WHEN WESTERN PACIFIC BECAME UNION PACIFIC

[@bnsfgevoproductions]

I've always had a soft spot for the Western Pacific ever since I was a young lad. My love for WP started from young me watching Empire Of The North with the mix of BN and WP power. Thank you for documenting the Western Pacific like this, gotta love the Pearlman Green.

[@nicktynan1355]

Grew up with the WP(their last 10 years, along with the SP running through Livermore CA.

[@davebennett2086]

Another great video. The train gping under itself was spectacular. I love seeing trains with the caboose at the end. I remember seeing those when I was a kid. There are so many cool, different railroad companies. Thanks for the memories.😊

[@charlessmileyvideos]

We are so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@jeffpierce725]

Thanks for posting this Charles. I always enjoy the WP postings.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Thanks for your support, we're glad you enjoy the WP content!

[@EricSherrill-p6v]

I lived in the Bay Area as a kid and one thing I will always remember about the WP was that they painted their signal masts and other signal infrastructure turquoise! I remember driving across Nevada on I-80 and being able to tell when we were close to the WP because of those turquoise signal masts.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Yes, those turquoise signal masts were a real trademark of the Western Pacific! They painted all of their structures and property with that color. Even their work trains and ballast cars were painted the same!

[@nicktynan1355]

Ah yes, the Crest Toothpaste look!

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

Such Beautiful Scenery 😍 😊

[@WestPac-ny9vi]

Thanks Charles for explaining with the P on the UP cabooses were for.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

The details are important, aren't they! Yes, it is interesting that the "P" on the Cabooses signified that it was in the general pool and could roam free on any railroad in the US!

[@joecarlson6428]

While going from Des Moines Iowa to Moscow Idaho after Christmas break on I 80 I stopped at overpass . I was to see a meet of an east bound DD 40 AX pass eastbound freight headed by ha DD40. That was impressive..

[@Pkilznah]

Great channel. RESPECT ✊ 🚂🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🎯

[@FredByle]

The wire coils are used to make chain link fence.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Thanks Fred, we were wondering about that last night. We thought maybe to make the long rope like metal supports for the many "SF and Oakland Bay Bridges"

[@whiteknightcat]

I used to see many SSW bulkhead flatcars loaded with coils of this feedstock wire heading north from Houston on the SP back in the 90's.

[@janeordway4841]

Those f units were cool.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Our favorites too! They look fantastic!

[@nicktynan1355]

I remember them bellowing through town running as the "Final Four" pulling a usually over tonnage SJT(San Jose Turn).

[@Tom-xe9iq]

WP should have gone to BN.

[@WestPac-ny9vi]

I agree.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

That would have been nice!

[@tylerdowd]

Cool

[@drgwnut]

Very nicely done videos. I have a bunch of Charles Smiley videos and they are all just amazing! I hate the UP though - they took over every other railroad with a "pacific" in it. But, as this video says, it was fait accompli especially in the west...

[@markjohnson4924]

ICC approved the merger in September, not December, 1982. It was made "official" by the railroads in December, 1982.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

You are correct, thanks for the correction!

[@markjohnson4924]

@@charlessmileyvideos I love being correct. That's why I'm a Republican! 😁

[@vincentsaunders4773]

Did WP have any 3 axle C truck diesels, iel SD35 or SD40's? Seems like all the pictures and videos are 4 wheel B Trucked GP35 & 40 locos...

[@GR10Productions]

Unfortunately WP only had 4 axel diesels. Last time they had anything over that was in steam days

[@nicktynan1355]

Almost got SD45's late/end '60s, but the U30B's had a smaller price tag. By the beginning of the '80s however, waves of Armor Yellow/Harbor Mist Gray SD40-2's and U30C's began rolling in(there seemed to be less WP power towards the merger).

[@EricSherrill-p6v]

One interesting thing about WP's U30Bs was that rode on Blomberg trucks! Apparently they used older F units as trade ins to save a few bucks!

[@WestPac-ny9vi]

@@EricSherrill-p6v Same with the U23B's

[@jeffpierce725]

WP looked at replacing the aging California Zephyr F-units with FP-45's but ultimately decided against this and then filed to discontinue it's segment of the CZ. So they only rostered 4 axel power.

[@tigerphid9677]

WP was a great regional railroad. I don't think that they even had six-axle locomotives.

[@berkeleygang1834]

Reportedly, they tested the SD45 demonstrators, but decided against them because the long 6 axle trucks caused too much rail wear in the Feather River Canyon.

[@nicktynan1355]

And GE tempted the WP with a lower price for the U30B.

[@zenontrainstrucks9433]

Awesome video! I am trying to find some old videos/photos of the WP Oakland Street running part, do you have any?

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Yes check our website www.cspmovies.com. We have three DVDs on the WP

[@zenontrainstrucks9433]

@@charlessmileyvideos Ok, I will check it out thanks!

[@nevetslegasi5686]

How in the world did a conrail engine get that far west?

[@nicktynan1355]

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out when this particular train was filmed(guessing mid 80"s). It does seem kinda early for foreign power out there at that time. Around the later '80s, then throughout the '90s, whole 'nother story.

[@nicktynan1355]

Will add however; the shared power agreement with the BN in the earlier '70s brought some mighty interesting consists when kept on trains Bay Area bound, but nothing as exotic as Conrail.

[@grandaddyoe1434]

The Swiss speak Italian, French and German languages, in appropriate parts of their country, not "Swiss" langauge . . .

[@ppgwhereeverett4412]

Jan 2025. This William's Loop is Sti;; in use today and it looks just lie this !!

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Awesome, what a classic location! Everyone should see it one time in their lives.

[@nicktynan1355]

Really cool to ride it.

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

Just ❤Trains 🚆 I Do Miss The Caboose 😊

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Us too, them were the days for sure!