Nostalgia & History > TOOTD 1971: NWP Willits and Fort Seward CA

Forty eight years ago today SD9 3916 was cleared at Willits with 9 orders to run extra to Eureka.  The extra east preceding 3916's train had SD45 8929 on the point, another big motor that got past Willits.

In addition to meeting No. 75 at Fort Seward, X3916E also received two additional orders at that station and may have stopped for a meal at the cookhouse, depending on who the crew members were.

Here's a link to a previous post that includes the NWP Timetable in effect on 1/22/71:
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,3914112,3914207#msg-3914207

Image 1 - NWP system map from 1953 Official Guide with passenger schedule for Nos. 3-4
Image 2 - 1/22/71 Willits clearance for X3916E  

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Images 3 thru 5 - Willits T.O.'s 607-609-610

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Images 6 thru 8 - Willits T.O.'s 612-614-1553

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Images 9 thru 11 - Willits T.O.'s 1555-1562-1570

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Images 12 thru 14 - 1/22/71 Fort Seward clearance + T.O.'s 652-653

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Dang.   Where's my time-travel vehicle?????

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

8929, an SD45, is big powere for the NWP. I know they got up there in the early 1970s though.

Regards, Jim Evans

 I guess that all,is closecascwevget--Tnx, Terry.  I still kick self forvnevervgettingbup,on NorthnEnd  thecsummervof '65 when I worked thecSouth,nor even when E.S took, over, duh.
E25 Wrote:
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> Dang.   Where's my time-travel vehicle?????

Steve Donaldson
Pacific Grove, CA

And to think, this actually was a "Redwood" passenger stop.

Out

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No 75 had 4300 and when it got to Willits, either the power changed or 4300 cut off and was used on the NWP-S later that night. Departed Schellville on 1-23 on the NWP-S at 135p

I was surprised to see an SD45 got north of Willits; I always assumed they turned at Willits. Very interesting.

Love reading the old orders - old school railroading.

Up until the early 70s, NWP let them through to Eureka. Later they found they were hard on the track. They went north to Willits until 1982

Very cool thread. In image 3 how was it determined that the train would be at those locations at the times stated? Or were the times just a best guess estimate?

DFWJIM Wrote:
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> Very cool thread. In image 3 how was it determined
> that the train would be at those locations at the
> times stated? Or were the times just a best guess
> estimate?

A schedule set up by the DS knowing running times between stations. Its a wait order

Also the annullment of No 3 is because the Budd car had been reduced from tri weekly to bi weekly and a new ETT hadn't been issued