The Western Pacific Collection

SP&S Alcos on the WP 

Burlington Northern and Western Pacific ran pool trains between the Pacific Northwest and California before WP was swallowed by the Union Pacific.  In the late 60s and early 70s, Burlington Northern's inherited Spokane, Portland and Seattle Alco Century locomotives were major participants in the pool power that hauled these trains.  Below is a collection of Alcos on the WP

West of Oroville       The F units     Silver, Orange & Green Units

 

 
After the merger with NP, GN, SP&S and Burlington, the Burlington Northern worked with the Western Pacific to try to capture some of Southern Pacific's Northwest to California traffic. What is now the BNSF Gateway Sub was a combination of Western Pacific and BN trackage going from Keddie in California's Feather River Canyon to Klamath Falls, Oregon known as the Inside Gateway.  Colorful sets of power were the rule on Highline trains

Greenville

 SP&S.  I didn't photographic the SP&S before the merger.   Here are a few I got while the Alcos were still active and the old paint still around.

 

Approaching Keddie, highline in the background
In 1970, this Burlington Northern pool train has just come off the Highline and is switching the Keddie Yard.   Not a steam engine,  these Alcos are almost as honorable.

Oroville Yard

Almanor

      
  KeddieYBNmix.jpg (168396 bytes) The Keddie Wye was a great place to hang out and watch the parade of multi-colored power.