Western Pacific F7 918-D in Niles Canyon

WP F7 918 makes her trip through Niles Canyon (Sunol, Ca.) after a 20+ year restoration effort. This was taken during the PLA Member's Day on July 4th, 2005. 918 has it's own website - check out the restoration here:

http://www.trainweb.org/wp918d/index.html

By the way, that is the original type horn. All WP freight F7's were built with (and retained until retirement) Leslie Tyfon A-200 single note air horns. These were common on most first generation diesels.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• western
• pacific
• railroad
• niles
• canyon
• railway
• locomotive
• association
• 918
• f7
• emd
• leslie
• tyfon
• a-200

[manthony1956]

Thanks for the great memories! I grew up in Pleasanton CA and walked to school down Rose Ave. I always looked forward to those afternoon when the Zephyr came through westbound on my walk home. I still remember the Zephyr stopping to let someone off, how the conductor got out and set our a step so passengers could disembark.. I also remember the day they razed the Pleasanton station. It was there on the way to school and gone oh the way home.

[danosf]

@manthony1956 - I grew up there too, but the depot was gone when I grew up there in the 70's. Do you remember what year they tore it down?

[Baltimora1957]

That's about the least intimidating train horn I've ever heard in my life! LOL

[danosf]

@Baltimora1957 - You need to hear it in person. They are among the loudest.

[Cchrisbud813]

Is that horn a Leslie A-200 or a Westinghouse E-2? Sounds like the Leslie, and it sounds fantastic!

[danosf]

It's a Leslie...

[michigandon]

Everytime I hear an A-200 I can't help but think of the old Wile Coyote and RoadRunner cartoons for some reason. ;)

[ACLTony]

Always enjoy hearing those Leslie A-200 "honker" horns. So common years ago, now a rarity. The WABCO E2 honkers sounded even deeper.

[mrserious55]

@Baltimora1957 you've obviously never been in the cab and heard one...ear protection required....put one on your car and try it!

[sawman3333]

I don't know why, but when I was little, I called that horn the hongle horn. Lol. This just brought back my childhood! Thanks!

[6V92TA]

sounds like a GG1 almost

[TIMRRCLUB]

@danosf Yep they are

[Adamlovesmedal]

@danosf i love that horn

[manthony1956]

@danosf I believe it was 1963 or 1964. I was still going to Pleasanton Elementary Elementary. n 1964 our class was transferred to Valley View which was nice because my family had moved to a home off of Vineyard Ave that summer. Before that, it was an interesting walk to school through Kottinger Village and down 2st St. daily to school with a trombone for a 4th grader.

[jnazz]

That's a beautiful loco and that horn is perfect for that engine. Real nice!

[LNERMallard]

@anderberger nope it had diesel :P