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After remaining a loyal EMD
customer in regards to road locomotive orders since the EMD FT's, WP
turned to General Electric for new road power in 1967. In the
mid 1960's, WP tested EMD's new
SD45 demonstrators. The large
6 axle, 20 cylinder locomotives were very impressive and the WP
realized the benefit in higher tractive force than their current
GP40 locomotives. However, they were very expensive to
purchase and were (rightfully) assumed to be more expensive to
maintain. Consequently, GE had introduced their U30B
locomotives and WP tested this new demonstrator set as well.
WP realized that they could purchase 5 U30B's for the price of 4
SD45's and GE's 4 cycle engines were a lot more fuel efficient than
EMD's 20 cylinder monster. WP purchased 5 examples in 1967 at
a cost per unit of $234,458. WP went back to GE and ordered 15
more. U30B 751 was delivered in Silver and Orange with large
WP "Feather River Route" medallion on the cab sides, black and
orange chevron style warning stripes, signal lights in the nose, and
rode on Blomberg trucks from traded in EMD locomotives.
WP's U30B's were retired by
successor Union Pacific after the merger, and 3051 was donated by UP
in 1985. Due to the fact that WP's U30B's were the heaviest 4
axle locomotives ever built and the fact that 3051 was delivered
stripped of necessary parts to keep others running, WPRM has no
plans to restore 3051 to operation, however, it is currently being
repainted by a team of volunteers at their own expense as time and
money allow.
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