LOCOMOTIVES AVAILABLE

The Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, California is making four historic locomotives in our collection available for acquisition by other railroad museums or historic entities.

Three were built for the Southern Pacific Railroad, with one later serving the Oregon and Northwestern in eastern Oregon. The fourth was built for the Milwaukee Road. Three have been operational at the museum or were received in nearly operable condition.

Below are capsule histories and some comments on mechanical condition. All are available for inspection by appointment. Units are offered FOB Portola and movement is the responsibility of the acquiring museum. One is equipped with alignment control couplers. Three have roller bearing trucks.

We are seeking to sell these units, but will review offers of trade for relevant equipment or mechanical work.

Inquiries concerning these locomotives (questions, offers, etc.) should be directed to Eugene Vicknair, Secretary - FRRS at email eugene.vicknair@gmail.com or Chris Allan, Acquisition-DeAcquisition Committee - FRRS at email wsflco@yahoo.com.


Locomotives available:


Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific 5057

General Electric U25B 2500 hp built 6-1965 b/n 35640

Built as MILW 388, later numbered MILW 5007

The Milwaukee purchased 11 U25Bs in 1965, the first road units on the roster from General Electric. In later years, they could mainly be found working on the West Coast. The 5057 itself often worked the lines south of Tacoma, Washington. This locomotive was part of the consist on the last eastbound Milwaukee train to depart from Tacoma.
It was operational for a time at the Museum, but is not currently running. Only two MILW U25Bs exist today: the 5057 and the 5056 at the Illinois Railway Museum.
This locomotive is equipped with alignment control couplers and roller bearing trucks.



Oregon & Northwestern Railroad 4

Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton AS-616 1600 hp built 3-1952 b/n 75449

Built as Southern Pacific 5253. Under SP ownership, it was used extensively in Oregon and California.

In 1963, the engine was purchased by the McCloud River Railway as their 34. There it worked the entire railroad, hauling trains to both the Southern Pacific at Mt. Shasta City and the Great Northern at Hambone, CA.
In 1969, it was acquired by the Oregon & Northwestern as their 4 and worked the O&NW lines in eastern Oregon until that road was abandoned in 1984.
It came to Portola in 1991. While it has never ran there, the engine is reported to be in good condition and was considered a candidate for operational restoration. This locomotive is equipped with plain bearing (friction bearing) trucks and cannot be interchanged on its own wheels. It would need to move by flatcar.



Southern Pacific 4404

Electro-Motive Division SD9 1750 hp built 4-1955 b/n 20206

Built as SP 5428, later renumbered SP 3906. It was upgraded and renumbered in 9/75.

Purchased by Southern Pacific as a heavy freight hauler, diesels of this type replaced the last of the steam locomotives operated by Southern Pacific. Riding on a pair of three axle trucks, these engines gave a very smooth ride over sometimes rough rails. The ride quality earned them the nickname of “Cadillacs” from the crews who rode them. These locomotives were very long-lived on the SP, some still pulling mainline freight trains into the 1990’s, long after similar locomotives had been retired from other large railroads. Their longevity and versatility in heavy freight, branchline, switching, and even passenger service made them an icon of the railroad.
This unit was built as 5428 and later renumbered 3906. It was upgraded and renumbered once again in 1975 to No. 4404 and assigned to the Eugene, Oregon pool. Later, it suffered a failure and was retired and sold to LMC Corp, a Richmond, CA scrap dealer.
The 4404 was repaired by crews at the WPRM and has been operational in recent years, although it is currently suffering from some issues with its prime mover and oil cooler. It is repairable to full operation.



Southern Pacific 4450

Electro-Motive Division SD9 1750 hp built 4-1954 b/n 19452

Built as SP 5363, later renumbered SP 3822. It was upgraded and renumbered in the mid 1970s.

This locomotive was part of the SP's first order of 32 SD9s, delivered in 1954 and classed DF-120. These were the only SD9s delivered with the large Mars Signal light both ends. Later series had the smaller Pyle National signal light. They also had steam generators. While this order initially the SP’s lines in Oregon, the SD9 fleet would eventually become familiar across the system. In their later years, they were once again heavily used in California and Oregon.
SP 4450 is one half of the most famous pair of SP SD9s. When the fleet was upgraded in the 1970s, only 2 retained their steam generators, the 4450 and the 4451. They were nicknamed “Huff” and “Puff” respectively and were regularly used on the San Francisco Peninsula commuter service, as well as on special passenger trains, including executive train moves. A popular railfan video depicts one such special move, with the 4450 waiting at the Truckee Depot on Donner Pass for the Amtrak San Francisco Zephyr to drop off the SP’s business car “Stanford”. The 4450 then takes the car solo down Donner Pass on an inspection trip.
The 4450 has long been out of service and has never run at Portola. While it is a good candidate for cosmetic restoration, it has major mechanical issues. It has no traction motors and the prime mover and main generator are damaged and are being removed for parts. The cab is intact and would make a good interactive display.


Please submit any queries or offers to the email addresses listed above. Thank you.