Painting and Restoration of WP 1503
Kerry Cochran, Ethan Doty, David Elems, Greg Elems, Kenneth Finnegan, Paul Finnegan, Bob Sims, Roger Stabler, Janet Steeper

Page last updated:  Thu Apr 21 19:29:27 PDT 2022


WP fleet - Photo By Kenneth Finnegan


Green again! - Photo by Kenneth Finnegan


David Elems riding the 1503 out of the shop, into the rain for its load testing on Saturday September 28^th. - Photo by Greg Elems


Mike Waters finishing up on the painting of the handrails and stanchions of WP 1503 Thursday September 26^th, 2019. - Photo by Greg Elems


WP 1503 in green on 9/23/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


WP 1503 Number Boards Installed on 9/18/19. - Photo by Ethan Doty


WP 1503 Radiators Side View - the radiators other were dropped in place using the shops air hoist and my shop built lifting rig. Phil Schmierer, Mike Waters and Ethan Doty helped David Elems with the work. - Photo by Ethan Doty


WP 1503 Radiators Top View - Photo by Ethan Doty


David Elems cut the number boards on one of the laser cutters/engravers at Truckee Meadows Community College, department of Machine Tool Technology. The 3/16 white acrylic was old stock was on hand that he was allowed to use. - Photo by Ethan Doty


The protective paper covering was engraved through to be used as a mask for applying the flat black paint. All CADCAM work and reproduction of the font for the numbers was done by David Elems. - Photo by Ethan Doty


David Elems is working on the number boards while I finished the step stripes on the front of 1503. 8/10/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


Black paint has been applied. Now it is time to put the jewelry back on. 7/31/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


Progress to date on WP 1503 as of early on 7/31/19, painting is complete except running boards and hand rails. Roger Stable will paint the black and fix a paint issue on the engineer's side in September. David Elems will be able to resume mechanical work in about a week. - Photo by Roger Stabler


1503 5.01 Black Begins On The E Side - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 5.02 My Back Is Green With Envy - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 5.03 David Adjusts The Mask As Roger Works The Last Truck - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 5.04 Roger Closes In While David Spots - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 5.05 Mike Looks Like Hes Ready To Be Somewhere Else - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 5.06 Mike, Mix Me One Last Pot - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 5.07 Black Is All Back - Photo by Bob Sims


Wp 1503 front pilot has stripping mask applied and Roger Stabler will paint it. 7/30/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


Steve Habeck helping with the masking of the stripes on the cab end of the 1503 on a warm July 30^th evening. - Photo by David Elems


Roger Stabler waiting on the pilot masking and getting rested for a long night ahead of him with the rest of the green paint. Steve Habeck, Matt Elems and Greg Elems are masking the stripes. - Photo by David Elems


Matt and Greg Elems getting ready to start the second of 3 stripes on the right side of the pilot. It was dark so shop light was needed to see the lines as they measured. - Photo by David Elems


1503 4.20 Front Pilot Stripes Unmasked - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.21 Kirk Approves While David And Jason Guard Against Foamers - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.22 Group Photo 1 - Jason, David, Steve, Mike, Roger, Ethan, And Greg - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.23 Group Photo 2 - Roger Smiles Even Though The Jobs Not Done - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.24 David Masks For Black While The Green Grilles Grin - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.12 After Resupply, The Battle Resumes The Next Day - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.13 Working Down The Cab Rear End - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.14 And Now For Them Pesky Hatches - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.15 Roger Finds A Spot That Needs Some Touch-up Work - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.16 Those Steps Look Like A Pain In The Butt - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.17 Dealing With The Details On The Pilot - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.18 The Last Of The Hatches - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.19 End Of The Line At The Shutters - Photo by Bob Sims


WP 1503 starting to turn green again - 7/29/19 1:39 PM PDT - Photo by Greg Elems


1503 3.01 Roger Spraying Primer Down The Roof While Mike Tends The Pot - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.02 Starting Down The Fireman's Side - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.03 Working The Radiator Compartment - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.04 Fireman's Cab Side Is Next With David Positioning And Mike Spotting - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.05 Don't You Just Love All Those Small Details - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.06 And Down The Sill To Finish The Fireman's Side - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.07 Pot Refill Time - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.08 Cab Rear End Gets The Treatment - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.09 Rear End Is In Sight - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 3.10 I Shutter To Think The Primer Is Almost Done - Turn That Exhaust Fan Off - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.02 The Trio Half Way Down The Engineers Side - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.03 Roger And Mike Attacking The Front - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.04 Regrouping To Attack The Flank - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.05 The Flank Has Many Pockets Of Resistance - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.06 The Flank Is Almost Secured - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.07 Battle Of The Flank Is Won - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.08 Cab Side Bombardment Begins - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.09 Cab Side About To Surrender - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.10 A Pause In The Action To Remove Stencils - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 4.11 Troops Out Of Green Ammunition At 2300 Hours - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.06 Mike And Jason Tweak The Lettering - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.07 Ugly Now, But Just You Wait... - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.08 Greg Working The Engineers Side - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.09 Engineers Side Lettering - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.10 Roger Starts On The Shutters While Jason, Greg, And Mike Finish The Lettering - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.05 Roger And Greg Apply A Stencil While Mike And Hank Admire The Start - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.01 David Prepping The Front End - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.02 David And Greg - Like Father, Like Son... - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.03 David Air-Hose Whipping Roger Back To Work - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 2.04 Mike, Channing, And Roger At A 5 O'clock Pause For Refreshment - Photo by Bob Sims


Roger Stabler power sanding on loose paint on the cab of WP 1503. 7/25/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


David Elems helping with the paint removal on the WP 1503. 7/25/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


Yes Steve Lee did help with the work on the WP 1503, as can be seen here with his grinding on a UP weld job. 7/25/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


Greg Elems is applying the vinyl lettering to the fireman’s side of 1503 in preparation for painting. 7/27/2019 - Photo by David Elems


Last time the 1503 was in the sunshine in yellow. Saturday July 27, 2019 - Photo by Greg Elems


David Elems working on the WP 1503 radiator, Sunday 7/21/19 - Photo by Janet Steeper


1503 1.01 After Davids Mods To The Class Lights, He Test-Fires The Photon Torpedoes - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 1.02 Both Engines Ready For The Upcoming Work Sessions - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 1.03 Front End Ready, As Is The Sweetwood - Photo by Bob Sims


1503 1.04 Rear End Ready Too - Photo by Bob Sims


Greg Elems working on prep for painting WP 1503 7/21/2019 - Photo by Janet Steeper


Kenneth Finnegan sanding the WP 1503 for painting 7/16/19 - Photo by Greg Elems


David Elems and Ethan Doty working on WP1503 7/12/19 - Photo by Kerry Cochran


Greg Elems working on the roof of WP1503 7/12/19 - Photo by Kerry Cochran


WP 1503 with new orange paint on ends 5/30/2018 - Photo by Paul Finnegan


WP 1503 with new orange paint on side 5/30/2019 - Photo by Paul Finnegan


On 10/8/18, WP 1503 is seen in the shop awaiting work on the radiators. It has been sanded in the area's that will get the orange paint. Hopefully the orange will get put on before October 13^th. The lettering and stripes that are orange will be masked for the green just before the green is applied. The green will be applied next spring when it warms up. 10/8/2018 - Photo by Greg Elems


WP 1503 Sunday October 7^th, 2018 - WP 1503 finally made it into the shop. The sanding on the pilot plate by Roger Stabler really shows up. 10/7/2018 - Photo by Greg Elems


Sunday October 7^th, 2018 saw some switching with Conductor Steve, David Elems and engineer Greg Elems. The view from 1100 shows 501 getting spotted at the west end of the diesel shop by Steve on track #2. The 708 which was in the shop would end up on track #4 so the WP 1503 can get the work started on the radiators in the diesel shop on the west end of track #1. - Photo by Greg Elems


WP 1503 losing its vinyl before getting sanded for the orange numbers on the cab. 9/25/2018 - Photo by Greg Elems


WP 1503 still has the green vinyl number on the cab, which will come off for sanding and other paint prep work. 9/25/2018 - Photo by Greg Elems


Work on the 1503 for painting has started. Roger Stabler has removed the stripes off the pilot plate. Greg Elems has sanded the residue from the UP lettering off the engine hood. 9/25/2018- Photo by Greg Elems


February 3^rd, 2012 WP 1503 still had the UPY reporting marks and full UP lettering soon after she arrived at Portola. - Photo by Greg Elems


Greg Elems shot this in August 1980 at the west end of Stockton yard. A bit dusty, but essentially the paint scheme she will get. - Photo by Greg Elems