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Necessitated by construction of
Ford Motor Company's new Milpitas, California auto plant, Western
Pacific found itself in position to purchase additional diesels to
supplement its fleet of GP7's, FT's and F7 diesels. In 1955,
WP returned to EMD for 8 more locomotives following the delivery of
their GP7's 2 years prior. By this time, EMD had retired the
GP7 model, replacing it with the popular GP9 model with 250
additional horsepower in an identical carbody. GP9's 725-732
were purchased for $184,764, representing a reduced price of
$105.58 per horsepower, a few dollars savings over the cost per
horsepower of the earlier GP7's. Equipped with dual controls,
multiple unit capability, barrel style headlights and "Fast
Switching Gear", the GP9's could be found on the road as well as on
locals. They were very well liked by yard crews due to their
fast switching gear and could often be found in yard service.
WP's 8 GP9's represent a very small sliver of the 4,280 total GP9's
produced by EMD, making this model one of the most produced diesel
locomotives of all time. As of today, hundreds of GP9's still
earn their keep on shortlines and switching railroads all over North
America.
Following the Union
Pacific/Western Pacific merger in 1982, UP repainted the 725 into
their armor yellow and harbor mist gray paint scheme with red
lettering in late January of 1985, and returned her to former WP
lines in the Bay Area. The 725 didn't last long in its new
identity however, as it was sold in August of 1985 to
Iowa Interstate Railroad as their
#300. WP 725/UP300 spent 10 years working the Iowa Interstate
before being sold to the Feather River Rail Society in 1995 along
with sister WP 731. WP 725 is currently stored out of service
and wears faded UP paint, as IAIS never repainted UP 300 into their
attractive black paint scheme. She will be returned to Western Pacific green paint.
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