This was taken in Portola last month. I remember this engine working in Stockton. Those big old exhaust stacks gave this unit a deep bass sound as it kicked cars and pulled heavy cuts out to be switched. Luckily it can still be seen today and isn't a piece of history. We had an occasion to use it on the UP mainline, and boy she sounded as good now as she did 25 years ago. Greg Elems
Those stacks are certainly unusual in appearance. Certainly home (WP) made? I wonder why? Is there some sort of special spark arrestor inside? Boxcab E50
Actually, they came from the UP that way. I think they were delivered with extremely short stacks and UP just made those without trying to make the conical type. No special spark arresters, just big old pipes to extend them up. That way it keeps the smoke from being too big a bother to the engineer or anyone else in the cab. WP acquired them third hand. They were first bought by UP then sold to the Stockton Terminal and Eastern short line, who traded WP two alcos for them. A big circle, since they were still in service when UP merged with the WP. Greg Elems
Greg- You say "they" were equipped.... This means there was more than one with these oil barrel stacks? Boxcab E50
The WP had two NW-2's from the UP with the barrel stacks. WP 607 was originally demonstrator unit #889. I'm not sure if all the UP NW-2's had the barrel stacks or not. Greg Elems
Were any of these UP NW2's assigned in northern Oregon or Washington? I don't remember ever seeing any. Don't have many photos though. Am not much of a fan when it comes to chasing trains. Boxcab E50
In the few trips I made to Portland and the Pacific Northwest, in the mid to late 70's, I only remember seeing later model SW units. Short of locating a UP diesel book, I can't answer off the top of my head. Greg Elems
