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WP165

Visitors getting onboard the caboose train - Kerry Cochran 7/10/2024

 

 

WP165 Logo What railroad museum would be complete without a steam locomotive?  While the Western Pacific Railroad Museum is well known for having one of the largest collections of historic diesels in the world, Portola is also home to Western Pacific Railroad Museum's steam program.  The 0-6-0 steam switching locomotive WP 165 has been restored and is used for special operations.  Our steam department is headed by Roger Stabler.  Assisting Roger is retired head of Union Pacific's steam program, Steve Lee, and a large group of "Willing People" working to keep Western Pacific steam on the "Feather River Route" for the first time in over 50 years.

Follow the WP 165 on Facebook  Facebook

 



 

Go to the WP 165 Facebook page for the Latest Information for the Steam Department


2024 Union Pacific Big Boy Celebration


Steam 0-6-0 WP 165 Pulls the Noon Train at WPRM 7/2/2022 video


First public operation after restoration of WP 165 0-6-0 on May 15, 2022 video


WP 165 5-15-2022 Photo Gallery


WP 165 Running on Saturday, April 23, 2022 video


WP165 Fire Up Video 1 - 11/13/2021


WP165 Fire Up Video 2 - 11/13/2021


WP165 Fire Up Video 3 - 11/13/2021


WP 165 Fire Up November 13, 2021 video


Watch the WP 165 Warming the Boiler - August 2021 Video


Visit the WP165 Steam Work Session May 2021


Visit the WP 165 July 2019 Work Session Photo Gallery


Watch a two-part interview with members of the WP 165 Steam Crew


Visit the WP 165 May 2019 Work Session Photo Gallery


Visit the WP 165 September 2018 Work Session Photo Gallery


WP 165 in the Train Sheet

ArticleIssuePage
Summer 2022 Update from the Steam DepartmentIssue #194 July/August/September 20227
Western Pacific 165 Inaugural Runs for the PublicIssue #193 April/May/June 20221
A Milestone for the WP 165Issue # 191 October/November/December 2021 1
Work update on the WP 165 – July 21, 2021Issue # 190 July/August/September 2021 4
Work update on the WP 165 – August 10, 2021Issue # 190 July/August/September 2021 4
WP 165Issue # 189 April/May/June 2021 8
Photos from WP 165 Work Session October 2020Issue # 187 October/November/December 2020 7
Latest on the WP165Issue # 186 July/August/September 2020 7
WP 165 May 2020 Work SessionIssue # 185 April/May/June 2020 4
Steam Work Session September 2019Issue # 183 October/November/December 2019 14
July 2019 Steam Work SessionIssue # 182 July/August/September 2019 9
Steam Work Session September 2018Issue # 178 September/October 2018 10
WPRM Steam Dept News - Roger StablerIssue # 177 Spring-Summer 2018 13
WPRM Steam Dept News - December 2017 - Roger StablerIssue # 176 Winter 2017-2018 17
LIGHT THE FIRE!Issue # 173 Spring 2017 12
WPRM Steam Dept Update 1st Quarter 2015Issue # 167 Spring 2015 11
2014 Year-End UpdateIssue # 166 Fall 2014 18
Superheater Flue DonorsIssue # 165 Summer 2014 14
Spring 2014 Steam Workweek ReportIssue # 165 Summer 2014 4
WP 165 Progress Spring 2014Issue # 164 Spring 2014 4
WP 165 Progress Fall 2013Issue # 163 Fall 2013 4
WP 165 Progress Winter 2012-Spring 2013Issue # 162 Winter 2012-Spring 2013 3
WP 165 Progress Summer-Fall 2012Issue # 160 Summer-Fall 2012 4
WP 165 Fall ProgressIssue # 158 Winter 2011-Spring 2012 4
Summer Progress 2011Issue # 156 Summer-Fall 2011 4
WP 165 Spring ProgressIssue # 155 Spring 2011 6
Fall Progress 2010Issue # 154 Winter 2010-2011 7
Summer Progress 2010Issue # 153 Jul-Sep 2010 10
Spring Progress 2010Issue # 152 Apr-Jun 2010 4
New Year and New ProgressIssue # 151 Jan-Mar 2010 3
Fall 2009 Work ReportIssue # 150 Oct-Dec 2009 4
Dana Greeley tackles the tube sheet
inside the firebox
Issue # 149 Jul-Sep 2009 16
Summer 2009 Steam ReportIssue # 149 Jul-Sep 2009 6
WP 165 New Boiler TubesIssue # 145 Jul-Sep 2008 9
Photos from the Virgil Staff CollectionIssue # 145 Jul-Sep 2008 9
Steam ProgressIssue # 142 Nov 2007-Mar 2008 15
Steam Department NewsIssue # 141 Aug-Oct 2007 10
Steam Department NewsIssue # 137 Nov/Dec 2006 5
WP 165 Fundraising - Headlight Back IssuesIssue # 136 Aug/Sep/Oct 2006 6
Steam Department Report Mar/Apr 2006Issue # 134 Mar/Apr 2006 19
Loaded Up - almost ready to return to PortolaIssue # 132 Nov/Dec 2005 18
WP 0-6-0 165-by Eugene VicknairIssue # 123 Jan/Feb 2004 4
More WP Equipment Coming to PortolaIssue # 122 Nov/Dec 2003 9


  Western Pacific #165

WP_165_Tender_Greg_Elems_8-26-2009

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165noseshot

 

Western Pacific 165 is an 0-6-0 switching locomotive built by the Schenectady Works of the American Locomotive Company. This engine was used at many of the WP's rail yards, including Stockton, Sacramento and Portola. It was built in November, 1919, for the United Verde Copper Company of Jerome, Arizona, as their number 87. On September 17, 1927, the 165 and three sister UVCC engines were sold to the WP and become the road's S-34 class, numbered 163-166.

 

 

These burly switchers supplemented WP's 12 existing 0-6-0s, but some 2-8-0s in working the various yards. The 165 last operated in March, 1953, as WP was winding down its last steam operations. The engine was retired in October, 1957. Five years later, the engine was donated to the City of San Leandro. The engine was displayed for many years at the San Leandro BART station, before being transferred to the Alameda County Fairgrounds for display there. It was later acquired by the Pacific Locomotive Association and was eventually acquired by the FRRS in a trade with a later owner.

 

 

On March 1, 2006, the 165 returned to Portola on a museum flatcar, marking the return of WP steam power to Plumas County for the first time in nearly 50 years.

 

 

  Locomotive Restoration

 

Work has now begun on the restoration of WP 165 to complete operation. Our Steam Crew is headed by Roger Stabler.

 

Click for the Steam Department News and Blog (for information up to September 2017)

Steam Facebook (for information since September 2017)

Click for a list of Train Sheet articles about the WP 165 in a new tab from the Train Sheet archive.
            

165future

 


Please click the Donate link above to donate to the WP Steam Fund Or you can mail your donations to:

WP STEAM FUND - Feather River Rail Society
PO Box 608
Portola, CA 96122

 

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Operated by the Feather River Rail Society, a California 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization

700 Western Pacific Way, P.O. Box 608, Portola CA 96122-8636 | 1-530-832-4131 | email us at:   info@wplives.org

Copyright © 2024 Feather River Rail Society.  All Rights Reserved.  Page last updated:  Friday August 9, 2024 13:34 PDT