Passenger Trains Archives - Southern Pacific Railroad History Center

Snowbound Streamliner – Rescuing the 1952 City of San Francisco – Church

Chip Savoye — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:45:27 +0000

A thorough history of the 1952 City of San Francisco which became buried in an Avalanche high in the Sierras stranding passengers and Crew

Used Very Good condition

W14

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Southern Pacific Bay Area Steam Harre W. Demoro

Chip Savoye — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 19:23:37 +0000

A noted rail historian, Mr Demoro has collected rare vintage photos of Southern Pacific’s steam locomotives covering all eras, from t wood-burning engines to the giant cab forwards and colorful Daylight engines. Included are many never before published photos not only of the Daylight but also the Pacific Limited, Santa Cruz locals, San Francisco Peninsular commuter trains and the steam powered suburban trains in the Oakland and Berkeley area. There are also sections on the Northwestern Pacific , and photos of the steam ferries and electric suburban trains and terminals that connected to the SP, so that the reader sees a balanced portrait of the area in steam’s heyday, including the West Oakland roundhouse, Bayshore Yard, and the Oakland Pier train shed. 143 pages.

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Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives Robert J. Church

Chip Savoye — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:31:47 +0000

The book describes all of the 74 SP 4-8-4s, and the 11 Cotton Belt transfers, through informative text and extensive photographic coverage. The development, construction at the locomotive works, differences between the eight classes, including roster information, diagrams, and drawings of each class, subsequent development and tests, maintenance procedures, and the system-wide use of these powerful high-speed locomotives are described in 21 fact-filled chapters.

Researched through interviews with SP officials, examination of surviving Southern Pacific records and other sources, and with images from many amateur photographers and collectors, this is a well-documented and outstanding book. Its 731 photos, most never before published, together with 39 drawings, detailed rosters, painting and lettering information, and full bibliography, make it unusually complete and authoritative. Steam locomotive enthusiasts, and particularly fans of the Southern Pacific, are sure to enjoy this book

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The Ski Train Steve Patterson and Forrest Kenton W-3

Chip Savoye — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:55:57 +0000

Paperback. Condition: very good condition. Revised Edition. New softcover in glossy printed wraps. Text is clean and free of marks or underlining. (8.5 x 0.3 x 11 inches) Includes photos, art prints, and a bibliography. 80pp. Fast shipping in a secure book box mailer with tracking. For over 60 years the Rio Grande and its successors, Southern Pacific and Ansco Corporation operated ski specials from Denver. Here is the story of how Colorado’s billion-dollar ski industry started from passenger trains, and how and why the ski train served the state for so long. The authors examine operations and equipment, and review other past and present North American ski trains.

Box w-3

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Southern Pacific Passenger Cars Volume 5: Lounge, Dome and Parlor Cars W1a

Chip Savoye — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 02:47:23 +0000

A hard to find comprehensive study of Southern Pacific’s fleet of specialize passenger equipment

576 pages

Published by the Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society

W1a

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Thistle Focus on Disaster by Oneita Sumsion W 3

Chip Savoye — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 02:14:28 +0000

“Vivid and well-written portrayal of the disastrous mudslide that swallowed the town of Thistle, Utah in 1983. The author describes the town before the mudslide — its residents and history — before providing an almost minute by minute account of the sudden calamity that swallowed up the town. She also interviewed many of the townspeople whose lives were upended so that there is a record of what happened to them afterwards. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos and maps. 173 pages.”

W-3

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Red Trains in the East Bay by Robert S. Ford (W-26)

Gene Harmon — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:22:34 +0000

This 351 page book was published as Interurban Special 65 in 1977, a first printing, with an appendix and bibliography. It is the complete history of the Southern Pacific’s interurban services in the East Bay area adjacent to San Francisco Bay. It has an excellent fold-out map of all routes in operation in 1913. It includes ferry services and services over the Bay Bridge. This is a first printing from 1977. The book is in like-new condition with a paper jacket. (W-26)

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