Western Pacific GP40-2 3558 (Ken Rattenne Photo)

WP 3558 was the next-to-last unit delivered to the railroad in 1980, being part of an order for 10 GP40-2s. These units looked rather buffed, what with their nose and cab-mounted headlights, oversized pilot-plow, roof-mounted air conditioning housing, topped off with a five-chime horn. Man, did those things sound good!

The subject of our admiration is on "upper" Williams Loop, proceeding westbound with the RBW on August 1, 1982. In just a few groundshaking, grinding, earsplitting moments, the train will travel under itself, a rare occurance on this famous loop.