Feather River Rail Society Blog

WPRM Gift Shop

lolunar — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:19:18 +0000

As of 2/1/12, Gail McClure is now in charge of operating the FRRS/WPRM gift shop and Web Store. This includes all mail orders and sales. Rick Gruninger and Bill Parker are in charge of all things RAL. After Gail makes changes to the basic operations and stock changes, we will announce improvements and changes for all to see. This is going to take time so we hope to see announcements in early April. If you have questions, call the Museum or email the address on the website. Thanks.

Got trains??

Tom Carter - Director/Webmaster — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:29:50 +0000

Western Pacific Railroad Museum has been busy liquidating model trains from the gift shop, check out our Ebay auctions for great deals on O Scale three rail trains from the WP!

Coming up in the next few weeks, tons and tons of HO & N Scale trains, a whole REAL caboose full, so round up those piggybanks now! We’ll let you know when we get those listed. In the mean time, check out what we have for sale by visiting our E-bay link:

http://myworld.ebay.com/frrsprm

A friend passes

Tom Carter - Director/Webmaster — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:59:34 +0000

It is with much sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of “Hotbox”, beloved shopcat at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum last evening. Hotbox has been a pet to all of us at the museum, as well as faithful visitor greeter, security, hospitality Director and companion to many who volunteer at the museum on a regular basis for the past 21 years. She lived a good long life for a cat and will be missed by all of us. Hotbox will be laid to rest out near the Picnic area and the balloon track this week.

New Arrivial

lolunar — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:53:19 +0000

I am very proud and happy to annouce to the membership that as of this morning (12/6/11) our latest addition to the WP family has arrived Portola. After months of work and communtication, the Union Pacific has graciously donated the UPY 1042 to the FRRS. This locomotive is the Western Pacific 1503 SW1500. It cosmetically does not look the greatest but as soon as possible will be restored to its original as delivered condition. I will get some pictures of it tommorow and try post them. Thanks to the UP for this!

Tom Carter - Director/Webmaster — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:21:39 +0000

Western Pacific Railroad Museum

Proudly presents

The 2011 Santa Train

The Santa Train will be running on Saturday December 3^rd & Saturday December 10^th @ 5:00 pm.

Complimentary drinks and cookies will be provided. Admission is $5.00 per car at the gate. (FRRS members free.)

The Museum recently suffered a catastrophic loss in an arson fire which has greatly depleted our operating funds.

We are asking for community support for this important activity.

For more information, Please contact Eugene Vicknair, secretary@wplives.org

Please mail donations to the:

Feather River Rail Society – Santa Train

P O Box 608, Portola, CA, 96122.

We sincerely thank you for your support!

Steam Department Blog Update for Fall 2011

Chris Allan — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:31:58 +0000

Lots to report this time, please take a look! - Chris

http://wprrsteam.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-2011-work-week-report.html

Arrest Made in WP Hospital Arson

zephyrus805 — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:04:43 +0000

An arrest was made Thursday afternoon by the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office. An 18 year male was taken into custody. More information can be found at Plumas News: http://plumasnews.com/home/8621-man-arrested-in-connection-with-portola-arson-fires.html

We would like to thank the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts regarding this case.

Western Pacific Portola Hospital Burned

Tom Carter - Director/Webmaster — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:54:47 +0000

The Feather River Rail Society suffered a huge loss on the morning of September 7^th at 1am when the fire department was called for a fire at the old WP Hospital site in Portola, CA. Upon arrival of the first responding units they found the structure fully involved in fire. Although efforts were made to save some of the structure these efforts were in vain. The building is now a devastating loss.

The cause of the blaze is suspected arson and an active investigation is ongoing. There will be no further details released until the investigation is completed. There are no suspects for this tragic act at this time.

A $1000.00 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the fire.

If you have any information please contact the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department at 530-283-6375 or Cal-Fire Investigator John Berglund at 530-257-7360.

Frank Brehm,

Fire Marshall

Congratulations!

Tom Carter - Director/Webmaster — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:48:45 +0000

Congratulations to Jackie Habeck, daughter of FRRS Vice President, Steve Habeck, on her marriage today, Thursday August 11th. Dad is a proud new Father in Law, and the FRRS family gets bigger.

Congratulations Steve and congratulations Jackie. Here’s to a long and happy marriage!

Disneyland Resort Donates California Zephyr to Western Pacific Railroad Museum

zephyrus805 — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:39:28 +0000

New gallery planned to showcase historic train

Anaheim, Calif., Aug. 9, 2011 – The Disneyland Resort donated the California Zephyr train previously located in Disney California Adventure park to Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, Calif. Plans for a gallery dedicated to sharing the legacy of the California Zephyr are underway.

The DCA Zephyr, wearing the image of Western Pacific locomotive 804-A, departs the Disney California Adventure Park early on Friday, August 5, 2011. -Disney photo

The train and related artifacts, which were part of the entrance to the theme park, arrived at their new home August 6 and will become part of the museum’s Zephyr Project collection.

The DCA Zephyr floats through the air as the WPRM crew unloads it on Saturday, August 6. -FRRS photo

“Walt Disney’s love of trains made this donation perfectly fitting,” said Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis. “The expansion of Disney California Adventure park provided the opportunity for us to make this meaningful donation and we are thrilled the train will offer museum visitors and train enthusiasts an immersive experience, much like it did here.”

Visitors to the museum will learn about the history of the famous 1950s passenger train through the donated artifacts, while the recreated locomotive will offer the chance to experience what it was like for engineers to guide the stainless steel Zephyr trains through California’s Feather River Canyon.

The cab once operated as a real locomotive. It is an authentic rendition of the Western Pacific Railroad – one of the three railroads that operated the California Zephyr between Chicago and San Francisco from 1949 to 1970. It wears the same number as the last locomotive to lead a westbound California Zephyr into Oakland, Calif. on March 20, 1970. The California Zephyr is one of the most celebrated “name trains” of the 1950s and 60s.

Video provided by Disney.

Link to Disney Parks blog: http://tinyurl.com/DCAZephyr

The FRRS wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to everyone at Disney who made this possible, and to the FRRS members who volunteered their time and effort to this project.

Plans are in progress to create a historic exhibit with the DCA Zephyr as its centerpiece. Donations for this are being accepted (http://tinyurl.com/ZephyrDonations) for this future exhibit.