Western Pacific

SN 402
Sacramento Northern (SN) SW1 402 getting tested outside the roundhouse in Stockton, CA on an unrecorded date in 1973.
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WP Locomotives 1-699

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Steve Sloan's Trains : UP : Western Pacific : Locomotives 1-699

WP 62, ALCo, WP Class 21, Symbol C-43, 2-8-0

According to good sources, WP 62 is Class 21, Symbol C-43 built by ALCo in 1909 last used in 1949 retired in 1950.
WP 62 in Portola
WP 2-8-0 62 on the turntable at Portola, CA. Date of photo unknown. Photographer most likely Bill Darrough, from the Darrough Collection. Since negatives were extensively traded it's possible Bill was not the photographer. Photos from this collection have been shared with permission from Jack Darrough, obtained before he died.

SN 145 GE 44-ton

According to good sources SN 145 was built in 1946 by General Electric as a model 44-ton, builders number 28335, SN 145.
The disposition of this locomotive is, It was sold to Chrome Crankshaft Co in June 1972 and sold as Northwest Oklahoma Ry 2 in 1973. It was sold to Westmac Inc in 1976 and sold as Cargill Inc 3 in 1984. It was sold as Shepard Grain Co 3 in October 1998 and sold as Champaign Landmark Inc 3 in October 2003. It was sold for scrap to Western Star Rail Services in 2008.
SN 145 in Concord
Western Pacific subsidiary Sacramento Northern (SN) 44 tonner 145 in Concord, CA on an unknown date in the 1960s. These may be my first train photographs.

WP 254, Baldwin, 251 Class, Symbol M-137, 2-8-8-2

254 is from 251 Class, Symbol M-137 2-8-8-2, built in 1931 by Baldwin. Retired in 1952.
WP 254 leading Eastbound in Keddie
WP 2-8-8-2 254, leading an eastbound at Keddie, CA, date unknown.

WP 334 Alco 2-8-2 MK-60-71 Class

Western Pacific (WP) 334 is an ALCo 2-8-2. Reportedly WP 334 is the sole surviving Alco Class 332 MK-60-71 2-8-2. With the distinctive "Desert Tenders", these "Big Mikes" operated primarily between Portola and Elko. 334 was retired in October 1952, but operated on several fan trips in 1956, making her the last steam locomotive on the WP.
WP 334 in Rio Vista in 1970
A photo my dad took on an unrecorded day in July 1970 of me on the WP 334 Mikado at the Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista.

SN 402, EMC SW1

SN 402 is an EMC SW1. It was built in 1939 for the Western Pacific Railroad, as WP 502, builder's number 988. It was the second of three WP SW1s, the first diesel-electric locomotives purchased by the railroad. It was sold to WP subsidiary Sacramento Northern Railway in the 1960s, it went to the California State Railroad Museum after the Union Pacific merger in 1982.
SN 402 gets attention under the hoo
Sacramento Northern (SN) 402 getting tested outside the WP roundhouse in Stockton, CA on an unrecorded date in 1973.

WP 561 ALCo S2, Class S-57

Reportedly WP 561 was built in 1950 by ALCo as a model S2, class S57, builders number 77019, WP 561. Sold in 1976 to ST&E stripped for parts and scrapped.
WP 561 in Stockton
Western Pacific (WP) ALCo S2 561 is resting in the WP Yard in Stockton on Sunday April 8, 1973.

WP 602 EMD SW9, Class S-62

WP 602 was reportedly built in 1952 by EMD as a model SW9, builders number 16637, WP 602, class S-62.
Sold in 1984 to to a fertilizer company in Canada.
WP 602 in Oakland
Western Pacific (WP) EMD SW9 602 is resting in the WP Yard in Oakland, CA, on Tuesday, June 5, 1973.

SN 607 EMC NW2

Reportedly SN 607 was built in 1939 by EMC as a model NW2, builders number 889, EMC 889 (demonstrator). It went to UP 1000, then ST&E 1000, went to WP 607 where it was rebuilt, then SN 607, then Heber 1000 and then to the Nevada State RR Museum and restored as UP 1000.
SN 607 resting in Pittsburg, CA
Sacramento Northern (SN) EMC NW2 607 is resting at the SN Depot in Pittsburg, CA on Sunday, May 20, 1973.
SN 607 working in Pittsburg, CA
Back in 1973 Pittsburg, CA was cool and was a great place to go see trains. Best part, it was close to where I lived. So, I would go there often. Sacramento Northern 607 is an NW2 shown here near the steel plant on an unrecorded day in 1973.

WP 608 EMC NW2

WP 608 is an EMC built NW2. Reportedly: (According to good sources, including Strapac's fantastic WP Compendium book) built by EMC in 1940, as UP 1001, builder number 1000. It became Stockton Terminal & Eastern 1001, went to WP in 1968 becoming WP 608. It was assigned but never wore UP 1887, donated to Feather River Rail Society, 1984.

Lee Hower wrote (on March 26, 2010), "NW2 608 had the unfortunate distinction of being the switcher that pulled out and assembled the last eastbound California Zephyr on on March 21, 1970. My gosh. 40 years and 5 days ago." Eugene replied, "Yup, and she was also the engine that switched the "Mini-Zephyr" train in and out of the WP RR Museum in Portola, CA on October 30 and November 1, 2009. When the Amtrak powered 3 car CZ came into Portola, WP 805-A was waiting in Portola Yard along with 608, which was fired up and used as the terminal switcher to bring the train into the museum yard."

Eugene continued, "I should note that the passengers were having dinner and the engineer on 608 was so gentle that no one was even aware we had been coupled on to and were moving. The wine glasses didn't even tremble."
Eugene said, "608 was the first locomotive I ever worked on as part of an engine crew (at the museum, of course)."

WP NW2 608 in Oakland
A side shot of Western Pacific (WP) NW2 608 in Oakland, CA in the late summer of 1974.

Related Information

Related Links

Click on the following links to see other posts related to this story:

My WP collection in Flickr
My collection of WP photos in Flickr.
WP Roster
A Good WP Roster by The Diesel Shop.

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