Running Time: 35 min
Narrated by: Elizabeth Wesley-Cardoza
Written and produced by Ken Rattenne

About The West In Western Pacific

This 35 minute show features the lens work of Ken Rattenne, Dave Stanley, Ted Benson, Jon Pullman Porter and many others in a look at the Western Pacific's First Subdivision, which runs from Stockton to Oakland, CA.

The WP's First Sub stretched from the industrial trackage of San Francisco, across the Bay and over Altamont Pass to Stockton. The show covers both steam and diesel, though the photographic emphasis is on the latter-day WP and successor Union Pacific.

Many of the photos used in this show were published in Rattenne's book, The Feather River Route, Volume I, which was released on April 7th of 1990. The multimedia slide show covers last days of the San Francisco switch job, Oakland, Niles Tower, Altamont Pass, and of course, the diesel shop in Stockton. Additionally, there are cameos by the Alameda Belt Line and Tidewater Southern.

The show utilizes two slide projectors controlled by a Kodak dissolve unit, which is fed a digital program signal by a 4-channel cassette deck. The cassette tape supplies both a stereo music soundtrack and the digital program signal allowing the show to run unaided.

In February of 1993, the show was shipped across country from California to New Jersey for a presentation at Jim Boyd's EastRail photo exposition (the East Coast's version of Winterail). The show has also been seen by members of the NMRA.

Program Guide

1. Introduction

Our show opens with a vignette of the Western Pacific -- from the Feather River Canyon to the San Francisco Bay Area. Finally, the music fades to the background as narrator Elizibeth Wesley-Cardoza introduces us to our subject.
2. San Francisco and Oakland

Our show gets under way with a brief tour of WP's industrial trackage in San Francisco. A short jaunt across the Bay to Oakland gives us a glimpse of WP's Oakland yard, the infamous Third Street depot and the alway picturesque street running of the railroad's freight and passenger trains.
3. San Jose Branch

Next, we pause at Fremont before detouring south to Milpitas and San Jose on the San Jose Branch.And what would a tour of the branch be without ample photos of the Fabulous Four: WP's last four F7 units in freight service.
4. Niles Canyon

WP's "other" canyon in California was Niles Canyon, just east of Fremont. As we continue our eastward trek we nod our heads to Niles Tower then travel headlong into the shadows of this defile formd through the coastal hills by Alameda Creek. We emerge in Pleasonton, detouring on the old Southern Pacific route as we pass the large SP Pleasonton depot.
5. Livermore Valley

It's a short sprint across the Livermore Valley, as we pass through Pleasanton, do track speed along Stanley Boulevard as we approach valley's namesake town. Once at Livermore, it's time to dig our heels in as we prepare for our imminent ascent of Altamont Pass
6. Altamont Pass

The scenic highlight of Western Pacific's Oakland-Stockton run is Altamont Pass. While crossing the Diablo Range we'll be treated to a variety of both WP and successor Union Pacific freight and passenger trains. Highlights of this segment include UP's behemoth steamer, Challenger 3985, hauling passengers over the pass; and look for a cameo appearance by the Sourthern Pacific as a pair of Mission Bay Turns meet at Altamont Summit.
7. Stockton

Stockton is the end of the line for our slide show tour of the WP's First Sub. But before we go we're allowed to roam the property and see the sights. Look at all that silver and orange paint!