Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Thanks for the info GEC, but I love the sound of EMD 567s, and Alcos. I think I will stick with the 1980's era when these were still in use.

You're going to want to go farther, to the 1976-79 if you want Alcos. Most Alcos never saw Conrail blue paint (in fact a blue Alco could be considered rare). Near all Alcos were retired or stored by 1979. Any units in service (almost none) or storage were gone before the end of 1982.

Alcos were also quickly concentrated in Ohio (mingo Junction) and points west, since they were temperamental and unreliable machines (either due to age, deferred maintenance, or design), and since Alco stopped building locomotives in 1969, no new parts were going to show up. By keeping them in one spot, it reduced costs. Alcos were odd balls and money pits, and were quickly eliminated in favor of "standardization", which is to say EMDs and newer GE units.

The only technical exception may be RS3Ms, which were remotored RS3s. Some of them managed to last, but many of the older RS3Ms were scrapped as well.

First generation EMDs were similarly eliminated, with all F-units gone by 1979. E Units were similarly gone, only #4022 being retained (Conrail's Executive units 4020 and 4021 were bought from Amtrak in 1983, the original 4020 and 4021 being long retired). Anything older than a GP35 got the ax by the mid 80s, and many newer units were also let go.