Western Railroad Discussion > New business on the SFBR

With the recent shipment of 3 centerbeam flatcars loaded with composite ties destined for the SFMTA, the San Francisco Bay Railroad team was tasked with the problem of unloading the car. Recent shipments of 80' rail was easy to unload, and they had done this both in the yard and out on Pier 96. But since the centerbeam has to be unloaded from both sides, preferably evenly, it brought up the question of where the perfect place would be. A few ideas were thrown around, but it was decided to unload the car close by the yard on one of the leads that goes out to a pier track. That didn't work out well as a trucker decided to park too close to the car and was never seen again. So it was then decided to rehab a switch that used to lead to Recology's warehouse (Shed A?) This task was revealed to be very easy as all the whole switch components were still intact and usable. The only downside was that there was years of caked on mud and dirt in everything and anything. The SFBR team quickly tackled the task and had the switch usable that evening. After switching out the yard the following morning, the railcrew grabbed the second centerbeam and promptly shoved it out towards the newly opened track. The car was taken as far as it could up to a patch of paved over track, it was though to be just that and they started to crack the pavement 1 or 2 feet at a time using the leading wheels on the flatcar. Unfortunately they found that the rails were cut and the pavement there was the end of track, cutting the total length of the area down by about 75 feet. Such is life, and nonetheless the team felt accomplished after a hard days work getting the track ready to spot, and unload the car with such ease!

Photo 1: The crew cleaning out the switch.

Photo 2: The engineer was nice enough to let me ride along and take this picture while they were shoving the car in for the first time.

Photo 3: The carnage from trying to clear the pavement off the rails. This proved to be a successful way to do such, even if it ended up not having rails underneath this time ;)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/17 13:12 by hawker95.

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Photo 4: Final Spot for the car.

Photo 5: ALCo S-2 #23 spotted out of the way so UP's YSF70 could pull in 65 empty dirt cars for loading.

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Very neat post...thanks for sharing.....

Now if only the rest of us knew what a SFBR and SFMTA are we would understand what was going on.

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Now if only the rest of us knew what a SFBR and
> SFMTA are we would understand what was going on.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sfmta
 

According to my friend Google, probably San Francisco Bay Railroad (SFBR) and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA)

Bruce

Great post and photos, thanks. Brings back memories of early morning cabrides along the Embarcadero, 40 years ago.

Loleta Fernbridge

These are some fine pictures of a unique operation in SF, so to the original poster, thanks for sharing them. As to the snarky comment below, I for one don't think a person that is willing to share their photos needs to fill in every single detail of an image. I found the post very descriptive - it would have taken you less than a minute to google SFBR and SFMTA and immediately know what they represent.

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Now if only the rest of us knew what a SFBR and
> SFMTA are we would understand what was going on.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/17 11:55 by JamesSchlinger.

JamesSchlinger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These are some fine pictures of a unique operation
> in SF, so to the original poster, thanks for
> sharing them. As to the snarky comment below, I
> for one don't think a person that is willing to
> share their photos needs to fill in every single
> detail of an image. I found the post very
> descriptive - it would have taken you less than a
> minute to google SFBR and SFMTA and immediately
> know what they represent.
>
> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Now if only the rest of us knew what a SFBR and
> > SFMTA are we would understand what was going on.

Thanks James!

jst3751: As James and previous posters said, a quick google could have landed you the answer without being rude.

Now to avoid anybody else trying to play that game
SFBR = San Francisco Bay Railroad, the reincarnation of the State Belt Railroad of California, then San Francisco Belt Railroad.
SFMTA = San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (MUNI) The company who runs street cars, light rail, and the bus system in San Francisco.

hawker95 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JamesSchlinger Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > These are some fine pictures of a unique
> operation
> > in SF, so to the original poster, thanks for
> > sharing them. As to the snarky comment below, I
> > for one don't think a person that is willing to
> > share their photos needs to fill in every
> single
> > detail of an image. I found the post very
> > descriptive - it would have taken you less than
> a
> > minute to google SFBR and SFMTA and immediately
> > know what they represent.
> >
> > jst3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Now if only the rest of us knew what a SFBR
> and
> > > SFMTA are we would understand what was going
> on.
>
> Thanks James!
>
> jst3751: As James and previous posters said, a
> quick google could have landed you the answer
> without being rude.
>
> Now to avoid anybody else trying to play that
> game
> SFBR = San Francisco Bay Railroad, the
> reincarnation of the State Belt Railroad of
> California, then San Francisco Belt Railroad.
> SFMTA = San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority
> (MUNI) The company who runs street cars, light
> rail, and the bus system in San Francisco.

OR, you could have simple stated in your post the full name or at least the city. It is called common sense and common courtesy. It is actually arragont of some one to expect the reader to have to go searching for the meaning of acronyms being used.

All the pics and narration told me it was San Francisco. Just saying.

Steve
Henderson NV

Neat story and photos. Thanks for sharing. Now, could you imagine if someone asked the BNSF or UP to go to such lengths to spot a car?

Dave

Those are GREAT photos and a GREAT story,
very well told. Thank you very much, sir!!
A fascinating look at an unusual operation.
Glad they were able to clear the switch.
They were very nice to give you that cab ride!

More info on the #23:
The SFBR #23 was built by Alco in March, 1944, for
the State Belt Railroad of California, which served
the many piers in San Francisco. She has a 1,000-HP
prime mover and and has 69,000 lbs tractive effort and
weighs about 230,000 lbs.

She was at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard home of the
Golden Gate Gate Railroad Museum fior some years. At
that time, she time, she was painted in a classy and
elegant cream-and-red-and-gold paint scheme to honor
the San Francisco 49ers football team,and numbered
"49" in gold on a black patch on her cab. If you
looked closely, you could see "23" under the "49",
as, thank heave s, the State Belt had never sandblasted
her prior to repainting her.

Here is an excellent photo of the E#23:

http://sanfranciscotrains.org/sbrr23.html

SO glad these old warriors still soldier on!

GBW309 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neat story and photos. Thanks for sharing. Now,
> could you imagine if someone asked the BNSF or UP
> to go to such lengths to spot a car?
>
> Dave

Wouldn't have been a problem...they would have taken the switch out long ago!

Dick Samuels

Thanks Danylo for a great post! While my intellectual capacities can be challenged at my age, I enjoy an opportunity to read a story that helps break up ones mental atrophy, something that is too often displayed on these pages. Keep up the great work. We don't get to see the SFBR in action to much.

Posted from iPhone

hawker95 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JamesSchlinger Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > These are some fine pictures of a unique
> operation
> > in SF, so to the original poster, thanks for
> > sharing them. As to the snarky comment below, I
> > for one don't think a person that is willing to
> > share their photos needs to fill in every
> single
> > detail of an image. I found the post very
> > descriptive - it would have taken you less than
> a
> > minute to google SFBR and SFMTA and immediately
> > know what they represent.
> >
> > jst3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Now if only the rest of us knew what a SFBR
> and
> > > SFMTA are we would understand what was going
> on.
>
> Thanks James!
>
> jst3751: As James and previous posters said, a
> quick google could have landed you the answer
> without being rude.
>
> Now to avoid anybody else trying to play that
> game
> SFBR = San Francisco Bay Railroad, the
> reincarnation of the State Belt Railroad of
> California, then San Francisco Belt Railroad.
> SFMTA = San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority
> (MUNI) The company who runs street cars, light
> rail, and the bus system in San Francisco.

Problem these days is too many folks are not inclined to identify railroads anymore by their names, just initials. Fine and dandy for the locals and those who are familiar with these shortline railroads. That said, folks who say "do a quick Google",well if you are posting something, include the name and location. That is pertinent information. You don't have to include EVERY tiny detail. The extra effort really is appreciated. One should not have to "do a quick Google" to get the full picture. That is the posters responsibility.

Others on this site complain about incomplete reporting by journalist, well this falls in the same category. My $0.05, not $0.02.

By-the-way, nice photos and a nice way the crew resolved their issue with unloading the centerbeam car.

SantaFeRuss

Posted from Android

Location. The CITY.

Sorry, we are going to have to agree to disagree on the content of the original post. In the first place, Danylo is under no obligation to post his pictures at all. Now suddenly he has a "responsibility" with writing the descriptions for what he posts? Give me a break. I have a hard time understanding how people on here can so rudely be critical of someone for sharing something that is THEIR picture and that they have no obligation to post whatsoever, and to call them "arrogant." Seriously? Get over yourself. They were good shots, the description was well written. If you are confused by something, just ask the poster. Don't be a jerk about it.

JamesSchlinger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry, we are going to have to agree to disagree
> on the content of the original post. In the first
> place, Danylo is under no obligation to post his
> pictures at all. Now suddenly he has a
> "responsibility" with writing the descriptions for
> what he posts? Give me a break. I have a hard time
> understanding how people on here can so rudely be
> critical of someone for sharing something that is
> THEIR picture and that they have no obligation to
> post whatsoever, and to call them "arrogant."
> Seriously? Get over yourself. They were good
> shots, the description was well written. If you
> are confused by something, just ask the poster.
> Don't be a jerk about it.


It is what it is. You are right. No one is obligated to post anything. Good, bad or ugly. Since I see the original post as a good and interesting post, it doesn't hurt to go that extra bit of information to the uninitiated. Constructive criticism and really not criticism at all on my part. Just a point of view. Look at this as an opportunity to see a different perspective. You good? ' Cuz I'm good! No thin skin here.

SantaFeRuss

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/17 19:11 by SantaFeRuss.

100% concur. My response was for the other poster and the nasty tone to it...sorry for failing to see you, and not the original comment that had irritated me, used the word responsibility. All good here too.


SantaFeRuss wrote:
> It is what it is. You are right. No one is
> obligated to post anything. Good, bad or ugly.
> Since I see the original post as a good and
> interesting post, it doesn't hurt to go that extra
> bit of information to the uninitiated.
> Constructive criticism and really not criticism at
> all on my part. Just a point of view. Look at this
> as an opportunity to see a different perspective.
> You good? ' Cuz I'm good! No thin skin here.
>
> SantaFeRuss
>
> Posted from Android