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SP Cab Forward 4252 With Reefer Block

A post from the Facebook Union Pacific Museum group.

Description:

Some of the most unique locomotive designs came from Southern Pacific Railroad. In this photograph, Southern Pacific locomotive 4252 pulls a Pacific Fruit Express (PFE) train near Santa Barbara, California, in 1947.

To many, this steam locomotive looks odd, or backward. Rather than placing the cab near the back of the locomotive, Southern Pacific pioneered the use of cab-forward locomotives. By placing the cab at the front, engineers and train crew were protected from smoke buildup in the long tunnels of the Sierra Nevada.

Norm Anderson commented:

The engine is pulling Train #765, one of three scheduled through freights on Southern Pacific's Coast Line. Odd-numbered trains were running toward San Francisco. Train #765 has timetable authority between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. It very likely originated in Los Angeles, however, and is likely bound beyond San Luis Obispo. It may have conducted its voyage under several different numbers en route. The refrigerator cars appear to be empty, as the ice hatches are propped open, I believe to give the cars an "airing-out."

Pat LaTorres commented:

Norm Anderson, the hatches were open for "ventilated" service, which meant that the lading was kept cool, but not refrigerated. Per PFE instructions, the hatches were to be kept closed on empty cars. Check Tony Thompson's blog pages for more information on this. Also, the train would have completed its entire trip under one train number. Just as an FYI, once the designation changes, by definition it is a different train. In the case of the S.P., westward freight trains would run as a second or third class train, while eastward freight would usually (though not always) run as extras.

Bob Chaparro

Moderator

At the time that this photo was taken, there were scheduled third class freight trains in both directions on the Guadalupe Subdivision of the Coast Division. It is true that loaded reefers were moved without icing and had vents open per shipping instructions depending on weather conditions and crops being shipped. My experience with ice bunker reefers in the 1950s and later was that cleaned and ready to load cars usually had the ice hatches up. You can see photos of trains like in this one heading towards growing areas with all hatches up. I believe that hatches were not up to dry the cars out, but more likely to reduce the musty condition caused by a sealed damp car.

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Cliff Prather