Shade Tree Books

In January 1975, Southern Pacific took delivery of its last General Electric U33C locomotive, considering this model's dismal maintenance record on the SP, observers could reasonably expect never again to see new GE locomotives on this railroad.Just three years later, however, GE came roaring back with their answer to Electro-Motive's GP40-2, the B30-7, and SP was first in line to buy a sample set.

Ultimately, the SP/SSW was to buy 110 B30-7 and another 20 B36-7 locomotives. Slipped in among these high-horsepower units were fifteen B23-7 locomotives delivered in 1980. In 1987-89, 95 new B39 and Dash 8 Techno-Toasters were added to the roster, along with 195 GP60s from GM Locomotive Group. Once a tractive effort railroad,the SP was re-inventing itself as a cross-country intermodal conveyor belt in competition with the Union Pacific and the Santa Fe.At the same time, control of the SP migrated to Rio Grande Industries, then gearing up for a boom in transportation of Colorado-mined coal for power plants.

GE was again able to meet the needs of the combined Rio Grande-SP, first with the comfort cab Dash 9-44CW (direct current) six-axle locomotive and, finally, with the dramatic capstone to the Southern Pacific diesel roster of 279 AC4400CW diesels-delivered in the short span of seven months in 1995. In all, 620 modern General Electric diesel units were delivered to the SP and the Cotton Belt between 1978 and 1995.Their story is told in Volume 19, in 144 pages with 250 photographs.

Each delivery phase of each GE model is given its own chapter. While GE locomotives were not very popular in the resale market, many are documented in the popular Graduates' chapter. Successor Union Pacific had dozens of early former SP B-boats rebuilt to green 21st-Century switchers, as well as converting dozens more into remote-control radio cars.

Their stories are documented in these pages. Making a brief appearance in their own chapter are the three Morrison-Knudsen MK5000 demonstrator locomotives that made a splash in the December 1994 Popular Mechanics magazine, but were banished in disgrace from SP rails after only a few months of unsuccessful tests.Shade Tree Books, softcover, 144 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., B&W photographs, color covers, roster information.

Features:

• New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

This volume will detail the freight diesel locomotives not covered in the previous volumes of Shade Tree's series of books on Southern Pacific's diesel locomotive roster. This volume will have color covers and all B&W images inside.

Contents:

• Introduction, pp. 3–7
• SD35
• Original and 1965 Numbers, pp. 8–27
• SD35
• Upgrades and Switchers, pp. 28–45
• SD39, pp. 46–67
• SD38-2 (West Colton Hump Units), pp. 68–75
• West Colton Slug Units, pp. 76–81
• GP38-2, pp. 82–113
• SD70M, pp. 114–131
• Demonstrators and Graduates (new owners), pp. 132–144 Shade Tree Books, softcover, 146 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in
• B&W photographs, a complete roster and detailed photograph captions. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

This book is a picture history of the more than 400 diesels of Southern Pacific's Texas & New Orleans subsidiary, 1941-1965. Includes Black Widow F-units, ALCO PAs and RSD-5s in portraiture and action. Also shown are the T&NO's streamlined Hustler, Sunbeam and Sunset Limited in diesel action. 180 B&W and 2 Color photographs.

Contents:

• Ch. 1: Introduction, pp. 3–5
• Ch. 2: The Switchers, pp. 6–19
• Ch. 3: The ALCO RSD-5 Units, pp. 20–29
• Ch. 4: The Baldwin Road-Switchers, pp. 30–35
• Ch. 5: The ALCO PA Locomotives, pp. 36–45
• Ch. 6: Dual-Service GP9 Locomotives, pp. 46–55
• Ch. 7: The DL-600B Locomotives, pp. 56–57
• Ch. 8: The F3 Locomotives, pp. 58–65
• Ch. 9
• The F7 Locomotives, pp. 66–77
• Ch. 10: Freight GP9 Locomotives, pp. 78–85
• Ch. 11: The F9M Locomotives, pp. 86–96. Shade Tree Books, softcover, 96 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in
• B&W photographs and detailed roster information. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

This book is about the 334 General Electric 'U-boats' from the U-25B and U50 through U33C locomotives owned by the Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt railroads. Includes system-wide action and portrait photography during the brief time during the 1960s and 1970s when U-series diesels worked everywhere on the Southern Pacific.

Includes 180 B&W and 3 Color photographs plus roster.

Contents:

• Ch. 1: The Decision to Buy GE Units, pp. 3–6
• Ch. 2: The U25B Locomotives, pp. 7–25
• The U25BE Upgrading Experiment, pp. 26–31
• The Sulzer Re-Engine Experiment, pp. 32–35
• Ch. 3: The Twin-Engine U50s, pp. 36–46
• Ch. 4: The U28B Units, pp. 47–49
• Ch. 5: The U28C Locomotives, pp. 50–55
• Ch. 6: The U30C Locomotives, pp. 56–67
• Ch. 7: The U33C Locomotives, pp. 68–96. Shade Tree Books, softcover, 96 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in
• B&W photographs and detailed roster information. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

Baldwin switchers and Road-Switchers that operated on the Southern Pacific, T&NO and Cotton Belt. Demonstrators (including Shark-noses!) illustrated in detail.

Contents:

• Ch. 1: Introduction, pp. 3–15
• Ch. 2: The VO-660 Switchers, pp. 16–19
• Ch. 3: The VO-1000 Switchers, pp. 20–37
• Ch. 4: Postwar 1000-horsepower Switchers, pp. 38–43
• Ch. 5: Thin-Frame S-12 Switchers, pp. 44–51
• Ch. 6: Fabricated-Frame S-12 Switchers, pp. 52–63
• Ch. 7: Baldwin Demonstrators Visit the SP, pp. 64–67
• Ch. 8: Six-Axle, 1500-horsepower Road-Switchers, pp. 68–81
• Ch. 9: Cow-and-Calf Operations, pp. 82–89
• Ch. 10: Six-Axle, 1600-horsepower Road-Switchers, pp. 90–107
• Ch. 11: T&NO AS-616 and Cotton Belt 2000-horsepower Center cab, pp. 108–112. Shade Tree Books, softcover, 112 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., 230+ B&W photographs, roster, official drawings. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

A comprehensive study in photographs, text, drawings and tables discussing the 189 Electric Locomotive Baldwin-Westinghouse built for interurban, switching and industrial railroads in Canada and the United States between 1896 and 1937.Not all electric locomotives built by Baldwin-Westinghouse are illustrated in this book.

Only those that were built for interurban electric railways are presented in over 230 photographs, drawings and tables.

Contents:

• Ch. 1: Introduction, pp. 4–9
• Ch. 2: Class A Locomotives, pp. 10–23
• Ch. 3: Custom-Built Locomotives, pp. 24–32
• Ch. 4: Short Cab Pre-B Locomotives, pp. 33–38
• Ch. 5: Class B Locomotives, pp. 39–64
• Ch. 6: Class D Locomotives, pp. 65–82
• Ch. 7: Class B-1 Locomotives, pp. 83–90
• Ch. 8: Class C Locomotives, pp. 91–94
• Ch. 9: Class E Locomotives, pp. 95–100
• Ch. 10: Class S Locomotives, pp. 101–104
• Ch. 11: Competitors and Imitators, pp. 105–107
• Ch. 12: The Survivors, pp. 108–114
• Ch. 13: Numeric Production List, pp. 115–128.Shade Tree Books, softcover, 128 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in
• B&W photographs and detailed roster data. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

Between 1947 and 1959, dieselization on the Southern Pacific followed a predictable pattern. Order locomotives from the diesel builders similar to the other builder's early diesels but easier to maintain.Competition from the Santa Fe and truckers caused a re-thinking of this pattern. The SP needed to move trains quickly or be left out of the high-speed high-value end of freight transportation.

Thus the jump into turbo-charged locomotives offered by both EMD and GE.

Contents:

• Ch. 1: Introduction, pp. 3–5
• Ch. 2: Cotton Belt and SP GP20 Locomotives, pp. 6–19
• Ch. 3: Cotton Belt and SP GP20R Locomotives, pp. 20–31
• Ch. 4: Cotton Belt and SP GP30 Locomotives, pp. 32–39
• Ch. 5: Cotton Belt GP 35 Locomotives, pp. 40–47
• Ch. 6: SP GP35 Locomotives-Original Numbers, pp. 48–57
• Ch. 7: SP GP35 Locomotives-New Numbers, pp. 58–87
• Ch. 8: Upgraded GP35R Locomotives, pp. 88–111
• Ch. 9: Cabless DD35 Locomotives, pp. 112–119
• Ch. 10: The Graduates (short line survivors), pp. 120–128.Shade Tree Books, softcover, 128 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in
• B&W photographs with captions and rosters. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books

Shade Tree Books, softcover, 128 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., B&W photographs with captions and text.

Many California railroads were organized, not to become a large railroad, but to simply serve some local purpose. Hauling lumber or minerals or sugar beets required rail services best provided by a focused, local organization.

What is a short line' Basically a smaller railroad that operates limited mileage in a single region or state and perhaps is tied to a particular commodity or service. Whether private or common carrier, the styles of short line operation were similar.

The two types of carriers often sold locomotives between one another, and these engines can be found lettered for both. What is a short line steam locomotive' Generally, they were built first with cost as a primary consideration, followed by compatibility with existing infrastructure (bridge weight limits and track structure).

Most weighed 90 tons or less, with small-diameter driving wheels to operate at slow speeds. This book documents in B&W photographs with captions and text those non-geared short line steam locomotives which operated in California.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• Joseph A. Strapac
• Shade Tree Books

Lower price!This book completes the discussion of Rio Grande diesel locomotives from vols. 1 and 2 (out-of-print). Included are details of Rio Grande steel cabooses, non-Zephyr lightweight passenger cars, new and secondhand diesels since 1983, and a complete list of all Rio Grande diesels sold for further service.

Contents:

• Ch. 1: Rio Grande in the Diesel Era, pp. 3–5
• Ch. 2: Steel Cabooses, pp. 6–27
• Ch. 3: Stream styled Passenger Cars, pp. 28–35
• Ch. 4: Non-Zephyr Lightweight Cars, pp. 36–51
• Ch. 5: Renewing the Ski Train, pp. 52–59
• Ch. 6: Clearing Wrecks and Fighting Snow, pp. 60–69
• Ch. 7: East to Kansas, pp. 70–77
• Ch. 8: Former Conrail GP40s, pp. 78–85
• Ch. 9: The SD50s, pp. 86–93
• Ch. 10: The Last GP Units, pp. 94–99
• Ch. 11: Closing Out the Roster, pp. 100–112.Shade Tree Books, softcover, 112 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., 193 B&W photographs and drawings. Features: New Softcover Joseph A. Strapac Shade Tree Books