Western Pacific Cabooses

The page was last updated on February 8, 2024.

(Return to Union Pacific Caboose Index Page)

Overview

Western Pacific Railway was controlled by Union Pacific after December 22, 1982. At that time, WP had 59 cabooses, all of which were bay window cars. Based on the cars' characteristics, they were assigned UP caboose classes CA-14 through CA-18.

All of WP's cabooses at the time of its merger with UP had been built by International Car Corporation at Kenton Ohio. In December 1975 International Car Corporation was sold to Paccar, Inc., with result that the six WP cabooses built in 1980 were shown as being built by Paccar.

Those last six cabooses built for WP in 1980 were almost identical to an oreder for SP C-50-9 cabooses, numbered as SP 4700-4774, also built by Paccar in 1980 as SP's last cabooses. The differences included that the WP cabooses had a conductor's window, while the SP cars had no side windows other than on the bays. The WP cars also had battery boxes.

WP's steel bay window caboose purchases were as follows:

(Read more about UP control of WP)

(Read more about International Car Corporation)

After The WP-UP Merger

In June 1984, UP painted seven WP cabooses (WP 431, 437, 438, 449, 459, 463, 478) to UP's yellow paint scheme, keeping the WP numbers, but applying the new UP classes. All seven cars entered service at Stockton, California, in early July 1984. These were the only WP cars to receive yellow paint. (WP 429 was reported in August 1984 as having been painted yellow; a description from the car's current owner in Oklahoma states that the car, when purchased, was painted red with a white roof.) (WP 429 update from Mike Mucklin, via email on October 7, 2008)

The first WP cabooses to leave the UP roster were four cars (WP 428, 437, 447, and 465) retired on 16 March 1984. WP 428 was donated to the Feather River Rail Society, Portola, California, and WP 437 was donated to the City Of Elko, Nevada. WP 447 and 465 were sold for scrap.

Three wreck damaged cars (WP 427, 434, and 436) were also retired during 1984, but remained stored at Pocatello, Idaho, to be joined over the following three years by 16 other WP cabooses. In 1987, these 19 former WP cabooses were among the 900+ cars stored on the ground at Pocatello, without their trucks, in a unique program meant to save space while awaiting their turn through Pocatello's heavy repair car shops. In April 1987, the on-ground storage program came to an end, and all cars awaiting heavy repairs at Pocatello were sold for scrap, most to General Metals of Tacoma, Washington.

Nine cars were retired during 1985; three (WP 445, 449, 463) were donated for preservation and six (WP 444, 450, 456, 472, 475, 479) were sold for scrap. Three cars (WP 454, 474, 477) were retired in early 1986, leaving 40 former WP cabooses on UP's roster.

By May 1986, of the 40 remaining WP cars, 20 were still in service, including WP 429, 431, 435, 442, 443, 446, 448, 451, 453, 459, 460, 462, 471, 480, 481, 483, 484, 485, and 486.

By 1990, only five former WP cabooses remained on UP's active roster; their numbers were WP 431 (retired in January 1991), WP 435 (retired in May 1990), WP 448 (retired in June 1991), WP 485 (retired in June 1990), and WP 486. All others had either been donated for preservation (12 cars) or sold for scrap (42 cars). WP 486 was the last WP car in service, retired in April 1993.

Following is a list of WP cabooses and their assigned UP classes:

UP Class WP Car Numbers Year Built Caboose Type Qty.
CA-14 WP 426-460 (except WP 458) 1955-1956 bay window 34
CA-15 WP 461-465 1969 bay window 5
CA-16 WP 466-475 (except WP 466) 1973 bay window 9
CA-17 WP 476-480 1974 bay window 5
CA-18 WP 481-486 1980 bay window 6

Class CA-14 (35 cars -- ex WP 426-460)

Built by International in October 1955 to February 1956.

Car
Number		 Date
Retired		 Notes
WP 426 16 Apr 1987 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, October 1985; sold for scrap to General Metals, 18 April 1987. May be located on private property near Inkom, Idaho.
WP 427 Aug 1984 Wreck damage. Stored on ground, without trucks; at Pocatello, Idaho, from August 1984; sold for scrap to General Metals, March 1987.
WP 428 16 Mar 1984 Donated to Feather River Rail Society, Portola, California, December 1984. Repainted freight car red.
WP 429 8 May 1989 Painted yellow, June 1984. Removed from service on 14 February 1989 at North Platte, Nebraska. Sold. Located at a bed & breakfast inn in Healdon, Oklahoma.
WP 430 20 Aug 1986 Sold to Aaron Ferer and Sons, Omaha, Nebraska, January 1989, scrapped June 1989.
WP 431 17 Jan 1991 Painted UP yellow, June 1984; displayed in Muskogee, Oklahoma; moved to Shiloh Ranch in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, still there as of October 16, 2016.
WP 432 16 Apr 1987 Stored on ground, without trucks; at Pocatello, Idaho, from, September 1986; sold for scrap to General Metals, 18 April 1987.
WP 433 16 Apr 1987 Stored on ground, without trucks; at Pocatello, Idaho, from, March 1986; sold for scrap to General Metals, 18 April 1987.
WP 434 Jun 1984 Wreck damage. Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho; sold for scrap to General Metals, 18 April 1987.
WP 435 7 May 1990 (Disposition unknown)
WP 436 Dec 1984 Wreck damage. Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho; sold for scrap to General Metals, 18 April 1987.
WP 437 16 Mar 1984 Donated to the City Of Elko, Nevada, October 1984. Repainted, freight car red. Displayed with WP GP9 727.
WP 438 Jun 1989 Removed from service on 15 March 1986. Donated to Inland Empire Railway Historical Society, Spokane, Washington, 22 August 1989.
WP 439 1 Apr 1987 Stored at Omaha, Nebraska, from December 1985.
WP 440 16 Apr 1987 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, January 1986; sold for scrap to General Metals, 18 April 1987.
WP 441 20 Aug 1986 Removed from service on 28 March 1985. Donated to Elm Creek School, Elm Creek, Nebraska, September 1989, not delivered until after, November 1990.
WP 442 24 May 1989 Sold on 13 July 1989; possibly to Nucor Steel, Plymouth, Utah, for scrapping.
WP 443 5 Dec 1989 Sold to Alter Trading Co., Council Bluffs, Iowa, 8 June 1990 , scrapped.
WP 444 13 Dec 1985 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, March 1984; sold for scrap to General Metals, 17 April 1987.
WP 445 13 Dec 1985 Donated to California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento, California, 3 July 1986, delivered in September 1986. Displayed at Sacramento Valley Live, Steamers, Hagan Park, Rancho Cordova, California.
WP 446 26 Jun 1987 Removed from service on 28 May 1987 at Stockton, California. Sold on 14 October 1989. Located in Westwood, California.
WP 447 16 Mar 1984 Sold to a private individual in Lodi, California, in December, 1984
WP 448 13 Jun 1991 Fully restored by American Railcar in Marmaduke, Arkansas, and as of April 2016, is being used as the principal office for Main Street Paragould in Paragould, Arkansas. (Erik Wright, Staff Writer Paragould Daily Press, email dated April 1, 2016)
WP 449 13 Dec 1985 Stored at Stockton, California, from August 1984; donated to, Carson City Railroad Club, Carson City, Nevada, 15 July 1986, delivered October 1989; displayed at Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, Nevada; moved to Nevada State Railroad Museum at Boulder, Nevada.
WP 450 13 Dec 1985 Stored from September 1984. Sold for scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons, 30 June 1989.
WP 451 5 Apr 1989 Stored at Omaha, Nebraska, from 24 September 1986. Sold on 31 July 1989. Located in Monroe, Louisiana.
WP 452 8 May 1989 Stored at Omaha, Nebraska, from March 1984; sold for scrap to, Alter Trading Co., Council Bluffs, Iowa, 4 April 1990.
WP 453 8 May 1989 Stored at Stockton, California, from July 1984, then at Omaha, Nebraska; sold for scrap to Alter Trading Co., Council Bluffs, Iowa, 4 April 1990.
WP 454 17 Apr 1986 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, November 1985. Sold for scrap to General Metals, 5 June 1987.
WP 455 23 Dec 1988 Stored at Omaha, Nebraska, from March 1985; sold for scrap to, Aaron Ferer and Sons, January 1989.
WP 456 11 Jul 1985 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, July 1985; sold for scrap to General Metals, 9 October 1986. Located at a museum in Cherokee, California.
WP 457   Repainted blue, renumbered to WPMW 457, March 1984; repainted silver, April 1984, assigned to Elko wrecker, WPMW 79. Sold to, Olney Land & Cattle Co., Maxwell, California.
WP 458 1974 (Retired prior to UP merger)
WP 459 26 Jun 1987 Painted yellow, June 1984. Stored at Stockton, California.; sold for scrap to David Joseph, Plymouth, Utah, 12 May 1989.
WP 460 23 Dec 1988 Sold for scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons, 27 February 1989.

Class CA-15 (5 cars -- ex WP 461-465)

Built by International in October 1969.

Car
Number		 Date
Retired		 Notes
WP 461 23 Dec 1988 Stored at Council Bluffs, Iowa, from March 1985; sold for, scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons, 27 February 1989.
WP 462 20 Oct 1986 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho; sold, for scrap to General Metals, 15 January 1987.
WP 463 13 Dec 1985 Painted Yellow, June 1984. Stored at Stockton, California, from August 1984. Donated to Chamber of Commerce, Qunicy, California, 12 June 1987.
WP 464 Apr 1989 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, November 1985; sold for scrap to David Joseph, Plymouth, Utah, 12 May 1989 .
WP 465 16 Mar 1984 Sold to a scrap dealer in Rocklin, California, December 1984, used as an office.

Class CA-16 (10 cars -- ex WP 466-475)

Built by International in April 1973.

Car
Number		 Date
Retired		 Notes
WP 466 1979 (Retired prior to UP merger)
WP 467 20 Aug 1986 Stored at Council Bluffs, Iowa, from March 1985. Donated, to Niles Depot Historical Foundation, Fremont, California, November 1988, delivered, on 2 February 1989.
WP 468 3 Mar 1988 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, September 1985; sold on 22 July 1988 to a private individual; displayed at Train Mountain Park, Chiloquin, Oregon.
WP 469 23 Dec 1988 Stored at Omaha, Nebraska, from February 1984. Sold for scrap, to Aaron Ferer and Sons, 27 February 1989.
WP 470 17 Apr 1987 Stored at Rupert, Idaho, from November 1985. Donated to, KVIE-TV, Channel 6, Sacramento, California, 7 May 1987. Displayed at California Railway Museum, Rio Vista Junction, California.
WP 471 26 Apr 1989 Stored at Stockton, California, from June 1988. Sold on 2 May 1989.
WP 472 11 Jul 1985 Wreck damage. Stored on ground, without truck, at Pocatello, Idaho, from September 1984; sold for scrap to General Metals, 16 January 1987.
WP 473 20 Aug 1986 Stored at Omaha, Nebraska, from June 1985. Donated to Nevada County, Historical Society, Nevada City, California, February 1987.
WP 474 17 Apr 1986 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, April 1985; sold on 22 July 1988.
WP 475 13 Dec 1985 Stored at Stockton, California, from March 1985; sold for, scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons, 30 June 1989.

Class CA-17 (5 cars -- ex WP 476-480)

Built by International Car Corp. in May 1974.

Car
Number		 Date
Retired		 Notes
WP 476 11 Oct 1988 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from, March 1985. Returned to lessor, U. S. Trust, 7 November 1988.
WP 477 Mar 1986 Returned to lessor, U. S. Trust, 10 April 1987. May be located in Redwood Valley, California.
WP 478 24 Feb 1987 Painted yellow, June 1984. Stored on ground, without, trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from August 1984. Returned to lessor, U. S. Trust, 10 April 1987.
WP 479 Apr 1985 Stored on ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho. Returned to lessor, U. S. Trust, 10 April 1987; possibly sold to Nucor Steel, Plymouth, Utah, for scrapping.
WP 480 Mar 1986 Returned to lessor, U. S. Trust, 10 April 1987; sold to Purdy Metals, Mojave, California; sold in September 2000 to a private party and used as an office in central California, then as a residence at that same location; still in use as of January 2024 as a private residence.

Class CA-18 (6 cars -- ex WP 481-486)

Built by Paccar (International Car Corp.) in March 1980.

WP 481-486 were very similar to the SP 4700-series C-50-9 cabooses, also built by Paccar (International Car).

Car
Number		 Date
Retired		 Notes
WP 481 23 Dec 1988 Stored at Council Bluffs, Iowa, from December 1986; sold, for scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons, 25 February 1989.
WP 482 15 Jun 1989 Wrecked on 8 July 1984 at Pittsburg, California. Stored on, ground, without trucks, at Pocatello, Idaho, from April 1987, sold on 21 December 1989. Possibly sold to Nucor Steel, Plymouth, Utah, for scrapping.
WP 483 17 Oct 1988 Stored at Council Bluffs, Iowa, from September 1987. Donated to Western Railway Museum, Rio Vista Junction, California, 2 March 1989 (along with UP caboose 25732).
WP 484 1 Jun 1988 Stored at Stockton, California, from May 1987. Donated to, Feather River Rail Society, Portola, California, May 1989, delivered on 1 September 1989.
WP 485 7 Jun 1990 Sold on 2 July 1990.
WP 486 16 Apr 1993 Located on private property in Roseville, California.

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