builder..

model..

builder number..

built..

wheel arrangement..

horsepower..

prime mover..

operational weight..

starting tractive effort..

length..

width..

wheelbase..

ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION of GM

GP20

77171

October 1949

B-B

2000 hp

EMD 567D3 16-cyl turbo

247 400 lbs

61 850 lbs

56 ft 2 in

10 ft 3 in

49 ft 0 in

While WP power was a regular presence on the Tidewater from early on, most assignments were temporary, with TS crews grabbing whatever was available in the Stockton ready tracks when more power was needed.  In the steam days, there were several engines that regularly appeared on TS rails, notably WP 122, 124 and 125 (which was also leased to the TS for several years), but in the diesel era few engines seemed to become regulars.  One that did, and the WP diesel most identified with service on the TS, was GP20 2009.  By the late 1970's, the 2000 horsepower unit was assigned as the regular TS roadswitcher, working local traffic along the line while other WP power moved the massive unit grain trains that began appearing around that time.  The 2009 would be a common sight on the line into the early UP era.  It even received a coat of armour yellow paint in September 1984 (and a new number: UP 488) and returned to work the line until finally being retired in the summer of 1985.  It was the only GP20 to receive yellow paint and one of only 6 high nose WP/SN units repainted (including SN GP7 711 and 4 WP GP9s).

WP 2009/UP 488 was sold for scrap in October 1985 to St. Louis Auto Shredding.  It was the last GP20 operating on the Union Pacific.  Today, only two of her sisters survive: WP 2002 has been chopped nosed and works for an industry in the midwest, while WP 2001, the first of her model ever built, is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, California, restored to her as delivered appearance.

Tidewater Southern Railway

EMD GP20 Western Pacific 2009