"WP 920D" Whats this????

[John Barnhill]

A few years back there was a list of surviving F units on the net. This list is no longer available but I recently ran accross my printout of it. On this list is an F7A painted as WP 920D ex US Steel, ex Burlington Northern, nee Northern Pacific. It is listed as privately owned and on display in Oroville,CA. I've never been able to find it. Never heard anything more about her and never heard back from and email to the list owner. Anyone got a clue where she is???

[BoxcabE50]

I'd not heard about this unit. As an NP fan, am curious to know if true. And more of it's origins.

graemlins/headscratch.gif

Boxcab E50

[Stourbridge Lion]

This is all I found tonight in my quick searching
http://www.somewherewest.com/WesternPacific/920Dwreck.jpg
http://www.somewherewest.com/WesternPacific/western_pacific.htm

[Stourbridge Lion]

Here are a couple more shots from the same site
http://www.somewherewest.com/WesternPacific/920Dtunnel6.jpg
http://www.somewherewest.com/WesternPacific/920Dplow.jpg

[John Barnhill]

Darren-
Thanks for the link and pics!! This is the real WP 920D.
I'm looking for an ex US Steel unit that was just painted to look like 920D. An imposter if you will. :D

Boxcab-
I have the builder or frame number and build date somewhere too. I'll post it next time if that will help ya.

[N_S_L]

Sounds like a road trip, John.... with a scavenger hunt! :D

All I could find on the net was 921-D

http://www.wplives.org/PRM_Home/Locomotives/locomotives.html

[ November 16, 2005, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: nscale_lover ]

[John Barnhill]

Mike and all-
Problem is, I've been on that hunt before graemlins/226.gif graemlins/shakehead.gif :D
Back in ohhh '93 or early '94 is when I first got into trains a bit. My buddy and I took a trip up to Oroville and on through the FRC to Portola. Then on to Truckee and back home to Auburn.
While in Oroville, I have a very vague recollection of an F unit. I thought I remembered the location of it even better than the unit itself. Well several years later another friend and I were in Oroville railfanning and we ran across the spot that matches my completely random memory. Only now there is no loco and I didn't see any evidence there ever was. graemlins/headscratch.gif graemlins/headscratch.gif

Gave up the search after not getting any return emails from the list owner and not finding the unit until now. I was digging through a box of junk and found my printout of the list and thought I'd ask here.

Boxcab-
The builder or frame number is 14255 and build date is 5/51. Maybe I should check out some NP sites or rosters.

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by John Barnhill:
The builder or frame number is 14255 and build date is 5/51. Maybe I should check out some NP sites or rosters. Looking through F units, shown on the Preserved Diesels List, nothing shows as going from NP to WP paint. Current to September, 2005.

graemlins/headscratch.gif

Boxcab E50

[Shannon]

Evening all,

Ok, here is what I have on the 920D. From Virgal Staff's book D Day on the WP.

The 920D was built 1/27/50. The serial number was 8977 and it was traded to GE for a "boat" on
3/20/72.

Shannon

WP LIVES :D
ATSF LIVES :D

[John Barnhill]

Yeah, I've gotten the "real" WP920D down. I'm looking for an imposter. On this list I have as surviving F units is an ex US Steel #734, ex Burlington Northern #734 ex Northern Pacific #6014D. It was never officially a WP unit. Just got painted that way by private owner. Was supposedly on display in Oroville,CA but I'm now guessing it's not around any longer. I'm still holding out hope though as I'd like to take a drive and get a pic if its still there somewhere. Thought that maybe some WP fans would have an idea since that is what paint it was supposed to be wearing at last sighting.

Now you all get to share in my mystery! :D :D

[John Barnhill]

Boxcab-
Found a different list of preserved F's on the net. NP 6014D is listed but only as privately owned. This is the unit I'm looking for. Supposedly she wears a WP paint scheme as the 920D???? I'll have to shoot some emails out and see what I can come up with. :D

[N_S_L]

John, have your tried the COC? Or the local paper (if they have one)?

They might have a lead... or a pic... or somethin

[John Barnhill]

Hey Mike,
Not yet but my mom just suggested the same thing about 30 seconds ago. :D

[BoxcabE50]

Maybe we need to hire Sherlock Holmes? He always was able to unravel a mystery!

:rolleyes:

Boxcab E50

[BoxcabE50]

Scrounging through everything I can find:

For c/n 14255= NP 6014D (2nd.) Built 5/51. To BN #734. Sold to Joseph Simon & Sons, 5/73. (JS&S is a scrapper in Tacoma, WA.)

Doesn't help much, does it? :rolleyes:

Boxcab E50

[John Barnhill]

Well, we know it made it past the scrapper.

[BoxcabE50]

There were other F units that passed through that scrap yard. Such as the three that went to the Seattle & North Coast. One of which Doyle now has in Portland. Believe the other two are on a tourist RR these days.

Too bad someone doesn't have a contact there, who could help with tracing dispositions!

:D

Boxcab E50

[Kurt Moose]

I remember in an old train magazine about U.S. Steel and in the background was a cab of an NP F-unit sitting on the ground and I think this is what you are looking for. graemlins/headscratch.gif I seem to recall someone from "Railfan & Railroad" magazine might have bought it and added it to his house? It was back in the early to mid- eighty's. graemlins/wink.gif

[John Barnhill]

graemlins/headscratch.gif graemlins/headscratch.gif graemlins/headscratch.gif graemlins/088.gif :D

[N_S_L]

I saw plenty-o-boxcars in various stages of "storage" sitting right off the main highway on my last drive through (Monday)... no power though

[John Barnhill]

Well, got a response form RCraig, the survivor list owner. Unfortunately he cannot add any info but is goin to check a lead or two.

Now, with the above thought that it was just a cab and nose built into a structure of some sort, I ask another question.

In So-Cal, one of the theme parks just recently built something like an ice cream shop or such from the cab and nose of a real F7. The body they just manufactured. It is painted as Western Pacific. What number??? Anybody know and could this be the very same one I'm looking for???? Hmmmmm......

[BoxcabE50]

John-

I soap operas, this would be considered as a plot complication! graemlins/LOL.gif Amazing how much work is involved, for a bit of simple railfun! :eek:

:D

Boxcab E50

[John Barnhill]

For me, researching things is a huge part of the fun!!! :D :D

[BoxcabE50]

John-

Same here. Although sometimes it does become a little frustrating. When you just know there's info out there somewhere. But can't lay a hand on it.

:rolleyes:

Boxcab E50

[Greg Elems]

Here is what I know about this unit. It was purchased by a private individual from US Steel. It was, as listed, an ex NP unit. It was trucked to a location outside of Oroville California. The plan was to make it into an office and repaint it into WP colors. There was an article in the old CTC Board magazine about the moving of this unit by truck. If someone has access to the magazines they should be able to get the rest of the story. IIRC the article was in the mid 80’s and the issue had a picture of the move on the cover. I don’t think it had a prime mover in it or any of the other parts need to make it operable. Another story I heard about that unit was the nose door had a headlight that was intact. It was traded to the Alaska RR for a nose door without a headlight, since the ARR was in need of the second headlight for one of their units. It ended up on one of their second hand E units if memory serves me right. At this time, I don’t know if the shell still exists or its location.

Greg

[John Barnhill]

Greg-
Thank you very much for the input! Was hoping you'd see this thread. I'll have to try and find a copy of that CTC Board.

[BoxcabE50]

It would be interesting if that article has info on how it got from Simon & Sons, to USS. I'd imagine by that time, it was well worn. Wondering if USS neded to rebuild it...

:D

Boxcab E50

[Greg Elems]

John, you are welcome. My old CTC Board magazines are all boxed up otherwise I'd dig it out and relate the full story. :D
Ken, as IIRC the unit was a parts source for their fleet and that is why it was a cheap deal. The cost really got up there with the move. smile.gif

Greg

[BoxcabE50]

I'd imagine so. A crane. Low boy or two. Ouch!!!

:eek:

Boxcab E50

[SSW9389]

I think the unit you are looking for was purchased by a famous fomite.

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by SSW9389:
I think the unit you are looking for was purchased by a famous fomite. graemlins/headscratch.gif Hints? Who? graemlins/headscratch.gif

Boxcab E50

[CHARGER]

.

In So-Cal, one of the theme parks just recently built something like an ice cream shop or such from the cab and nose of a real F7. The body they just manufactured. It is painted as Western Pacific. What number??? Anybody know and could this be the very same one I'm looking for???? Hmmmmm...... [/QB]At Disneyland interesting, note the Station sign, Burr-Bank, didn't know the WP went that far south graemlins/shakehead.gif
See link:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=83642

[YoHo]

It's in Disney's California adventure which is themed to the entire state, so It's perfectly valid to have WP there.
The problem is that the station design is completely Santa Fe. Disney wanted something with a California name IE the California Zepher, but they wanted the more famous Santa Fe Arcitechture. Having said all that, it looks nice and they have a couple of passenger cars with it containing a bakery and railroad themed toyshop.

[NSCALEMIKE]

Originally posted by YoHo:
It's in Disney's California adventure which is themed to the entire state, so It's perfectly valid to have WP there.
The problem is that the station design is completely Santa Fe. Disney wanted something with a California name IE the California Zepher, but they wanted the more famous Santa Fe Arcitechture. Having said all that, it looks nice and they have a couple of passenger cars with it containing a bakery and railroad themed toyshop. Here it is...I visited there last year with family

http://www.trainfoamers.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10016/WP%20804-A%20at%20Disney%20July%20205.JPG

[N_S_L]

So, is this the end of the line (so to speak) for John's search?

[Mike Hawkins]

I believe this is the f unit that Dale Sanders (of the CTC Board) brought to Oroville and was going to use the cab as an office at his parent's home. Do not remember their address as it was quite some time ago in my younger years

[John Barnhill]

So, is this the end of the line (so to speak) for John's search?

Sounds like it just may be. Maybe I can look up Sanders in the Oroville phone book and get and address, then take a drive by to see if I see anything.
Hmmmmmm. :) Thanks all!

[Jimmy J Matta]

I remember reading the CTC Mag at the time the Owner or editor for the Mag owned it!

But where he and the Fake 920-D went is a never been known