In 1975, the Permenente' (as we referred to it) ran five days a week, servicing customers along the Vasona Branch with a pair of SD7s in charge. The Permenente Local even had it's own assigned power: The 1419 and 1442, with the 1420 used as a relief unit.The 1442 was special because it still had its ash can headlight firmly attached to the nose roof, a remnant from the 1950s. It would be several more years before the SD7s as a class would be rebuilt by the Sacramento Locomotive Works and numbered into the 1500-series.The entire fleet of "Baby Cadillacs" would then gain a uniformity of appearance and reassigned as yard engines to Roseville and West Colton yards.

But that's the future. Today it's August 21, 1975; the time 6:25 pm. The 1442 and 1419 are returning from their sojourn up the Vasona Branch, where there wer still several light manufacturing customers scattered along Winchester Boulavard in Cambell. Shot from the San Carlos Street overpass, the local has just paused to get clearance from San Jose Telegraph to proceed onto the freight main to return to the Newhall Street yard, where the crew will tie up the power (a "herder" would then hostle the units back to the Lenzen Street Roundhouse for servicing). Standing dutifully next to the lead unit is an ancient "Banjo Signal," it's solitary arm swinging lazily back and forth, the warning bell issuing only a dull "clink, clink."

And finally, standing on the San Carlos Street overpass on this warm summer evening the photographer's nose is almost overpowered by the strong aroma of cooking tomatos forced skyward by the exhaust fans of the Del Monte cannary, represented by the large concrete structure to the left of the train. This, coupled with diesel fumes and stifling heat made for a quick photo before escaping down a flight of stairs to the street below and the coolness of a Dodge van's "factory air."

- Ken Rattenne