Dear Sir: I was wondering if the Seaboard Air Line or Seaboard Coastline had any equipement wether it be freight cars, passenger cars, steam or diesal locomotives that were only used by either railroad. Also did Seaboard Air Line ever have any streamlined steam locomotives I would appreciate any information you can provide. Sincerely, Greg Javonillo

-- Greg Javonillo (Dornillo@aol.com), October 18, 1998

Answers

Hi, Greg- the SAL had quite a few home-built pulpwood cars that, of course would be unique to the SAL, as well as home-built wood chip hoppers that were regular coal hoppers with gondola ends welded to the top to give the cars extended height for extra loading capacity...Locomotives:the SAL was one of only two railroads (PRR was the other) that owned Baldwin's Centipede locomotive, and I don't think very many other railroads owned Baldwin's "Baby-Face" model, either, as did the Seaboard. As far as a unique SCL locomotive, the one that immediately comes to mind is the famed #1776. The locomotive itself-a General Electric U 36 model- was certainly not used only by the SCL, but the fancy red-white-and-blue Bicentennial paint scheme sure was. I have fond memories of checking out this engine's cab when it was on display in Fitzgerald, GA in the 1970s. From what I hear, the 1776 is gone now, sold for scrap. R.I.P, 1776.

-- Bud Leggett (leggettd@dartnet.peachnet.edu), September 14, 2001.

As far as I know, the Seaboard had the only "American Flyer" combines.

-- Larry Brennan (lpbrennan@aol.com), April 03, 2001.

as an addition to a previous response, seaboard coast line had several jumbo covered hoppers, "whopper hoppers" in phosphate service. there is one located at the old uceta yd in tampa awaiting disposition. it was numbered in series sbd 200000, had aluminum body side sheets with steel ribs and rode on buckeye 6-wheel trucks. it was truly a whopper..

-- walt rogers (wjriii@gte.net), March 29, 2001.

The Seaboard did have treamlined steam, the Florida State Archives contain an image at: http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/spottswood/sp02115.jpg

-- Bill Donahue (BillD53A@aol.com), May 24, 2000.

SAL had a pair of 72 foot streamlined gas electric doodlebug power cars(with RPO and baggage sections) that were unique. Built by St. Louis Car Co. with EMC electrical parts in 1936, the shovelnose was identical to that of the double ended, articulated Electroliner built about the same time for the North Shore electric railway between Chicago and Milwaukee. The #2027 and 2028 pulled coaches originally on two local trains that connected with the SAL Florida trains at Hamlet - one East to Wilmington, NC and one West to Rutherfordton. One unit's gasoline engine caught fire during it's overnight layover at Hamlet and was destroyed. The other unit was then equipped with a diesel prime mover.

-- Richard Lasater (richard.lasater@ncair.net), May 22, 2000.

Seaboard Air Line's Pullman/Lounge cars with the glass roof were the only three of that design. Also, I remember the topheavy "pregnant" covered hoppers (as we employees referred to them) from SAL (7050- 7099, 7145-7179) later SCL (74 prefix added to give them a 6-digit number) were restricted to 45 MPH and held "on line". NOTE: I've noticed them being scrapped recently at Rocky Mount. I took a picture of one in April at Acca.

-- Doug Riddell (railroaddoug@erols.com), December 18, 1998.

How about E-4's? Weren't they only built for SAL? Granted, they are virtually the same as E-3s, 4s and 5s, but you asked! Also, Seaboard did have a streamlined steamer. I think it ran mainly down in Florida. I do not think Coastline had streamlined steam locomotive. Marc

-- Marc L. Hamel (gigsup@aol.com), October 24, 1998.

First thing that come to mind is SCL SD-45's from the ACL. SAL never had any.

-- Merrill D. Crissey, Sr. (mdcrissey@juno.com), October 19, 1998.