Steam & Excursion > A Classic Meet Between Two Trains During The Age Of Steam!

"Keddie, California, 7:35 a.m., June 25, 1939."  Guy Dunscomb was there to capture this classic scene on film.

Western Pacific's Extra 259 meets the eastbound passenger "Feather River Express" deep in the Feather River Canyon.  After a passenger stop at the station, the Express moved up to the east end of the Keddie yard to take water and then to meet one of WP's new 2-8-8-2's.  These Mallets were assigned at this time almost exclusively to heavy fright trains between Oroville and Portola, California.

At the time Guy took this photo, all meets were still done by train orders.  Seen here are some of the last standard steel coaches and sleepers on the WP.  In just 10 years after this photo, diesels would replace the steam power shown here and the shining new stainless steel California Zephyr would soon be the only way to travel east or west.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/20 03:14 by LoggerHogger.

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Super great historic rail scene.  Being Pre-WWII makes it even more special.
Thank you for your wonderful photo posting.
ALLEN

The CZ was not the only way to travel west or east. From 1950 to 1960 you had the Zephyrette. Which was a Budd RDC-2.

Awesome awesome photo.  Great to see!

Z