Steam & Excursion > Was This The Very Last Steaming Of Western Pacific #165?!

For the last several years we have all been following the progress of Chris Allen and the steam crew at the Portola Railroad Museum as they refurbish back to operation WP 0-6-0 #165.   This engine was once the backbone of the WP small fleet of switcher 0-6-0's found around the WP system.

Last operated in 1953, #165 was formerly retired in 1957 from the WP roster.  She ultimately would go on display at San Leandro for many decades before being rescued and finally sent to Portola.  However, as it turns out, she did see steam in late 1959 in a little known operation.

For a few weeks in October 1959, both WP #94 and #165 were leased to a cannery in Escalon, California where they were both fired up and used as stationary boilers for one that had failed at the cannery.  Guy L. Dunscomb got word of this operation and went to Escalon to capture this image of the 2 WP steamers in stationary boiler service.

We know that WP #94 would see steam for a couple more years on excursions, but was this the very last time that WP #165 saw steam in her boiler?


Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/15 03:49 by LoggerHogger.

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Another winner of a post . . . especially the background story . . . . and a very belated thanks to Guy for getting out there for this unusual application  . . . . when I jump onto TO each time, I always check out your post first Martin.

Craig
http://mcmrailvideos.com/

Martin, didn't #94 operate at Rio Vista since they have owned her?

TrackGuy

Last operation of the 94 at RVJ was for a mid-week fund raising pitch. IIRC that was in 1987.

The steam team looked at it in the early 90's but it was going to be more work than just a few weekends.


Then came the Dark Times...

Pullman Wrote:
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> Last operation of the 94 at RVJ was for a mid-week
> fund raising pitch. IIRC that was in 1987.
>
> The steam team looked at it in the early 90's but
> it was going to be more work than just a few
> weekends.
>
>
> Then came the Dark Times...

For us who do not know, could you explain briefly the Dark Times....

According to the mechanical files i have,  that was the last time the 165 was "hot".   She was given a big overhaul right before she was sent to this last job.

CPRR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pullman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Last operation of the 94 at RVJ was for a
> mid-week
> > fund raising pitch. IIRC that was in 1987.
> >
> > The steam team looked at it in the early 90's
> but
> > it was going to be more work than just a few
> > weekends.
> >
> >
> > Then came the Dark Times...
>
> For us who do not know, could you explain briefly
> the Dark Times....

Let's just say it was the end of steam and diesel operations including passenger trains as well as the people who supported such things. Later trades of equipment continued the process.

Also a Star Wars reference, a good parallel story to what took place politically.

Ok. So that answer begs the next question. Why do they insist on hanging on to 94 and 334? They do not see the light of day anymore, right?

It would seem to me that they would better fit the mission of PLA or GGRM.

TrackGuy

Posted from Android

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For the last several years we have all been
> following the progress of Chris Allen and the
> steam crew at the Portola Railroad Museum as they
> refurbish back to operation WP 0-6-0 #165.  
> This engine was once the backbone of the WP small
> fleet of switcher 0-6-0's found around the WP
> system.
>
> Last operated in 1953, #165 was formerly retired
> in 1957 from the WP roster.  She ultimately would
> go on display at San Leandro for many decades
> before being rescued and finally sent to
> Portola.  However, as it turns out, she did see
> steam in late 1959 in a little known operation.
>
> For a few weeks in October 1959, both WP #94 and
> #165 were leased to a cannery in Escalon,
> California where they were both fired up and used
> as stationary boilers for one that had failed at
> the cannery.  Guy L. Dunscomb got word of this
> operation and went to Escalon to capture this
> image of the 2 WP steamers in stationary boiler
> service.
>
> We know that WP #94 would see steam for a couple
> more years on excursions, but was this the very
> last time that WP #165 saw steam in her boiler?
>
>
> Martin

The 165 last operated in March, 1953, as WP was winding down its last steam operations. The engine was retired in October, 1957. Five years later, the engine was donated to the City of San Leandro. The engine was displayed for many years at the San Leandro BART station, before being transferred to the Alameda County Fairgrounds for display there. It was later acquired by the Pacific Locomotive Association and was eventually acquired by the FRRS in a trade with a later owner.


KRK

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The 'sister' to WP 165 happens to be WP 164 which is on display in Hewitt Park in Oroville, CA.

KRK

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TrackGuy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ok. So that answer begs the next question. Why do
> they insist on hanging on to 94 and 334? They do
> not see the light of day anymore, right?
>
> It would seem to me that they would better fit the
> mission of PLA or GGRM.
>
> TrackGuy
>
> Posted from Android

To answer your question outright:
"Why do they insist on hanging on to 94 and 334? 

Simple answer--  THEY own them-  YOU don't..  That is their attitude.  Most of the individuals blocking their release are in their early seventies.
At some point in time after THEY pass on, there 'might' be a chance to get the engines released!
The other possibility is a large donation of MONEY...    The folks at RVJ have a LOT of projects that require a large donation of cash. MONEY talks!
For a "fee", they 'might' decide to say goodbye to these two historic locomotives!  We'll have to wait and see how things play out!

The other problem would be removing them from Rio Vista Junction.   When they first arrived, they were brought in via the Sacramento Northern and trackage rights over the Southern Pacific.  Since 1996, this has all changed.  The UPRR folks in Omaha are in full control and would probably nix the whole idea of getting the engines out of there, because of their policy of not moving non-company owned equipment (vintage) ..

Oh well !

KRK
Member, BAERA (since 1965)

Have you visited the #94 recently?  It is in a great place, inside and on display for visitors to safely see.  

If for some reason the #94 and #334 were to leave Rio Vista they would more than likely be stored outside in the elements.

> TrackGuy Wrote:

> > Ok. So that answer begs the next question. Why do
> > they insist on hanging on to 94 and 334? They do
> > not see the light of day anymore, right?

The photo below shows WP 94 as it is displayed today in the Western Railway Museum's Carhouse 3.  WP 334 is not on display, but is also stored indoors in Carhouse 2. 

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