passenger (specials, second and third sections of regular trains).

Eastern Passenger Pool: E3, E6, E8m; DL109-110; 325 Class dual service F7's.  E units and DL's had no dynamic braking.  This pool protected Chicago-Kansas and Chicago-Texas trains, plus short secondary lines passenger service in west Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.  Except that he Texas Chief  used 4 F3/F7 units from the transcontinental pool.

Hope that clears it up for you.  E8m's were never transcontinental power.  They replaced E1's on San Diegans and Valley Flyers when new in 1952-53, and were transferred to the Eastern Pool in 1954.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

hibar posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

hibar posted:

Interestingly all the E8 units were rebuilt by EMD from the original E1 As [8 E8Am] and Bs [3 E8Bm] and the first box cab units [2 E8Bm] used to pull the Super Chief. The m designation for modified for a total of 13 units.

Actually, the 1A wound up in a slightly less glamorous role:

and the 1 became no E8Am:

Rusty

Those were interim variations in 1953 both were rebuilt into B units #s 83A-84A

What kind of trucks are those under the number 1 cab unit?

Santa Fe shop built trucks 1-B configuration [lead axel and 2 powered axels] for better ride and less sidestress on rails in 1938 when the unit was rebuilt with bulldog front. Good wikipedia article on these early units,traded in to EMD in 1953 for E8ms.

On the TEXAS CHIEF, the train went into this river valley in I believe the Arbuckle Mountains, which was a western branch of the Ozarks?  But I do not remember any bad grades.

Newton-Dodge City on the SUPER CHIEF-EL CAP was hilly, but not bad.