I've several questions- What WP steam still survives, anywhere, today? And, did the trade come through for a WP steamer to Portola? Read something about this several months ago. How many of the diesel units at Portola are operational? Or could be made so? Boxcab E50
From what I understand, WP 0-6-0 #164 is on display in Oroville, Ca and 2-8-2 #334 is at the museum in Rio Vista, Ca. I don't know if any other WP steam survives. As for operating WP diesels, there are quite a few at Portola. F7 #921-D, a GP7, a GP20 and a couple of switchers as well.
Boxcab, Last I heard the deal with the steam group in the PNW was still a go. It is the Cheillias (hope I spelled it correctly) steam group but the name escapes me right now. I talked to one of there members before christmas and I was told the sale had become final and they were trying to get the transportation issue solved. Shannon WP LIVES (no matter what the UP says)
I didn't know they had a piece of ex-WP over there. Am familiar with their CC&C steamer. Hmmm. Interesting. Please post up anything you can find out! Boxcab E50
Boxcab I am not sure the steamer is there yet. I hope to see the guy I met before Christmas at the March run. If I find out anything or if the loco has arrived I will get some pictures and post them for you. Shannon WP LIVES (no matter what the UP says)
Five WP steamers still survive. Two at Rio Vista, one stored at the PLA Niles site, one in Oroville and the last one in Travel Town (LA). The 0-6-0 at Niles has been traded for and is waiting for the connection with the UP to be completed and it will move by flat car to Portola. The 0-6-0 at Oroville is in good condition. As I understand it, there was a retired WP steam hogger that went down to the park and would oil around and such. As far as the diesels at Portola go, maybe half of the collection can run or is close. A couple are strictly candidates for stuffing and display. If you want to see engines other than WP at Portola, you better visit soon. With the current board of directors, the original direction of saving WP equipment has been heavily emphasized and non WP equipment will be looking for a new home. At the same time, WP equipment will be coming to the museum. Hope this helps answer some of your questions Ken. Greg
Greg- Yes. Answers some of my questions. I can understand the desire to focus more on just the WP. It's good that Portola has a lot of non-WP stuff. This gives them great trading materials. Or a source of raising capital for projects. Hope they'll make the most of any dispositions. Any news on where the Milw U-boat will go? Maybe move north? back to Milw territory? Boxcab E50
There has been a few locations tossed around, but currently I don't know of any firm deals. We would like to see it go to a museum where it is appropriate. It is one of the units that isn't that far from being able to run again. We will be trading the ex-SP RS-32, and it will be headed to an area in the Bay Area where it once worked, last I heard. Greg
The WP F-7 #917 and SN GP-7 #712 and a couple of cabooses will be coming to Portola from the Rio Vista museum. Also, there is a couple of other cars, which I'm not certain of the details, included in the trade. WP 705 will be joining her sisters later this spring. We will also get the WP SW-9 back from Canada, not sure of the number at the moment. It wasn't rebuilt by UP into a SW-10 so it will come home the same as it left, an SW-9. We also are keeping a sharp eye on the ex-WP SW-1500's, since UP is retiring SW-1500's as they fail. That is about all I can remember at the moment. As the new operating season progresses, things will be changing. You are correct, our non WP items are good trading fodder. Greg
