| 913 was the most famous F-unit of the "Final Four" during
their last 4 years in service. She was selected as the only one of the
4 to be painted in WP's orange and silver paint scheme that they did away
with during the early 70's.
913 was built on 1/27/1950 (SN 8976) as 920-A. In 1971
she swapped numbers with the original 913-A. That same year she recieved
the former SP plow pilot from the recently scrapped 921-A. In 1975, as
with all F-units left on the roster, the alpha suffixes were dropped.
913, 917, U30B 3068 and 915 at Milpitas in 1973.
Stan Praisewater photo.
In 1977 913 and 921 were shipped to Morrison-Knudsen in
Boise Idaho for major work. 913 and 921 swapped prime movers since 921
had the better of the two. After arriving home in February 1978, she was
immediately repainted in a modified freight/passenger orange and silver
paint job that made her the most photographed F of the four. 913 and her
3 sisters ran, usually pulling the San Jose Turn from Milpitas to Stockton
for the next 3 years until Union Pacific bought WP and everything changed.
913 and 918 were retired roughly the same time in 1981,
leaving 917 and 921 to carry on for almost another year. WP donated 913
to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, Ca. as a surprise
gift that year, where she is currently on display (and is run on occasion). |
