BM6569 wrote:I figured they are for cities the engines are based out of but wanted to be sure. For example, I just saw a picture of one that said Eugene (Oregon). Also, is there a list available that would show all of the cities that would have appeared on the cabs?
I can tell you a few - Eugene (Oregon), Roseville, Los Angeles, Tucson, Houston - all come to mind. Pine Bluff would have been the assigned base for SSW units - however it appears that SP B36-7s were assigned to Pine Bluff as well.
These arrangements were done by either the late 1980s or early 1990s, so no D&GRW cities would have been stenciled; likewise the GP60s, SD70s, Dash 9-44CWs and AC4400CWs never had an assigned base. Looking at
http://espee.railfan.net it doesn't appear that the Dash 8-40Bs (SSW) were stenciled either, but the B39-8s (SP) all appear to have been assigned to Los Angeles. I believe the 39s were delivered in 1987, with the 40s shortly thereafter.
The oldest photo I could find with the city stenciled on the cab was 1983. It should also be noted that Eugene no longer has any locomotive servicing facilities; the enginehouse was (sold? leased?) to Central Oregon & Pacific RR; the roundhouse was demolished within the last few years. Eugene is a shell of itself, with the hump and many tracks removed; the crew change point is now Oakridge. UP Albina (Portland) has an engine servicing facility as does Hinkle. Portland's enginehouse was demolished long ago and Portland was never a stenciled/assigned locomotive base.