Nostalgia & History > Western Pacific Deparating Oroville

45 years ago, three of WP's "fab four" F units are on the move westbound out of Oroville, CA, on an afternoon in March, 1978.

Thanks for looking,
GK

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The Flat-Topped Butte in the background was formed by Paul Bunyon to make a table for Babe his Blue OX.
...or so the story was told to me by a friend who lived in Chico, and is an old tale....

The top was whisked off and landed along the Sacramento Northern Colusa Line and known as the Sutter Buttes.

Now, we all know!

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Wow, great pull from the treasure chest!

That trio sure looks sharp!

 T'was nice that 913 was somewhere else that day. (ducks for saying such heresy).

That's a sweet image that can never be repeated.
—Mac

Great to see and remember what WP used to be.  Great photo.
Blaine
American Fork

Great-looking lashup - Superior historic scene! 
Bob

Excellent catch!

JG

Nice looking WP catch!!

Larry

Great picture and an amazing catch to be in the right place at the right time.
I grew up in that yard, my Dad worked in the yard office just off to the left side of the photo. I spent hours at the turntable area as well as on the bench next to the water cooler just to the right of the power watching and sometimes riding the yard switch engine. I knew a lot of people, yet not once did I ever catch those old girls. They always alluded me until UP killed them and they ended up in the Oroville dead line before heading east.

Very Cool!!! Thank you for sharing it.

Sharp photo.  918 still exists at the Niles Canyon Railway, painted in the silver and orange scheme.  

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Are not the "Fab Four" all preserved, but at different locations?

Gerald Altizer
Keyser, WV

WM303 Wrote:
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> Are not the "Fab Four" all preserved, but at different locations?

Yes, I believe as follows:  913 at CSRM in Sacramento;  917 at WPRM in Portola; 918 at Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol (nice shot above!); 921 at WPRM in Portola (with 917).
GK

Awesome!!

Amazing shot, Gary... I spent a day in Milpitis a few months later trying to get that shot... Apparently I was there when all the Fs were being shopped.

gonx Wrote:
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> That trio sure looks sharp!
>
>  T'was nice that 913 was somewhere else that day.
> (ducks for saying such heresy).

Just maybe it was in the paint shop in Stockton...


Allen

Posted from Android

Awesome photo Gary!


Allen

Posted from Android