Western Pacific GP20 #2001 is considered to be the "first" production GP20. Virgil Staff in his excellent D-Day on the Western Pacific lists the #2001 as the sixth production GP20. WP GP20s #2001-2006 were built in late 1959 and were the first production GP20s. Staff gives the order of production as 2005, 2003, 2002, 2006, 2004, and then 2001. The dates of production were 11/21/59, 11/24/59, 11/25/59 twice, 11/27/59 and 12/1/59. Where did Staff get his data from and is he correct? His research looks very solid and he is a historian. ------------------ Cotton Belt: Runs like a Blue Streak
It depends on your definition of "first", I suppose. The Railspot engine database at this URL lists the following info http://www.railspot.com/gif/railspot/msql/roster/WP01.HTM Model Mo Yr S/N RR # GP20 11 1959 25623 WP 2001 GP20 11 1959 25624 WP 2002 GP20 11 1959 25625 WP 2003 GP20 11 1959 25626 WP 2004 GP20 11 1959 25627 WP 2005 GP20 11 1959 25628 WP 2006 So by serial number, WP2001 is the first GP20. Most builder plates show month and year only. To know the specific date of the month when first rolled out of the EMD plant doors, you would either had to have been there or have access to the EMD production foreman's log book. I am not disputing Mr. Staff's data, and I am unable to confirm it. WP2001 was completely overhauled and refurbished in 1999 and now belongs to the Feather River Rail Society at the WP Museum in Portola CA. See Jim Ley's webpage at this URL for details http://jps.net/n6lvi/2001.html WP LIVES Don Brown Tucson AZ
While I can't say one way or another, WP GP20's were the first production run. GN had the second order filled and were high hood also. As a side note, WP #2009 was the last GP20 running and was renumbered into the UP fold. It did return to its old haunts and run in yellow for a short time before a mechanical failure side lined it. Before it was repaired UP decided to retire all the GP20's, GP9's and GP7's. To bad, as they were good engines. Greg Elems
