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Western
Pacific #563 has led an interesting life, being one of only two
switch engines on the system to have been painted in all of the WP's
switcher paint schemes over the years. Delivered in 1951 in
black and white paint, (like the WP
501 and
512), she has worn
silver and orange, solid orange, and being one of a few Alco's left
on the WP in the 1970's, was painted in green and orange paint.
WP 563
didn't wear the new standard "Perlman Green" scheme that she is in
now for very long, as she was quickly primered and sold to the
Central California Traction where she was repainted Cherry Red and
became their
#50. What the "Traction Co." really needed though was a
road switcher, not another switch engine, so 563 didn't stat in her
new home long, being traded back to the WP for larger
Tidewater Southern RS-1 #746. WP re-sold the orphan engine
to Foster Farms of Livingston, CA where she worked until retirement
as a plant switcher, having been repainted in a caramel and black
scheme with large Foster Farms "Rooster" logo on the cab side.
When Foster Farms retired the unit in favor of remote controlled
switchers in the 1990's, FRRS members stepped in and bought the 563
and brought her to Portola to enjoy her retirement as a display
piece, where she was eventually restored and repainted by FRRS
founder Norman Holmes in the last paint scheme she wore in WP
service. Currently, the 563 has a host of small issues
preventing her from running at this time, but long range plans call
for her to have those issues addressed by WPRM mechanical personnel
where it is hoped she'll live out her golden years pulling happy
guests around the museum property. In the mean time, WP 563
can usually be found coupled to her old caboose, Central California
Traction #24 with a couple of ice reefers out front, reminiscent of
days when the CCT borrowed WP diesels to keep their produce trains
running between Stockton, Lodi & Sacramento, California in the early
1970's. |
