my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Cotton Belt GP20R

SSW 4134 - 4153.

20 units rebuilt

All GP20's are now written off, the last #4153 lasting until sometime in 1996.

A major point to watch for, is that there are/were 2 different rebuilds:

• those that retained the turbo'ed 567 engine: SSW 4134 - 4138
• and those that had non-turbocharged 567 engines rebuilt with 645 parts: SSW 4139 - 4153

The non-turbocharged 567 with 645 assemblies, have a roof-mounted paper air filter and 2 exhausts, 1 each side of the dynamic fan, the 567 turbo'ed units retain the single rectangular exhaust stack.

see also: SP GP20's

see also: SP GP20E's

see also: SSW GP20's

References:

• Cotton Belt Locomotives by Joe Strapac pages 205 to 208, history, photo's etc...
• SP Dieselization by John Bonds Garmany
• SP 1987/88 Motive Power Pictorial by Joe.W.Shine, - Page 95.
• SP into the '90s by Joe.W.Shine Page 169.
• 1995 Southern Pacific Motive Power Annual
• Southern Pacific Rails - a motive power finale by Peter Limas
• Diesel Era Vol.9 No.4 Jul/Aug 1998 pages 38-55 - usual Diesel Era comprehensive coverage including color photos of SP and SSW units.
• The GP20 and SD24 EMD's Turbocharging Duo by Diesel Era (Wither's Publishing)
• Southern Pacific Historic Diesels Vol.13 by Joe Strapac