Southern Pacific Santa Fe

In the early 1980's, the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads announced their intention to merge. Everyone thought the ICC would approve the merger, to the point that both railroads began painting their equipment into the new paint scheme that had been chosen. 5 cabooses for both railroads were also painted in a variation of the scheme on the locomotives. However, the ICC surprised everyone in the summer of 1986 and denied the merger...since then the SPSF paint job instead of meaning "Southern Pacific Santa Fe" is now and will forever be known as "Shouldn't Paint So Fast."


 SP 1192 in the SPSF Colors at Roseville CA. Paul DeRouen photo

SP 1192 in the SPSF Colors at Roseville CA. Paul DeRouen photo


SP 3775 in the SPSF Colors at Elk Grove CA. Paul DeRouen photo SP 2873 in SPSF Colors, preserved at the Portola RR Musuem. Portola CA SP 9319 NB on a SP manifest at Stockton CA SP 7558 at West Colton CA. Russ Johnson photo

SP 3775 in the SPSF Colors at Elk Grove CA. Paul DeRouen photo
SP 2873 in SPSF Colors, preserved at the Portola RR Museum. Portola CA. Run this locomotive
SP 9319 NB on a SP manifest at Stockton CA
SP 7558 at West Colton CA. Russ Johnson photo


SP 9351 in SPSF Colors somewhere in Southern California. Russ Johnson photo SP 9362 in SPSF colors, West Colton CA. Russ Johnson photo ATSF 5176 in SPSF colors at Mormon Yard. Stockton CA ATSF 7497 in SPSF colors at Hobart Yard. Russ Johnson photo

SP 9351 in SPSF Colors somewhere in Southern California. Russ Johnson photo
SP 9362 in SPSF colors, West Colton CA. Russ Johnson photo
ATSF 5176 in SPSF colors at Mormon Yard. Stockton CA
ATSF 7497 in SPSF colors at Hobart Yard. Russ Johnson photo


ATSF 8068 at Hobart Yard. Russ Johnson photo ATSF 5810 in SPSF Colors at Stockton CA. Brian Clough photo ATSF 8141 at Hobart Yard. Russ Johnson photo ATSF 5184 sublettered for BNSF under lease at Walong Siding. Al Bowen photo

ATSF 8068 in SPSF Colors at Hobart Yard. Russ Johnson photo
ATSF 5810 in SPSF Colors at Stockton CA. Brian Clough photo
ATSF 8141 in SPSF Colors at Hobart Yard. Russ Johnson photo
ATSF 5184 sublettered for BNSF under lease at Walong Siding. Al Bowen photo


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