Oregon Pacific Railroad Page 4 of 4

Oregon Pacific Railroad 187

Last Update: Feburary 20, 2008

Oregon Pacific Railroad No. 187

Number 187 in storage at Milwualkie
Photos: Jan. 2005

The OPR No. 187 is a EMD NW5.   One of only three known to exist.   A total of 13 were built. This makes the OPR 187 one
of the rarest diesel locomotives in the entire country.   This particular unit was one of 10 that was built in December, 1946 for
the Great Northern Railroad, Serial No. 3480, frame No. E687-2.   It looks like a switcher, but is actually a road engine.

The NW5 is basically an NW2 switcher with additional hood to house a steam generator used to heat passenger cars. The
frame was extended to house larger road fuel tanks and water tanks.   The 187's steam generator was later removed and the
water tanks converted to hold extra diesel fuel.

In 1970 the Great Northern merged with Burlington Northern and at some point the 187 was repainted in Green BN colors.

The 187 was sold by BN to Pacific Transportation Services and Numbered 1001. It was later sold to Pete Replinger and
renumbered back to its original 187.    Mr. Samuels purchased it in the early 1990s with the intention of running it on the
Molalla division. The original 1000 h.p. engine was replaced by Mr. Samuels with a rebuilt 8 cylinder engine, but the 187
never served on the Molalla Branch and has remained in storage in Milwualkie.   The NW5 are normally twin stack
locomotives, but Mr. Samuels went to a one stack exhaust with the new engine.

The 187 appears to be in poor condition consemetically, but in fact, mechanically it is in good shape, including a rebuilt
engine, roller bearings and good wheels and is a good candidate for a full restoration, which Mr. Samuels says that he plans
to do in the future.   Future paint will likely be the traditional OPR red/white colors.

Another NW5 known to survive was the Great Northern No. 192, which is currently in service with the North Shore Scenic
Railroad.

Here is a older photo of the 187 while serving with the Great Northern.

Reference these pages for more general information on EMD NW5s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_NW5

http://yardlimit.railfan.net/emd/nw5/index.html

More photos of the North Shore Scenic Railroad 192 for reference. 01, 02, 03, 03, 04

Also a photo of the 3rd NW5 known to exist operated by the Mass Central Railroad.
Thanks to James Draper for this link

This is an EMD builder photo of the 187 taken upon delivery to the Great Northern in 1946.

Number 187 in storage at Milwualkie
Photos: June, 2007

Cab of the 187
Photos: Oct. 2007

Number 187 in storage at Milwualkie
Photos: Oct. 2007

This is the former steam generator compartment that is the short hood of the NW5. Once the steam generator was removed, this compartment
was left empty. Mr. Samuels built battery boxes to store the starter batteries in here when in use.
Photos: Oct. 2007