The small electric freight power roster of the railroad belies its traffic level.  Despite owning only 2 freight motors, there were times when as many as 4 electric locomotives, the extras borrowed from neighbors Central California Traction and Sacramento Northern, were prowling the line, carrying the products of the valley to waiting markets.  After the plug was pulled on mainline electrification, the steeplecabs and borrowed boxmotors were confined to Modesto, but their survival imparted a mystique to the Tidewater that was far out of proportion to the short milage that remained.

While SN motor 601 was the most common outside visitor to the TS, Stockton neighbor Central California Traction also supplied freight power from time to time.

Tidewater Southern Railway

Electric Locomotives