In 1975, the Permenente' (as it was referred to) 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 oscilating headlight firmly attached to the nose roof, a remnant from the 1950s. It would be several years before the SD7s would be rebuilt as a class at 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 and a warm 6:25 pm. The 1442 and 1420 are returning from their sojourn up the Vasona Branch where there were several light manufacturing customers scattered along Winchester Boulavard in Cambell. Shot from the San Carlos Street overpass, the local has paused to get clearance from San Jose Telegraph to proceed onto the freight main and return to Newhall Street yard where the crew will tie down the power. A "herder" would then move the power back to the Lenzen Street Roundhouse for servicing. Standing dutifully next to the lead unit is an ancient "wig wag" crossing signal, also known as a magnetic flagman, it's solitary arm swinging lazily back and forth with the warning bell issuing a dull "clink, clank, clink, clank."

Standing on the San Carlos Street overpass on this warm summer evening, the photographer's nose is overpowered by the strong aroma of cooking tomatos forced skyward by the exhaust fans of the Del Monte cannary to the left. Coupled with diesel fumes and the stifling Auguat heat, the scene made made a lasting impression as I made a series of photos before escaping down a flight of stairs to the street below and the a/c of my 1972 Dodge van's "factory air."

- Ken Rattenne