The golden days of Western Pacific . Fond memories of the GP7 Geeps in that beautiful orange and silver livery when I was a kid back in the late 1960s. Growing up in San Leandro, Ca. I would love to watch them doing there switching duties , holding up traffic (lol) pre road rage days when people had some patience. When I went to Downtown Oakland the train would actually run down the middle of 3rd Street to the Western Pacific station in Oakland. Great memories ! 😊
Just think; these days, aerial shots like those in this story would be accomplished with a drone. The production van would have beat the train to Portola and very quickly launched the drone. Must cheaper than renting a helicopter and a pilot with apparently no concept of situational awareness. As a side note, the evening magazine format became very popular all over the country throughout the 70s and 80s. KPIX, which was a CBS station, eventually called their show, “Eye on the Bay.” I arrived in the Bay Area in 1989. I always enjoyed watching “Eye on the Bay.” I was sad when it left the air. Finally, there is an awesome railroad museum in Portola with lots of old Western Pacific rolling stock and original California Zephyr cars under restoration. California route 70 through the Feather River Canyon is worth the drive for any rail fan.
In 1978 I lived in Sacramento and a college roommate of mine was Richard Wall. He came from a Western Pacific railroad family . His grandfather and father both worked for the WP and even Rich did for a short time during his college years. As a Rio Grande modeler, I was interested in this video because the scenes showing the freight train consist were representative of what would have been handed off to the D&RGW in Utah. I saw a lot of familiar 40' trailers (C&O, Southern, C&NW, N&W, and so on. Very cool!
"Railroad men aren't what they used to be" He made that statement back in 1977?! My good friend hired on with Canadian Pacific in 1986, and retired in 2019... He couldn't wait to retire, saying that the industry had become insufferable in contrast with what it was like back in 90's. That poor guy in 1977 had no idea how much worse it would get. 1970's railroading is pure heaven compared to how sterile and boring it is today.
The railroad ain't what it use to be. Today we got persion rail schedule and now everything is not the same anymore. I am a Conrail, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, kind of guy, and back then, they didn't have any problems.
That view of the now demolished Tunnel 12 Overhead Watershed ( MP 237.75 ) was priceless ! Removed in 1983.
Great video, from back in the days when TV was worth watching.
Yes
They say railroading wasn't what it was... But now we would be glad to have what they did
The golden days of Western Pacific . Fond memories of the GP7 Geeps in that beautiful orange and silver livery when I was a kid back in the late 1960s. Growing up in San Leandro, Ca. I would love to watch them doing there switching duties , holding up traffic (lol) pre road rage days when people had some patience. When I went to Downtown Oakland the train would actually run down the middle of 3rd Street to the Western Pacific station in Oakland. Great memories ! 😊
Just think; these days, aerial shots like those in this story would be accomplished with a drone. The production van would have beat the train to Portola and very quickly launched the drone. Must cheaper than renting a helicopter and a pilot with apparently no concept of situational awareness.
As a side note, the evening magazine format became very popular all over the country throughout the 70s and 80s. KPIX, which was a CBS station, eventually called their show, “Eye on the Bay.” I arrived in the Bay Area in 1989. I always enjoyed watching “Eye on the Bay.” I was sad when it left the air.
Finally, there is an awesome railroad museum in Portola with lots of old Western Pacific rolling stock and original California Zephyr cars under restoration. California route 70 through the Feather River Canyon is worth the drive for any rail fan.
In 1978 I lived in Sacramento and a college roommate of mine was Richard Wall. He came from a Western Pacific railroad family . His grandfather and father both worked for the WP and even Rich did for a short time during his college years.
As a Rio Grande modeler, I was interested in this video because the scenes showing the freight train consist were representative of what would have been handed off to the D&RGW in Utah. I saw a lot of familiar 40' trailers (C&O, Southern, C&NW, N&W, and so on. Very cool!
Was not expecting a U30B as the camera panned up from the Blomberg truck at the opening. Also didn't realize WP used Gyralights.
Thank you for posting. Quite interesting!! Glad no one got hurt in that helicopter crash.
Fantastic video! So much history on that line to oakland. Today UP runs their freight trains on those tracks.
With no PTC
Amazing adventure.
"Railroad men aren't what they used to be"
He made that statement back in 1977?!
My good friend hired on with Canadian Pacific in 1986, and retired in 2019...
He couldn't wait to retire, saying that the industry had become insufferable in contrast with what it was like back in 90's.
That poor guy in 1977 had no idea how much worse it would get.
1970's railroading is pure heaven compared to how sterile and boring it is today.
UP were always favored by the ICC
I work for UP since PSR it's not the same as when these guys were hired.
Hope your proud of yourself u.p. now everything's all jacked up
Fantastic video!
Thank you
I got to HiRail the Canyon Sub last year from Quincey to Oroville. 10/10 would recommend 👌.
Simple times, same gorgeous terrain but just simple times back then...8:00am PST.
Wow lucky man!!
The railroad ain't what it use to be. Today we got persion rail schedule and now everything is not the same anymore. I am a Conrail, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, kind of guy, and back then, they didn't have any problems.
Ah, saw at the video header the 1976/77 dates.
1976 or 1977
WHAT YEAR IS THIS VIDEO
The video literally tells you the year as it begins.
CHOO CHOO MOTHER FLIPER
Cringe