Photo SP Daylight GS-2 #4411 first trial run Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes This was a test run of the first GS-2 to arrive on the property. It is shown here on the headend of the Coast Local #72 leaving Watsonville Junction, California. Note the Lima test engineer in the gangway, early 1937. --------------------Click here to return to the section on
SP-4412
Photo, SP #4412 on test run of new Daylight Photograph by Fred C. Stoes Southern Pacific GS2 4-8-4, #4412, is seen on test run of the new "Daylight Limited" near Aromas, California. The train is running as second section of 2-70, 1937. The 1937 conversation over at the enginehouse at Watsonville Junction went something like this between Fred Stoes and the mechanic. "Yep, Fred! I'd be out their along the main somewhere today with your camera come train time for the #70. The brass are running a second section of the "Coaster." It is the first test run of the complete new 'Daylight Limited' and, of course, they don't want anyone to know!" In short order Fred found himself set up along the high curve at Aromas, California. It was cold from the high fog that hung over the Pajaro Valley. The wind was slightly blowing, moving the clouds around. And then he heard it. Off in the distance the mornful cry of the air horn on GS #4412 broke the silence of the quiet surrounding countryside. In almost no time at all, as if out of Camelot, there it was in its sleek warm colored body pounding the mainline rails at speed, 79mph. The shutter clicked. This stunning image was the result. --------------------
SP-4412 view "A"
Photo, SP #4412/Daylight, SLO-Horseshoe Curve Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes July 4th, 1937: The curve near Cuesta has just been reballasted. As the new Daylight tried to round the upgrade curve the locomotive drivers could not gain traction. Finally a 2-10-2 was called out from San Luis Obispo to add a little tractive effort. The entire time photographer Stoes just waited. The final picture. ------------------
SP-4412 view "C"
Image, 1st trial Daylight at Salinas, 1937 Arriving as the second section of westbound #69, the first public Daylight Limited arrives in Salinas. Note the children running alongside as the big engine comes to a halt. --------------------
SP=4412 view "D"
Image, 1st Daylight at Salinas, 1937 #2 The first public Daylight Limited has arrived in Salinas, California. Officials, politicos, Rodeo representatives, and the general public are on hand for the event. --------------------
SP-4415 view "A"
Photo, SP #4415 on new Daylight Limited, 1937 Photograph by: Fred C: Stoes Southern Pacific #4415 on the Los Angeles bound Daylight is bringing on the charge as it picks up speed after coming out of the curving Pajaro Gap and into the " Valley of the Birds." --------------------
SP-4415 view "B"
Photo, SP #4415 on new Daylight Limited, 1937 Photograph by: Fred C: Stoes This original 1937 view depicts a brand new, high speed, eastbound, Southern Pacific "Daylight Limited" pickin' em up and layin' em down on the two track main near Logan, Califonia. --------------------
SP-4420
Photo, Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4420 train #72 Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes Photographing a Daylight locomotive coming at you at 79mph means you have to determine the depth of field. In this shot #4420 is in focus at speed. Everything else is a blur! Under test, 1937. --------------------
SP-4421
Photo, Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4421, San Jose Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes The engineer poses for the photographer in front of his new 4421 "Daylight Limited" locomotive at San Jose, 1937. --------------------
SP-4421 view "A"
Photo, SP Noon Daylight #96/4421 is eastbound Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes Just south of Gilroy, California the Southern Pacific Coast Division turns toward the ocean via a short pass through Pajaro Gap, rather than climb the mountain grade, to get to Salinas. In that short section of track is some of the most open country, with a fine a variety of scenery, in California. It was here that Fred Stoes liked to shoot his pictures. Also, the fact that he was a railroad fireman through this section meant he had lots of time to study potential good shots. This is one of them! The eastbound "Noon Daylight Limited" #96 rounds the curve into a cut near Aromas. Everything from black to white is visible in this 1941 view. Block signal 851 in the foreground, GS type 4421 with its drivers down and smoke back, the small farm town of Aromas in the background, and the Santa Cruz Mountains standing above it all. --------------------
SP-4422
Image, Passing off orders to Daylight crew Photo, Passing off orders to Daylight crew Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes A nervous Watsonville Junction station agent stands firm on the platform as he passes off train orders to the crew in the cab of Southern Pacific Daylight locomotive #4422 and the conductor further back in the train, 1937. --------------------
SP-4427
Photo, Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4427/Daylight Phoograph by: Fred C. Stoes Southern Pacific "GS" 4-8-4, #4427, passes the San Jose Roundhouse with the New "Daylight Limited," train #99, bound for San Francisco. 5:00pm, Sunday, June 27, 1938. Note the engines in the roundhouse, the old automobiles to the right and a few folks who turned out to see this depression breaker! --------------------
SP-4432
Image, Southern Pac. #4432 on Train #71. Photograph by: C. W. (Bill) Jernstrom It is late afternoon in San Mateo, California. Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotive 4-8-4 #4432 is captured on the headend of Coastal Local train #71 bound for San Francisco. --------------------
SP-4437
Photo, SP GS #4437 on Daylight at speed, 1946 Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes This 1946 photograph depicts a high speed, southbound, Southern Pacific "Daylight Limited" charging the main through the Pajaro Valley at 79 miles per hour! The white, low, laid back, exhaust of the #4437 tells the viewer it was a cold, crisp morning and a very fast train. --------------------
SP-4444
Photo, SP GS-4 #4444/Peninsula Commute #122 Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes No longer in Daylight livery and missing its metal, this powerful 237-ton locomotive provides all the punch this six-car train of old 1919, 60-ft. long, Harriman's would ever need on the level. The train is San Jose bound, near Sunnyvale, California. --------------------
SP-4447
Photo, SP GS-4 4447/Daylight Limited at 79mph Photograph by: Freds C. Stoes It is a very cold 1947 winter morning in the Pajaro Valley. Fred Stoes has once again returned to his favorite place at Eaton's Crossing to capture a shot of the "Daylight Limited," #98, as it comes out of the Aromas cut at speed (79mph). Drivers down, smoke straight back, the 20-car train in bright sunlight, another image captured for posterity. --------------------
SP-4449, 1940's
Image, Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449, 1940's Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes An older GS-4 #4449 sits at the ready at Watsonville Junction waiting to return to San Francisco with the Suntan Special, once it comes in from Santa Cruz. Who would have ever thought when this picture was taken in the early 1950's that this engine would go on to be probably the most photographed ever in the history of steam. --------------------
SP-4451
SP-4451 close up
Photo, Southern Paciic #4451 on Daylight #96 Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes The bright sun has finally broken through the morning clouds of fog in the Pajaro Valley. In this almost perfectly framed view a Southern Pacific GS4, #4451, is seen on the "Noon Daylight" near Eaton Crossing at speed, 79mph --------------------
SP-4452
Image, Southern Pacific #4452 on Daylight In this nice shot by a Southern Pacific photographer in 1945, the Daylight Limited, pulled by GS-4 4452, is seen crossing the Pajaro River Bridge at MP 92.37. This bridge was the third structure at this crossing and built only a few years before this shot. --------------------
SP-4458
Photo, SP #98, 4-8-4 #4458/Daylight, 1947 BPhotograph by Fred C. Stoes This 1947 photograph depicts a high speed, southbound, Southern Pacific "Daylight Limited" charging the main through the Pajaro Valley at 79 miles per hour! The 4-8-4 #4458 was the heaviest class of Daylight locomotive built. Because of its experimental Timken Roller bearings on engine and tender, it was classed a GS-5. Otherwise, it and the 29 GS-4 were the same. Locomotive #4459 the other GS-5, was equiped with SKF experimental roller bearings. --------------------
SP-4458 view "B"
Photo, Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4458 at Logan Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes The Southern Pacific "Daylight Limited" is seen at Logan, California, home of Granite Rock and the Logan Quarry. The train, pulled by 4-8-4 #4458, has just crossed the Pajaro River and run through Chittenden Pass. --------------------
SP-4458 view "C"
Image, Southern Pac. #4458 on Daylight Ltd. Photograph by: C. W. (Bill) Jernstrom In this early morning view photographer C. W. Jernstrom captures Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4458 on the Daylight Limited bursting out of the dark tunnel and into the bright sunlight at Bayshore, California, May 30, 1954. --------------------
SP-4459
Photo, SP 4459/#98 Daylight Limited at 79mph Photograph by: Fred C. Stoes Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4459 is on the head end of the "Daylight Limited", #98, as it charges the main through the Pajaro Valley at 79 miles-per-hour. The 4459 was SKF roller bearinged on engine and tender and classed as a GS-5 because of it. Sister locomotive #4458 was the other GS-5, but with Timken roller bearings. --------------------
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