Southern Pacific 7399 (also known as the Southern Pacific SD44R) is the sole example of an SD44R diesel locomotive that was built by the Electro-Motive Division for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in September 1966.
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History
editConstruction and revenue service
editSouthern Pacific 7399 was constructed in September 1966 as Southern Pacific SD45 #8837 and it was delivered to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company that same year in 1966.[1][2]
Rebuilding
editThen, in October 1981, #8837 was rebuilt by the Southern Pacific themselves under the Southern Pacific's M-99 rebuild program into an SD44R and renumbered to it to #7399, thus making #7399 the only example of the SD44R.[3]
When rebuilt, it had its original SD45 components replaced with SD40 components but retained its SD45 car-body thus differing it from the SD45Rs and unrebuilt SD45s in performance.
Re-entering revenue service
editNo. 7399 was later repainted into the Southern Pacific's Daylight paint scheme along with SD40R #7342 and remained in that paint scheme until being repainted into the Southern Pacific's "Kodachrome" livery of the proposed and failed merger between the Southern Pacific and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, but then, in November 1981, #7399 was repainted into a second variant of the Daylight paint scheme. Until emerging with a new SP Scarlet and Daylight Orange long hood, along with a black roof, trucks, fuel tank, pilots and plows.[4]
Post-SP service and retirement
editIt lasted into the days of Union Pacific when Southern Pacific and its parent company Rio Grande Industries had merged into Union Pacific.[citation needed]
No. 7399 was later retired from Union Pacific's roster and sold to Electro-Motive Division Leasing (EMDX) on October 31st, 1998, and renumbered by EMDX as 2816, leased back to Union Pacific as UP SD40-2 #4766 on September 4th, 1999, and returned to EMDX.[citation needed]
As of 2013, Southern Pacific 7399 is currently operational with EMDX as EMDX #2816. But was at one point stored somewhere at Chicago Heights, Illinois on September 21st, 2013.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Shine (1988), p. 109
- ^ Shine (1991), p. 195
- ^ "SP Rebuild Programs". utahrails.net. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ Garmany (1981), p. 391
Further reading
edit- Shippen, Bill (1999). Southern Pacific in Transition. Four Ways Publications. ISBN 9781885614261.
- Garmany, John (1984). Southern Pacific Dieselization (1st ed.). Pacific Fast Mail. ISBN 978-0915713127.
- Shine, Joseph (1988). SP 1987/88 Motive Power Pictorial (1st ed.). Four-Ways West Publications. ISBN 9780961687434.
- Shine, Joseph (1991). SP into the '90's. Four Ways West Publications. ISBN 9780685752104.