
In February 2006, WP668 was moved by truck from the Golden Gate Railroad Museum (GGRM) in San Francisco to storage in San Jose. The steel strapped wooden top was lifted by crane off of the two steel trucks (wheel sets). The caboose top, missing its roof covering and very heavy because of the recent rain, was put on a lowboy truck. One set of steps and the battery box had to be cut off to make it fit. The two WP668 trucks (weighing about 5 tons each), along with signs, two tracks, spokes, plates, etc. were loaded on a second truck and into the family car.
At the same time, the “hospital train” of historic rolling stock was being loaded to go the Niles Canyon Railway, and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola. Two of WP668’s sister cabooses, WP646 and SN1642, went with the hospital train to the Portola museum.
The first truck suddenly started driving while the second was being loaded, so Katy Dickinson drove behind it from San Francisco down Highway 101 to San Jose, while John Plocher supervised the loading of the second truck. The moving permit specified that WP668 had to be in the middle lane to go under the lowest bridge on Highway 101, which was 14′ 10″. Katy and John’s insurance company did not require anything special because, after many discussions, it turned out that their home policy covered transport of personal possessions, even extremely large ones!
WP646 going onto a flatbed railcar, GGRM WP646 going onto a flatbed railcar, GGRM
Hospital train with WP646 at GGRM Hospital train with SN1642 at GGRM

2006 WP668 at GGRM WP668 on truck at GGRM
WP668 wheels on truck at GGRM John, Paul, and Jessica loading spikes, plates, and ties at GGRM
Katy with WP668 at GGRM WP668 leaving GGRM
WP668 moving from GGRM WP668 on San Francisco street

WP668 on Highway 101 WP668 entering San Jose

WP668 unloaded by crane WP668 wheels unloaded
Except as noted, text and images Copyright 2006-2020 by Katy Dickinson, John Plocher.
All photos are used with permission. All rights reserved.