Built in 1909 by Alco-Brooks, the venerable No. 94 is a 4-6-0 type, shipped to WP on September 28 of that year as part of an order for 21 engines. No. 94 served her owner in unnoticed yeoman duties until the the WP completed dieselization during the early 1950s. At that time, No. 94 was pulled from active duty and stored at the Oakland Roundhouse. 

Interestingly, No. 94 was not retired, but stored servicable.  After her last shopping in 1953 she continued serving as the railroad's steam ambassador, pulling several different WP specials and excursions. The 4-6-0 even made a cameo appearance in Walt Disney's movie "Pollyanna" (starring a very young Hayley Mills), where she was temporarily relettered for the mythical Watertown & Eastern. No. 94 went from riches to rags, however, when her next assignment found her acting as a stationary boiler for Escalon Packing in Escalon, Calif. on the Tidewater Southern. She held that duty for two weeks and then it was back to Oakland. 

No. 94's last outing was on August 22, 1960 when she powered a special between Oakland and Niles to participate in the railroad's 50th anniversary of passenger service. She was turned at Niles and then placed on the head-end of the westbound California Zephyr for the return trip.

No. 94 steams quietly at WP's old Middle Harbor Road engine facility in Oakland on the morning of August 22, 1960. Her   crew is preparing her for what will be her last run representing the Railroad. Jim Wren Photo  (Click the photo for another view) 

On October 30, 1964, Western Pacific donated No. 94 to the San Francisco Maritime Museum in San Francisco, however, she never left the Oakland Roundhouse. On June 8, 1966 No. 94 was moved from the roundhouse to the Key System maintenance building for extended storage. Upon moving, No. 94 held the distinction of staying on the property longer than any  other locomotive on the roster: A whopping 57 years!

In 1978 the Western Railway Museum was successful in convincing the powers-that-be that No. 94 should be at there facility, not in storage in Oakland. On April 5, 1979, a special move to Stockton departed Oakland with GP35 3015 pulling the No. 94 and a caboose. After several days WP's Grand Old Lady arrived at Rio Vista Junction (on the Sacramento Northern) at 8:00 pm on the evening of  April 9. 

By 1979 the museum once again had No. 94 under steam, pulling short excursions on their former SN trackage. Thus the lead photo, taken on September 1, 1985, illustrates Western Pacific's sole surviving operable steam engine, under steam, pulling a single car. 

Today, No. 94 is once again in long term storage at the Western Railway Museum, in need of expensive repairs. Hopefully the Grand Old Lady will see service again..

(Information source: Western Pacific Steam Locomotives, Passenger Trains and cars, by Guy L. Dunscomb and Fred A. Stindt)