Southern Pacific Cab Forward Collection

The Complete Story of SP's Mighty 4-8-8-2 Articulated Locomotives!

For nearly 47 years, the Southern Pacific Railroad relied upon its massive AC-type steam locomotives to haul freight and passenger trains throughout California and neighboring states. Built to provide the power and flexibility demanded by the mountainous passes they traversed, these giants were constructed with their cab in front of the boiler, thus earning them the name Cab Forwards. The last Cab Forward revenue train ran in 1956, after which all but one were scrapped. From then on, film coverage of these AC-class engines was eagerly sought, hard to locate, and highly prized. Now, after years of research, Pentrex has assembled an awesome collection of footage and still images of SP AC-1s through AC-12s spanning the years 1927 to 1956.

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• pentrex
• cab
• forward
• mallet
• steam
• locomotive
• southern
• pacific
• 4-8-8-2
• collection
• dvd
• sp

[wooohooo771]

So that's what a cab forward's whistle sounds like.

[slipsakteboards]

i wish this engine was still running here in cali

[Barricade360]

@slipsakteboards so do i i was reading an article at Sacramento railway museum and the article stated they found nothing that would prevent that engine from operating again someday so it is possible for them to restore it to operating condition

[adfgfds]

@wooohooo771

Thats dubbed sound off a totally different engine unfortunately.

[spgeneralservice1654]

The Whistle sounds like SP 2472 (4-6-2)

[Dinosorable]

Cab Forwards are beautiful yet bizarre looking locomotives. Big Boys are awesome!

[Dinosorable]

@wooohooo771 I've heard Cab Forward 4274's whistle in a video.

[cochranexyz]

I love that kid's excitement at 1:58!!

[legotrain100]

ya

[gaycowboy31]

@joshmeister4449 I was thinking that same thing there on Tehachapi Loop@:21 that does look like and HO model

[gaycowboy31]

@wooohooo771 that whistle going past that tower wasnt the cabfoward being blown that was SP 2472s whistle most of this video was made in 16mm no sound its dubed in from modern steam they use but I assume 2472s whistle is like ones on the ACs

[gaycowboy31]

@slipsakteboards hell we all do I jus get laughed at when I ask the California State Railroad Muselm about getting theres restored to run Yah right wishfull thinking UP would NEVER allow it