Division Point

Steam Locomotives
2009
SP herald®

Southern Pacific
Class SP-1,2,3 5000 Series
4-10-2 "Southern Pacific"-type

In April of 1925 the Southern Pacific took delivery of an unusual locomotive built by Alco (Schenectady). The locomotive was a three-cylinder 4-10-2, #5000! Purchased specifically for fast freight and passenger service between Roseville CA and Sparks NV, the SP was inpressed enough to order a total of 49 of these "haulers". Named the "Southern Pacific" type, these were impressive in their glossy black boilers, graphite smokeboxes and white-rimmed wheels. All 49 were assigned the the Pacific Coast Line. They could pull anything tied onto their tails, but they were pretty tough on the track they rode. Amazingly, the "5000"s, were eventually found on every division, except the Sacramento division the were bought for. The "5000"s would up in helper service and all were retired in the early 1950s. Only #5021 is preserved, on display at the Los Angeles Couny Fairgrounds.

Described as "good steamers", all the SPs wound up with 16,000-gallon six-axle Vandy tenders. Additional starting power was provided by a C-2 trailing truck booster. The Division Point and Boo-Rim will offer this LIMITED EDITION project in different numbers. With only 105 pieces to be produced, you are well advised to contact your dealer to reserve yours!

SP SP-3 #5048
Working near Beaumont Summit

As usual, we are indebted to those folks who publish the information and photos we need. We urge you to buy their books and photos.
  • 4-10-2 Three Barrels of Steam by James E. Boynton (1973, Glenwood Publishers, Felton, CA)
  • A Century of Southern Pacifuc Steam Locomotives by Guy L. Dunscomb (1972, Guy L. Dunscomb & Son, Modesto, CA)
  • Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive Pictorial by Jeff Ainsworth (2003, Monte Vista Publishing, La Crescenta, CA)

Class SP-1, Alco/Schenectady Works 1925, Road Nos. 5000-5015:
SP-1, #5000 DP-9050  Southern Pacific #5000 4-10-2 Class SP-1
SP-1, #5005 DP-9051  Southern Pacific (#5000-5015) 4-10-2 Class SP-1
Class SP-2, Alco/Schenectady Works 1926, Road Nos. 5016-5038:
SP-2, #5016 DP-9053  Southern Pacific #5016 4-10-2 Class SP-2
SP-2, #5027 DP-9054  Southern Pacific (#5016-5038) 4-10-2 Class SP-2
SP-2, #5021 DP-9055  Southern Pacific #5021 4-10-2 Class SP-2
Class SP-3, Alco/Schenectady Works 1927, Road Nos. 5039-5048:
SP-3, #5039 DP-9057  Southern Pacific #5039 4-10-2 Class SP-3
SP-3, #5046 DP-9058  Southern Pacific (#5039-5048) 4-10-2 Class SP-3


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Last updated 07-01-2008, Copyright ©2008 by Division Point, Inc. & K+C Johnson Ltd