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Nostalgia & History > Repositories of Historic Railroad Equipment destined for MuseumsDate: 05/29/16 10:28 Repositories of Historic Railroad Equipment destined for Museums Author: KeyRouteKen Hi Everybody-- Let's talk about a slightly different subject for a change. The "storing" of donated railroad equipment ! Back in the late 1940's and early 1950's in the "Mysterious EAST" (Columnist Herb Caen's name for the greater East Bay), there were a number of railroad-oriented historical societies. The Pacific Coast Chapter-Railway & Locomotive Historical Society ; California--Nevada Railroad Historical Society; Bay Area Electric Railroad Association; Central Coast Railway Club; Northern California Railroad Club and on and on !
The Clubs always dreamed of owning a piece of railroad equipment of some kind of their very own. Some never realized the dream. But others definitely did. When a club got notified that a locomotive, a coach, a caboose or an Interurban car was coming their way the reality they came face to face with was the challenge of "where are we going to put it" ?? You have to remember that these clubs did not have very much money in those days and did not own their own property. So-- they would politely ask the company donating the artifact if "THEY" had a temporary place to let them store it until such day arrived that they could find a more permanent location to put it on public display ! In the "Mysterious EAST" (the greater East Bay), there were at least FIVE places that were agreeable to store donated items until the day was forthcoming when a "railroad museum" could be built to properly display all of these "Treasures from the Past" . Where were these "railfan store houses" ? Predominantly in Oakland and Berkeley !! 1. Various old, unused sidings and spurs on the Southern Pacific. 2. The Western Pacific Roundhouse and Yard on Middle Harbor Road in Oakland. 3. The Key System--Division 1--Inspection Building in "Bridge Yard". 4. Key System's "Yerba Buena Yard"--Emeryville 5. The Guano Company-- Berkeley. YES-- the "Guano Company" ... Longtime manufacturers of fertilizer from the excrement of seabirds and bats ! Charming, huh ? Let's take a look at these great institutions we all owe a world of thanks to ! Photo 1. Western Pacific Roundhouse-- Oakland, CA-- courtesy of KPR-Media. Photo 2. Key System--Division 1--Inspection Building--Bridge Yard-- Oakland, CA. Photo 3. The Guano Company--2nd & Hearst Streets-- Berkeley, CA. Regarding the "Guano Company" :The Pacific Guano and Fertilizer Co., Berkeley, CA, at Second and Hearst Streets,View of busy wharf-side, industrial operation showing office and laboratory buildings, warehouses and transporation such as trains, horse drawn wagons, and ships. San Francisco Bay visible in the distance. Cheers. KRK    Date: 05/29/16 10:39 Re: Repositories of Historic Railroad Equipment destined for Muse Author: fbe I have seen a covered hopper from Mexico with Guano boldly painted on the side of the car so poultry fertilized must still be a going business. What does Foster Farms do with their waste?
Posted from iPhone Date: 05/29/16 18:05 Re: Repositories of Historic Railroad Equipment destined for Muse Author: Clarence In the "truly mysterious east" chicken waste from Eastern Shore of Maryland poultry plants is a leading pulluter of the Chesapeake Bay. Supposedly they spread it out on farm fields and it washes into the bay.
Clarence G |