"Southern Pacific Roll On" Music Video

This video was produced by Southern Pacific's corporate communications back in the early 90's. I didn't make this video!

[@irf1630trains]

"The future's in our hands" then 1996 came along...

[@ChachaChapati]

If we're being exact, Rio Grande Industries purchased SP in '88--and that was obviously absorbed into UP in '96.

[@tomtodd7744]

Actually, Rio Grande MERGED with SP in 1986 and the SP name was retained and spared which extended SP's life for 10 years. However you still saw Rio Grande locos in their original paint.

[@ChachaChapati]

I see, as SP was the more popular brand. Lived near SP line as a tot and saw ample types of SP and DRGW locomotives.

[@EricEbac22]

No, what Illinoisrailfan 1630 is referring to is that by mid-1996, the Denver-Rio Grande, Southern Pacific, and Cotton Belt, as well as the Chicago and Northwestern (C&NW) were all completely gone, as Union Pacific swallowed all four of them up; however, it really wasn't by choice, given that, by the end of 1992, all four railroads were facing an ever increasing possibility of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and as a result, someone had to come in and save them from going totally broke. In the end, Union Pacific ended up being their saving grace.

[@tomtodd7744]

I'm gonna HAVE to disagree. SP alone, could've gone on for at least another 5 years or more before facing bankrupcy.

[@toddtaylor3384]

Long Live the SP - In Memory

[@christopherorourke6543]

Todd Taylor Southern Pacific will live on as a model railroad in HO, N & even Z scale.

[@goldenarrowproduction8437]

in games too

[@caseycharlieandadam]

Yes I agree

[@davidbudka1298]

Brings a tear to my eyes every time I play it.

[@TracksideSam]

i agree

[@caltrain908railfan]

yes

[@hanadautharacic1514]

No tears

[@Russian_Cat406]

@@hanadautharacic1514tears to me cus of the good ol times

[@milepost241productions5]

SP was the greatest Railroad Ever. Even though their locomotives were never clean, they were beautiful. The speed lettering the Railroad better than it already was.

[@yannicklebihan5284]

Milepost 241 Productions

[@christopherorourke6543]

I hav a Kato N scale Southern Pacific Morning Daylight 10 car set & the GS4 locomotive that is number 4449 that will be my excursion train. GS4 4-8-4 Southern Pacific Daylight is 1 of my 3 favorite steam locomotives, he other 2 are cab forward number 4294 that is on display at the California State Railroad museum in Sacramento and the Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 J class number 611. SP 449 & N&W 611 both still pull excursion trains.

[@RandomGamesProductions]

Now Union Pacific owns them

[@fluffnose3386]

Trains ain’t meant to be clean.

[@Russian_Cat406]

The SP locomotives right now their rusty and dusty crusty like your mom-

[@normandauphin1066]

Found this song purely by accident. Love it so much that sometimes I play it a dozen times straight and yes, it waters my eyes too. Over the years we have lost so many great railroads. It is so sad. So many lost jobs that may never be brought back.

[@Kondoge]

but most work for the railroads that bought them

[@sword3349]

Well, all the employees of the Southern Pacific were just transferred to the Union Pacific after SP was bought out, so pretty everyone still kept their jobs.

[@alanpope179]

My favorite railroad...grew up next to it in South Gate California....many models in my train room of SP locomotives and cars...

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

Yes, the Southern Pacific rolled on, even when the Union Pacific bought them. They roll on as Union Pacific.

[@christopherorourke6543]

Southern Pacific still rolls on as a model railroaders Railroad & as a Southern Pacific Railroad fans Model Railroad.

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

They still haul freight in our hearts

[@victoriacyunczyk]

The SP heritage unit, plus other former SP units now carrying UP yellow. Not to mention all the others on shortlines, regionals, museums, and others.

[@Warbonnet4707yt]

Lol yeah a heretige is the only one is still running

[@grapefruitsodags8387]

@@Warbonnet4707yt there are locomotives that did belong SP however they’re just Covered in UP paint

[@bweasel95]

Beautiful trains! Hard working railroaders! Keep rolling Southern Pacific! God Bless America!

[@phil700ag5]

bweasel95 Southern Pacific merged by Union Pacific in 1996

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

phil700 ag That's still Southern Pacific.

[@jakethecn8869]

I love Southern Pacific they also helped Rio Grande

[@csxcrazyproductions6999]

RIP SP you’ll be remembered

[@harryzhang4660]

I am more a UP fan but this SP song really gets me and I really like it. It is like the UP theme song "Great Big Rollin Railroad". Both songs are wonderful

[@EricEbac22]

+Harry Zhang Yes, but this one is much more upbeat and much more modern as well. Great Big Rollin' Railroad came around in 1978, maybe 1979, while this one (Southern Pacific, Roll On) came out around 1992, just a few short years before SP and D&RG (along with C&NW or Chicago & Northwestern) had to merge with Union Pacific to save themselves from going totally broke. Now, this song is just a memory along with all three railroads (C&NW, SP, and D&RG).

[@ボッチチャンネル-n7b]

Actually there's 2 version of great big rollin railroad the 1978 one is the first and the second is 1984 i think when UP is merged with missouri pacific the song titled 'rivers of steel'

[@jeffdemition7812]

i hate up

[@_conrail_]

What about cargo moving people of the N&W

[@union_4014]

same lol, union pacific is my favorite railroad but for some reason this sounds better than great big rolling railroad

[@jeffdemition2308]

ahh the good ol days of southern pacific i miss sp and we miss the fallen flag like if u miss southern pacific i cried when i heard this sonh cause im a really big sp fan but they say that some of the out of service sd40 sp diesels are gonna be repainted and restored

[@NGH99999]

My maternal great grandmother was an SP telegrapher during the height of the steam era. She supported herself and her family of three daughters with that job. I didn't have much of a chance to get to know her, but my mom and grandma both said she loved working for SP, and was proud of her railroad. As for me, I never got into a railroading career, but as a boy, I grew up in a tiny Oregon town (Creswell) where the SP Siskiyou Line ran right through. This was the '70s, and we'd be sitting down at the mill pond, fishing, and you'd hear the semaphores creak and groan to life, and pretty soon, you'd FEEL the rumble of tunnel motors approaching. It was quite a sight to see lashups of 5-6 units pulling long freights, just thundering through town. Fond memories.

[@penguingeneral2]

This makes me want to go back in time and go railfanning on the Sunset Route....

[@dharris255]

Byron Berline was commissioned by SP. He wrote it, produced it, played and sang on it.

[@JonathanHopkinsMarkiplierFan]

you sure?

[@Palek98]

any idea on how to get a copy of the song to use on some of my model southern pacific video's

[@trainzguy2472]

Well, at least its legacy still lives on. A few days ago I filmed UP 1004 (cotton belt patched) roll by.

[@deadhead82]

Nice, where at? Have not seen an SSW unit (patched or unpatched) in years. Out here in LA the only remnants of the SP are the occasional AC4400CW or Dash 9.

[@trainzguy2472]

Saw it at the Hillsdale Caltrain station near my house. SF peninsula. I don't know what the train is called, but it's probably the Mission Bay local. Passes by Hillsdale a little after 7:30pm on all weekdays. Sometimes there's a few trains a short while (less than an hour) after it. I saw it on one of the trains after the 7:30pm train. They used to run UP 1005, 1068, and sometimes 1089, but those are other places now. Sadly I have no footage of those. You can still see the "SSW" on the hood of 1004 (although the second letter has a UP shield over it) and it still says "Cotton Belt" on the sides.

[@SPNGLovato18]

deadhead82 a few SSW units are in the peninsula sub cause I saw 1005 at Milpitas somehow

[@jeffdemition7812]

Good memories of southern pacific railroad i hate Union pacific because up baught sp or merger in 1996 and now there are no more diesel of sp that are operating Rip southern pacific u will be in by hearth RIP southern pacific 1896-1996 100 years of serving and good memories

[@sockshandle]

I mean that's just how it works in business [those companies are corporations remember what's in the best Interest for the company respective to both and the merger was In the best interest of both]

[@tracylarson1935]

We lost great treasure, I run the Southern Pacific when ever I can. Both in Run 8 and MSTS

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I run the SP on Donner Pass in Train Simulator.

[@josephsteiner83]

Thanks for bringing this back. I remember when we merged with the D&RGW and they made this song. Nice memories.

[@JonathanHopkinsMarkiplierFan]

Do you know who they had do the singing on this song?

[@jossdeiboss]

Wow! I didn't know this one. Cool!

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

Imagine SP being around today with SD70ACe's and GEVO's lol

[@oriontheraptor8119]

Oh how the mighty have fallen I actually remember seeing a red nosed GP back in 2005 witch was when I was five years old it had southern pacific marked out and UP on the sides I’m guessing it was a old southern pacific loco that Union Pacific hadn’t fully repainted yet

[@jeffdemition7812]

atleast some sp locomotives are still around like 4449 to keep the daylight legacy and the southern pacific legacy but i hoped they made it still to this day

[@jhrvta]

Backwards Espee. But the friendly Espee! Miss those red nose trains here in Ventura.

[@union_4014]

espee. its not espee its sp

[@KingofGamingAndTrains456]

When they drove that Golden Spike in 1869. It opened up the American West to the Southern Pacific Line. A thousand miles of wilderness, heard the hammer's ring. And voices of the gandy dancers sing! Southern Pacific, roll on! Roll on! From Chicago through the Rockies, America's your home! Portland to New Orleans, all along the Golden Crest. Southern Pacific, the spirit that won the West! On spikes and ties laid down in time to some old fiddler's reel. We're forever stitched together with a million miles of steel! Right on the clock, the rolling stock helps keep this country great. As long as there's a USA, SP will haul the freight! Southern Pacific, roll on! Roll on! From Chicago through the Rockies, America's your home! Portland to New Orleans, all along the Golden Crest. Southern Pacific, the spirit that won the West! **instrumental break** The Cotton Belt, the T&L, the Denver Rio Grande. With all the others proud and strong, coupled hand to hand! Pulling every grade and curve, a single heart and mind. Making sure the job gets done out, on the SP line! Southern Pacific, roll on! Roll on! From Chicago through the Rockies, America's your home! Portland to New Orleans, all along the Golden Crest. Southern Pacific, the spirit that won the West! So, roll on big Iron Lady through the mountains and the plains! Roll on men and women with tradition in your veins. Keep the drive wheels turning all across this great land! Blow that whistle loud and long, the future's in our hands! Southern Pacific, roll on! Roll on! From Chicago through the Rockies, America's your home! Portland to New Orleans, all along the Golden Crest. Southern Pacific, the spirit that won the West!

[@506PIR101Airborne]

Funny that they made it in the early 90's and went out of business in 96

[@ボッチチャンネル-n7b]

506PIR101Airborne yeah, you never knew what the future looks like in life...

[@mikeytrains1]

506PIR101Airborne “The future’s in our hands!” *laughs in Union Pacific*

[@union_4014]

“the futures in our hands” union pacific: *well yes, but uhhh no*

[@henryl.h.8181]

SP still exists, its just under the Union Pacific name

[@caltrain908railfan]

Remember When? Where? What? The Southern Pacific Railroads Peak Was From 1950 to 1995 In Most Of The West Coast. Before Union Pacific Was Big Before BNSF Existed Before KCS Was Even And Idea When NS And CSX Weren't Companies. When The Denver Rio Grande And Cotton Belt Trains Rumbled Through America From Portland To New Orleans, Chicago, LA And San Francisco Diesel And Steam Were Together The Southern Pacific Triumphed In Its Golden Years. Not Many People Knew It Existed But With Videos Like These We Can Commemorate The Southern Pacific Railroad. The Union Pacific Migth Never Live Up To The Southern Pacific Line But For Now The Southern Pacific Will Live As Long As It In Our Hearts. -Long Live The Southern Pacific Lines

[@mikeytrains1]

“The future’s in our hands!” *laughs in Union Pacific*

[@richhood9934]

Awesome song! I'm surprised that Santa Fe's marketing or corporate comms department never came out with a corporate song such as this one or what Union Pacific did with "We're a Great Big Rollin' Railroad". I know that the Santa Fe was already a very well-known company due to the Harvey Girls movie and other ventures, but I also think it would've been cool if the SF had come out with a more historically- and geographically accurate version of the classic movie song On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe

[@superalpha5560]

don't cry because its gone smile because it happed

[@JehiellalocomotoraNdeM9]

Fun fact in 2:05 we see the N.de.M with paint for the FNM the locomotive are from Mexico

[@EricEbac22]

Ultimately, the UP would have absorbed the SP and the Denver-Rio Grande, because by 1994, both the Southern Pacific and the Denver-Rio Grande railroads were struggling financially, and by 1995, the UP absorbed both of them.

[@union_4014]

they merged in 1996, but we still have 4460, 4294, 4449, sp units patched for union pacific, a sp heritage unit, #60 aka jupiter so, it still lives on but yes, the sp did have financial problems, reducing their route to only 13,000 miles, so the union pacific took over southern pacific

[@Logan-ey4ge]

People probably still wish so was still around

[@oregonwesternrailroadprodu5239]

Sp will always be Americas railroad

[@aloofdefloof]

kinda cool how the uploader is still replying after 10 years

[@_tsiatsiaros.k]

I miss SP !! If only UP never bought it :(

[@union_4014]

sp had no other choice, the railroad was having financial problems reducing their route to only 13000 miles, so it was either merge with union pacific or face chapter 7 bankruptcy, and if they didnt merge, they wouldve gone completely bankrupt. so up did the right thing and saved sp, but we still have patched sp units, 4449, 4294, 4460, 60, a heritage unit to remember sp and more

[@jackhollandthe3800]

Basically they would've wound up like Penn Central.

[@SebastianLandrus]

The southern pacific railroad man, that was a good railroad back in its Day Sure do miss the old SP

[@SouthernPacific-bu3kv]

Look, this song is one of my favorites!

[@SouthernPacific-bu3kv]

"The future's our hands" Spirit that won the west!

[@amtrak5062]

1996: *Union Pacific has jointed the chat*

[@DDA40X6936]

I love the song!

[@SCL3618]

Nice work.

[@faizrailfans]

I'm nostalgia this video. I'm sering this video since between 2018 and last year 2019

[@oregonrailfan7046]

I love the line as long is there is a USA sp will haul your frieght. Yeah totally until up buys you sp totally

[@EricEbac22]

They didn't have a choice; as early as 1992, Southern Pacific and its subsidiary railroads (Denver-Rio Grande, Cotton Belt, and the T&L), as well as the Chicago & Northwestern (A separate railroad in itself) absolutely had to find somebody to take them over, because by this time, all four railroads were facing the possibility of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and by 1995, that changed to the threat of Chapter 7. Ultimately, UP swooped in and agreed to merge with, and by mid-1996, take over, all four railroads. It was either that or go completely broke.

[@christopherorourke6543]

UP treats the patch work Southern Pacific, Cotton Belt & RioGrande locomotives as if they are poison. UP snubbed the Phoenix metro area by not using the Wellton cutoff except to store surplus locomotives & surplus freight cars.

[@union_4014]

well they had 2 options, and only 2 option 1: save yourself by merging with up option 2: let your railroad face chapter 7 bankruptcy and they obviously went for option 1

[@suzcant3320]

SP will live on for a very very very long time to come.

[@jacksalvin364]

The Glory Days of Southern Pacific. 1:21 2:16 2:56

[@caltrain908railfan]

sopac

[@CommunistParty1918]

I love this music so awsome😍😍

[@CommunistParty1918]

Southen pacific 1998 like sd70ace one and sd40t-2 and gp30 to😍😍😍

[@victoriacyunczyk]

Most of what I see of the SP here in the Chicago area are old freight cars, as well as 1518 and others at the Illinois Railway Museum.

[@KingofGamingAndTrains456]

Southern Pacific: “Blow that whistle loud and long, the future’s in our hands!” Union Pacific: *I don’t think so*

[@Palek98]

think the rio grande boys got them first

[@brit096]

R.I.P southern pacific

[@bluemoon1648]

Not many people know this, but Union Pacific is actually Southern Pacific under the UP branding, this is because in 1996 is was SP acquiring UP, but SP thought the UP branding was more iconic and decided to keep it. So, just remember, SP will always be with us, in our hearts, and under a new identity.

[@patrickwilson6934]

Lol no it’s not, not at all. it’s wishful thinking but simply not the case.

[@mikehawk2003]

That's a very common thing in company mergers, but that still doesn't mean the current UP is SP. In fact, if you went by that logic the current UP is actually the Rio Grande.

[@Palek98]

@@mikehawk2003 yes rio grande brought SP and retired the rio grande name

[@MichaelRailfan2808]

@@mikehawk2003rio grande >

[@mikehawk2003]

@@MichaelRailfan2808 Rio Grande management was terrible

[@jackhollandthe3800]

Southern Pacific 1869-1996

[@union_4014]

1865*

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

The things I would do to bring back 70-90s railroading :(

[@Crnagelego]

I just love this song!

[@XxXGhostXxX417]

Theres Pentrex Footage in this flim, I always knew He was a Railroad Employee!

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Now it's just Union Pacific and BNSF. I wish I was alive to see the ATSF, BN and SP when they were still alive.

[@Hamas_Daop_4_Semarang]

This is beautiful song 😁👍 !!!

[@mihaelalaber2084]

this song reminds me of the cajon railz trainz series :3

[@ボッチチャンネル-n7b]

Anyone knew about that blue engine on 2:05?

[@ボッチチャンネル-n7b]

The name of the company i meant

[@trainzguy2472]

Kansas city southern I think

[@northjerseyrailfan9326]

Its a kcs in ex ferromex

[@christophers.o622]

One of the Union Pacific heritage locomotives is blue and there’s an updated eagle on its side. Maybe that was the blue locomotive you were asking about.

[@RGS25]

Ferrocarriles Nacionales De Mexico(National Railways of Mexico)

[@samuelb1234]

I’m sad that southern pacific does not haul freight anymore

[@andrew_the_railfanner123]

2:33 - 2:34 that didnt end too well................................ enough with the dark stuff, this is one of my favorite train music videos! I like the 90s feel of it lol

[@arnoldolivarez948]

It would be real ironic if they made this video the same year they went out of business in 1996

[@JoseCardenas-uc2bg]

I saw the 4449 in here and he my train from the 1940,and now.

[@brysonbuckner8104]

I hope they will be back

[@SouthwestRailfanProductions]

Roll on SP roll on

[@asherpate8]

I wonder what year it was made Examples: 1989, 1992, 1995

[@mikehawk2003]

Probably around late-1989, to celebrate the Rio Grande merger and the purchase of the SPSCL line to Chicago.

[@Froggy28]

I love this song

[@tomtodd7744]

Omg! I LOVE this song. Somebody please tell me who wrote this! It's a BEAUTIFUL piece!

[@stampycatfan01lol]

TomTodd 774 that's the problem. As far as I know, nobody knows who wrote OR produced the song.

[@MilesL.auto-train4013]

5 years a bit too late, but it was Steve Spurgin

[@merlinandmurdoch7837]

How dare they only show the 4449 briefly

[@myeyeisnotblue]

me when the TTTE foamer shits himself over not seeing 4449

[@ThePete352]

the Espee will always be remembered as one of the greatest. UP should have kept their noses out of Espee

[@EricEbac22]

Southern Pacific had to find *somebody* to rescue them from going totally broke; otherwise, SP would have had to file for Chapter 7 and would have had to liquidate their assets to pay off any and all debts they had at that time. By 1995, UP ended up being SP, D&RG, Cotton belt, and Chicago and Northwestern's (C&NW) savior, and the four railroads merged with, and were ultimately taken over by, Union Pacific, by late 1995-early 1996.

[@ボッチチャンネル-n7b]

Actually UP is SAVING SP from totally bankrupt and went straight out of the railway business till now UP still respect SP with the specially painted SD 70 (UP 1996) if UP don't respect all the railroad that they saved maybe they wouldn't be the class 1 railroad empire with the recognised symbols like today

[@maxnash8450]

If they did do that SP would still be gone from bankruptcy.

[@union_4014]

1. not espee, its sp 2. sp was havin financial problems reducin their route to only 13000 miles, so up did the RIGHT THING and SAVED sp, if they didnt merge sp wouldve gone completely bankrupt which would have been even worse

[@coleblackwell2739]

This is a good song, I like southern Pacific row on😁😎

[@CommunistParty1918]

SP so cool!

[@joseWeiss8888]

this gives me a Thomas and Friends Feeling to it

[@TPNitrocircus199]

Damn wow simply amazing

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Union Pacific has been good with keeping a handful of its Ex-Southern Pacific units patched in memorial to Southern Pacific

[@erikharmon4773]

the espee was a good road to ride! the didnt call it the friendly for nothing! RIP s.p.-drgw!

[@Logan-ey4ge]

So true

[@dead4957]

My Most Favorite Song Will Be Southern Pacific Roll On

[@rudycarlson8245]

I’m more of a Union Pacific fan but without a doubt Southern pacific 4449 is more than most beautiful steam locomotives of all time!

[@barneypfeffer3032]

Yes I still miss the oldbloodynose

[@experimentwithme686]

UP and SP have music videos, but not CP 😢

[@reidthenavyengineproductio7002]

It’s nice Southern Pacific Thought to Use 4449 for the Music Video, Even tho it’s been retired

[@pellcityrailfan1521]

If only the UP didn't take over the SP.......

[@deadhead82]

21st Century Railfan Productions well actually the SP took over but used the UP name

[@deadhead82]

But still wasn’t the same SP

[@union_4014]

up did the RIGHT THING and SAVED SP, because sp was having financial problems, this reduced their route to only 13000 miles, so sp had 2 choices 1. merge with up 2. go completely bankrupt

[@pellcityrailfan1521]

@@union_4014 nice comment over a year later

[@union_4014]

@Pell City Railfan idc

[@galesburgdude9131]

I NEED LYRICS

[@artichokedip5.972]

I’d kill to have this on my Spotify

[@Palek98]

yes would be good if i could use the audio on some of my SP model video's

[@Palek98]

me too would be great background music for the video's

[@trpcam]

think about San Bernardino in 1989 that crash was Because of SP 💀

[@lucindagumaer8941]

Did u guys hear what happened to Strasberg 475

[@KCSM_1200]

2:04 Ferrocarriles Nacionales De México (FNM)

[@ohioandnortheastern]

The dislikes are from Union Pacific

[@MidwesternRailfan]

Current Union Pacific is actually technically Southern Pacific. When they merged, Southern Pacific was about 51% of the merger. For about 20 minutes, Union Pacifc didn't exist. Then they changed Southern Pacific into Union Pacific for who knows why. Probably because it would make more sense if it was Union Pacific because it was the Union or something. But technically the Southern Pacific is still rolling on.

[@mikehawk2003]

I don't think you understand how company mergers work.

[@fabriciobengozi9650]

Next The Kids Song For Daylight Train

[@ranggaboss1006]

train to 2020 good home CSX

[@ScottsRailroadVideos]

can someone tell me what this VHS is called? i love too archive it & add it too my collection cheers

[@Shortline819]

The good ole Esspe!

[@stephaniephillips8653]

Southern pacific roll on

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

1:12 Epic shot

[@l.hefner8872]

Does Rio Grande go through Nevada

[@mikehawk2003]

No, the most Westward it went was Salt Lake City

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Cool Video!

[@Da_awvr777katie]

😎🥰😭❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤

[@andrewscolari5724]

Why Couldn't Union Pacific just mind its own business, stay in its own backyard and leave Southern Pacific alone?

[@SW99836]

SP had 2, no more, no less, options they had. Option 1: Merge with UP. Option 2: Not merge and end up like Penn Central.

[@taranowell677]

I love you 😍 sp ❤ roll on roll on

[@jackhollandthe3800]

From Chicago to the Rockies! America's your home!

[@TexasSoCalRailfan9021]

Imagine Southern Pacific Did not merge with Union Pacific?

[@mikehawk2003]

It would've gone bankrupt and many more lines abandoned.