11-20-2010, 05:21 PM
Santa Fe still uses some of the Chopped nose Gp7s & 9s for local switching, although some of them have been sold off. They also use Gp20s. 30s, 35s, 38-2s and 39-2s and I think 40xs for switching. The smaller 4 axle units aren't too bad, but if a Cf7 is too big to look realistic on tight curves, those others would be just as bad. Of course, U.P. is worse. The shop where I worked before I retired was on the U.P. mainline in City of Industry. As the name implies, there is a lot of industry and warehousing in City of Industry, and the U.P. main was triple tracked in the area to allow run arounds for local switching without fouling the main. Typical switching power was Sd75s, Dash8-40c, etc. There was one leased Gp40-2, but that was the only 4 axle power I ever saw switching locals there. Otherwise the smallest power I saw them use was exSp Sd40-2ts. In fact the U.P. yard in City of Industry was worked exclusively by Sd40-2ts!