Absolutely WONDERFUL specimen of a locomotive! She may look like a junk pile on the outside, but that almost complete lack of smoke when she digs in, that means she's in PRIME CONDITION within! She's been lovingly looked after and maintained and KEPT IN TUNE, so she's cheerfully ready each morning to shove and pull and get trains built and broken up and do it smoothly and on-time!
It's amazing how some locomotives last forever whereas others are ready for the scrapheap at ten years. This one is a shining example of how well-cared for old equipment can still deliver revenue service after sixty-six years. The smoke you see is just what happens when you give it a hard acceleration, like in an average diesel pickup. No real fogger like the old Alcos were at 15 years. I can hear the Roots blower as well. I would be in Heaven if I were in the operator's seat with a Thermos jug full of my best coffee on that wintry day, makin' up freights in that yard. Southern Pacific had such locomotives, and nicknamed them "Cadillacs," probably because they were made by EMD--a General Motors division.
Not only did Southern Pacific have such locomotives, they had this one specifically... you can tell by the gyra lights and ladders, remnants of her SP days.
Great video. I spent a couple of hours in Albany back in May 2010 & April 2011 shooting this SD7, a great loco and very PNWR crews. My favourite railroad! Ill post up some footage soon.
No, just one set of controls. In fact, I have the original control stand from 1501. It was worn out so P&W's roundhouse built a new control stand using a more modern throttle and reverser. By the way, it is a great locomotive to run...
Wow! Nice! Do they ever turn that locomotive loose on a main line somewhere? Would like to see some footage of that, either high stepping a fast local or slugging it out with a long hill. Great video, thanks for the share!
My guess is that, as it is being used for a switcher, they didn't need the second fuel tank. I've seen them equipped with two tanks side by side, and I'm guessing that they used those locomotives for road service. These are road/switchers. This one isn't using enough diesel fuel to need it, and if fuel just sat in the one tank they didn't use, it would go bad.
John Tapp no it was originally for steam heating coaches since SD7s were used in commuter/mail trains in the 50s the snall tank removed in the 70/80s since it was useless
traingp7 because when SP bought it in 1953, they had 2 tanks originally 1 for fuel and the other for steam heating for coaches at the time (since HEP didn’t exist) so when SP rebuilt many of their SD7/9 fleet into SD7Rs and SD9Es they took out the steam tank as it served no purpose
Absolutely WONDERFUL specimen of a locomotive! She may look like a junk pile on the outside, but that almost complete lack of smoke when she digs in, that means she's in PRIME CONDITION within! She's been lovingly looked after and maintained and KEPT IN TUNE, so she's cheerfully ready each morning to shove and pull and get trains built and broken up and do it smoothly and on-time!
That thing is a tank, what a great sounding GM.
Those things were built to last long!
Hats off to the marvelous engineering of EMD.
very very BEAUTIFUL Acoustical Vitamins from that Classic SD7 CADILLAC --- SUPERB Classic Horn too !!!
Very nice switching action. Love the slightly older yet still very powerful engine doing what it does best!
That Nathan M3 really suits that old bird!
The lack of smoke form the exhaust tells the story of how well this unit has been loved and maintained, despite the looks from the outside.
Indeed! :)
I mean, I can see some smoke, but there isn't as much as some EMDs ...
Benjamin Esposti exactly!
It's amazing how some locomotives last forever whereas others are ready for the scrapheap at ten years. This one is a shining example of how well-cared for old equipment can still deliver revenue service after sixty-six years. The smoke you see is just what happens when you give it a hard acceleration, like in an average diesel pickup. No real fogger like the old Alcos were at 15 years. I can hear the Roots blower as well. I would be in Heaven if I were in the operator's seat with a Thermos jug full of my best coffee on that wintry day, makin' up freights in that yard. Southern Pacific had such locomotives, and nicknamed them "Cadillacs," probably because they were made by EMD--a General Motors division.
Not only did Southern Pacific have such locomotives, they had this one specifically... you can tell by the gyra lights and ladders, remnants of her SP days.
This engine is also fitted in the belgium diesellocomotive called reeks 55! I really love this diesel engine sound
Great video. I spent a couple of hours in Albany back in May 2010 & April 2011 shooting this SD7, a great loco and very PNWR crews. My favourite railroad! Ill post up some footage soon.
Great sounds and clean burning on the exhaust. Great video.....
would love to have this locomotive in Ho Scale since its one of the best looking locomotives they have in albany
I Love watching P &W engines and for sure this one 1501
I wish I had a SD7
The "O'l Yard Boss : )
All 105 tons of her.
When the other un's won't go, ol' 1501 will git 'er done!!!
Man I really like that SD 7 what a great engine.
awesome catch dude sweet old school how hard you try its keep going
That is one cracked out RS3L.
They need a Nathan P5 for that locomotive!!! Awesome! I hope to see that one someday!!!
Naw, Old Cast P3!
That could work...
An amazing locomotive. I wonder if she has dual controls in the cab.
No, just one set of controls. In fact, I have the original control stand from 1501. It was worn out so P&W's roundhouse built a new control stand using a more modern throttle and reverser. By the way, it is a great locomotive to run...
great photography! love it
Really beautiful train i saw a retired Southern Pacific sd 7 owned by northwestern pacific :)
airplanes.us they dont own a SD7
Still operating today daily to my knowledge
HaHa Did anyone notice the FRED hanging on the front axle?
jmslakings-- 0.44--this FRED is being punished for replacing all the cabooses in america!!
An odd place for one instead of atop a coupler. And angled down. That looks to me like it's around a sand tube for pouring sand onto slippery rail.
That's the usual spot for putting FRED when the crew finds them in the yard.
Wow! Nice! Do they ever turn that locomotive loose on a main line somewhere? Would like to see some footage of that, either high stepping a fast local or slugging it out with a long hill. Great video, thanks for the share!
It would need ditch lights and probably PTC before that could happen
those cinder concretes are still there now
Great Stuff
It's a very nice engine
That's cool. I didn't know the top lights rotate.
It's a Gyralite, standard to all Southern Pacific diesels up until the 1990's with the exception of the SD38s
I love it as well.
Two Dutch switchers fit in this one....
Canada?
Wow very nice video
I also do content like that 🥰
Hi Dave Here love the video P & W runs daily behind my house I live in Cornelius Oregon thanks
I would like to see videos of THE RIO GRANDE EMD SD9 LOCOMOTIVES
Rob Moir all of those are scrapped and btw this is a SD7
What do they call that type of cab on this loco?
Why is the fuel tank so small when they clearly have room for a larger one, is it because of the new trucks on that unit?
My guess is that, as it is being used for a switcher, they didn't need the second fuel tank. I've seen them equipped with two tanks side by side, and I'm guessing that they used those locomotives for road service. These are road/switchers. This one isn't using enough diesel fuel to need it, and if fuel just sat in the one tank they didn't use, it would go bad.
John Tapp no it was originally for steam heating coaches since SD7s were used in commuter/mail trains in the 50s the snall tank removed in the 70/80s since it was useless
Why did they remove the second fuel tank? Looks like shit with that big gap under the frame.
traingp7 because when SP bought it in 1953, they had 2 tanks originally 1 for fuel and the other for steam heating for coaches at the time (since HEP didn’t exist) so when SP rebuilt many of their SD7/9 fleet into SD7Rs and SD9Es they took out the steam tank as it served no purpose
This. Engine has a mars light
I’ve seen SD70ACe’s and ES44AC’s smoke more than that.
PNWR ex-sp
Hi I like your videoss of P & W 1501 I am going to get a Ho Scale layout How do I pick one roadname to use when I like UP SP CN BN your thought
2018, is she still running?
Diesel Locomotive Fan last i heard it had a engine problem
EMD SD 7
Like a lot of older machinery it's all in what maintenance she gets...usually the uglier the better.