my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

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

Texas & New Orleans SW-8

5 units delivered

In 1950 EMD rolled out their SW8, a 567B powered 800 hp switcher, they also demonstrated a 'cow and calf' set designated TR-6 based on the SW-8.

Texas & New Orleans received their SW-8's in 1953, delivered in SP Tiger Stripes, these were the first TNO units to receive MU capability, and although these units did not have dynamic brakes, it appears that TNO may have considered these as road units, so they possibly had the road-switcher Tiger-Stripe paint with aluminum ends.

T&NO 15 depicted on page 278 of SP Dieselization by Garmany, and Extra 2200 South, Issue 54, Oct/Nov/Dec. 1975 - SP Roster, Part I, has the following options:

• Switcher Numberboards,
• Switcher dual headlight,
• MU capable,
• Dropsteps, and assoc. end handrails.

As pictured in 1954, it did not have full length handrails

The SW8's had 8 louvered doors and one exhaust stack, as these were fitted with a V8 engine as against a V12 in the later SW9's.

These units likely stayed on TNO lines for most of their life, although the last TNO SW8 #1105 worked the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970's.

from Bob Huddy - while these engines were originally from the T&NO, most of them spent the final years on the west coast. They were used on light branch lines and as roundhouse 'dinky' engines at Taylor Roundhouse. Some engines sported P.E. 'Beverly Hills' whistles and were used for local service on the Culver City and later Santa Monica branch locals. The City of Beverly Hills forbade the use of air horns, so a P.E. air whistle was used on the journey along Santa Monica Blvd. through West L.A., Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood.

Prototype References:

• EMD's SW8 by Paul K Withers (Diesel Era) - pages 43 - 47, photo coverage some text.
• 1977 SP Review by Joe Strapac - EMC/EMD switchers of the SP
• SP Dieselization by Garmany - Chapter 9 Postwar Diesel Switchers.
• Extra 2200 South, Issue 54, Oct/Nov/Dec. 1975 - SP Roster, Part I
• Extra 2200 South, Issue 56, Jan/Feb/Mar. 1976 - SP Roster, Part III
• Model Railroader Cyclopedia Vol.2 Page 36 - Plans for a non-dynamic SW-8.

Additional Information on this Page contributed by Bruce Conklin and Bob Huddy.