Associate Editor Harry K. Wong made the trek to attend the Annual Convention for the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society in Santa Rosa, Calif., on August 11, 2017. The SPHTS is dedicated to preserving and disseminating the historical record of the Southern Pacific Railroad and its affiliates, supporting railfanning, industrial archeology, and accurate scale modeling. Given the locale this time, this year’s annual meet was held as a joint convention with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Historical Society. The NWPRHS is dedicated to preserving the rich and colorful heritage of Redwood Empire railroading through acquisition, preservation and display efforts as well as through gathering oral histories of people who have contributed to our regional history. Here’s just a sample of Southern Pacific models on display during the convention activities…
SPHTS Vice President Scott Inman prepares to deliver a detailed presentation on SP’s sole RDC No. 10.
An O scale model of SP RDC 10. This one of a kind unit served much of her operating life on the Northwestern Pacific portion of the vast Espee empire.
A super-detailed HO Scale SP AC-5 4-8-8-2 “Cab Ahead” based on the Broadway Limited Imports model.
A superdetailed HO Scale Southern Pacific AC-5 4114 based on the Broadway Limited Imports model.
Entire Southern Pacific trains on display at the contest room.
Support the Southern Pacific Railroad History Center in Rocklin, Calif., the future home of SP RDC 10!
Positionable icicle breakers on SP SD9E No. 4319. Model by Mark Brown.
SP SD9E No. 4319 (left) and No. 4424 (right) circa 1980s by Mark Brown.
SP “Torpedo Boat” Passenger GP9E 3189 based on HO scale Athearn Genesis components by Cyrus Gillespie.
Southern Pacific F-70-7 Clejan Flat with two 22’ round-nose PMT trailers in HO scale. For more information, visit www.sphts.org/store.
SP Union Switch & Signal target signals by Class 5 Products. For pricing and more information, visit: www.spdaylight.com.
SP SW900E 1178 based on a HO scale Proto 2000 SW8/900 by Cyrus Gillespie.
Scratchbuilt Bridge Girder Beam Load. HO scale model by Mark Brown.
Rebuilt Pacific Fruit Express R-30-13-18 refrigerator in HO scale.
SP Donner Pass snow-fighting set in N scale by Ken Harstine. The FB-unit provides the power for the rotary snow plow.
SP Sugar Beet Rack by Dave Maffei in HO scale.
Jason Hill (left) of Owl Mountain Models with Fred Hill (right) of The Coach Yard brass models and The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena, Calif.
The famed “Skunk Train” of the California Western Railroad in HO scale. The California Western is a short line in the timber growing regions of Northern California that connects to the old Northwestern Pacific Line at Willits.
Head-end equipment was also evident at the meet, including this SP No. 6334 baggage car in HO scale.
SP Business Car 109 in HO Scale by John Ruehle.
For more information about conventions and membership, please visit the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society
