WP Museum train?

[BoxcabE50]

I've heard rumor of a move over UP, by Museum equipment. Anyone out there have a camera, and captured this event? Know what they were hauling back and forth?

:D

Boxcab E50

[John Barnhill]

Hey Boxcab,
From what I understand and may someone correct me, UP has asked that all museum trains be kept secret so as not to create safety problems with fans trying to photograph these moves.

As for whats moving, I heard it was GP WP707. Should be the trip to pick up the steamer in the bay area that the WPRM is aquiring.

[friscobob]

Originally posted by John Barnhill:
....... UP has asked that all museum trains be kept secret so as not to create safety problems with fans trying to photograph these moves.Odd policy coming from a railroad that runs its steam locomotives on excursion trips each year.......don't hear them squawking about safety problems with fans then.

[John Barnhill]

I believe this is what they are goin to pick up:

http://www.wplives.org/PRM_Home/Locomotives/WP_165/wp_165.html

[marty coil]

Cal HW 70 thruogh the Fether River Canyon is a two lane road with only a few passing lanes. It does have wide shoulders, howerever. When Steam is in the Canyon, the Highway Patrol is really active because of the nature of the road. Traffic may indeed be a UP concern

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by friscobob:
[QUOTE]Odd policy coming from a railroad that runs its steam locomotives on excursion trips each year.......don't hear them squawking about safety problems with fans then. If this is truly their reasoning, I agree that it is an odd concern. Has there ever been a problem in the canyon, other than the occasional traffic congestion, that would really cause such a worry? I don't see a move like this attracting that many diehard train chasers.

Oh well.

:rolleyes:

Boxcab E50

[Greg Elems]

Yes UP has asked to keep it quiet. There have been a few close calls with railfans running across the road to take pictures and normal traffic zipping by on HWY 70. The museum is using WP 707, WP F9B 926(?) and WP 2001. The move entails equipment transfer from the Golden Gate RR museum in San Francisco to the PLA in Niles Canyon and back to Portola. Also some UP equipment bound for Cheyenne Wyoming will be moved also. We will be bringing the WP 0-6-0 switcher back to Portola on flat cars along with some SP commuter subs for use on the new V&T in Virginia City NV. While some of you might not like Trainorders.com, there will probably be pictures of the move posted there first.

Greg

[CHARGER]

If you have not seen it already check out what it took just to get it out of the Park in 2003.
http://www.pleasantonmodelrr.org/newsletter/wp165move.htm

Brad

[SP Cabforward]

What's with the blue paint on the side rods and grab irons?

[Greg Elems]

Somebody in the Parks and Recreation dept. thought it would look nice. :D That will be one of the first things we take care of when it gets to Portola. :D

Greg

[CHARGER]

Pictures of the museum move are up on Railpictures.
http://www.railpictures.net
Do a search for most recent Western Pacific pics.

Brad

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by Greg Elems:
Somebody in the Parks and Recreation dept. thought it would look nice. Had to either be a female. Or someone who'd spent too much time at places like Disneyland.

graemlins/bleh.gif :rolleyes:

Boxcab E50

[YoHo]

HEY!!!
Disneyland has their engines painted very authentically. In fact Walt would have had it no other way.

I'm not surprised UP made that requirment. When I made my trip up the canyon last October I found it very hard to get good shots without causing potential traffic problems. Luckily there's a turnout near the Keddie wye or there'd be a lot of railfan deaths there every year. Now if only it were on the other side of the road.

[steamghost]

I'm not surprised either, and I think the safety concerns were not about the canyon but the move down the SF peninsula and through the Bay Area.

And it arrived, if anyone was wondering; I was in Portola about two weeks ago.

[Greg Elems]

It has been unloaded and the tender coupled to the engine. :D Looks like a real switcher now.

Greg