On another smokey morning (they were all smokey days on this trip to the Pacific Northwest), a pair of Portland & Western GP39-2s (PNWR 2304 and 2302) have rolled into the small yard in Eugene to tie up after a night of operations. Sitting on an adjacent track is Willamette & Pacific GP9E 1801, reportedly now part of PNWR’s roster, but if so, it has not yet received PNWR reporting marks. The GP9E was built by EMD in April 1959 as Southern Pacific GP9 5830, later renumbered to SP 3693. When rebuilt into a GP9E by the SP’s Sacramento Shops, it received number SP 3855. It was later sold to the WPRR, which repainted it into SP’s classic “Black Widow” scheme and renumbered WPRR 1801. Over on the other track, PNWR GP39-2 2304, named Corvallis, was originally Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe 3603, later renumbered ATSF 3106 in anticipation of the upcoming ATSF-SP merger, then renumbered back to ATSF 3603 again when the SPSF merger was denied. It was sold to WPRR in 1993 as their 2304 before being sold again to PNWR. PNWR 2302, named Adair Village, is the former WPRR 2304/ATSF 3601/3101/3601. (Eugene, Oregon – August 26, 2015)
From all American railroads, you will see all of the American railroad heritage units, Orginal paints, and sticker units displayed in this album by Railfan 225!
