Steam & Excursion > While This Roundhouse Still Remains, Alas, This Steamer Does Not!

When the steam era passed into oblivion, most all steam related facilities were removed in the first few years after diesel took over. While a few luck steam engines were saved for display, usually their steam related buildings were not.

In this photo we have just the opposite. Ralph Demoro went down to the Embarcadero in San Francisco in 1938 with his camera and there he captured State Belt Railroad of California Baldwin 0-6-0 #1 parked by the concrete roundhouse for which the line was famous for.

In 1946 with the coming of diesels to the State Belt RR. #1 was sold along with all her steam sisters. #1 went to Pacific Portland Cement. However, rather than raze the roundhouse, it was saved for use by the new diesels. Finally, the roundhouse was deemed surplus by the railroad and was sold to private parties.

Today #1 is gone, a victim of the scrappers torch. However, her old roundhouse remains, having been converted into swank offices in the City By The Bay.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/17 03:38 by LoggerHogger.

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Gee, How about a photo of the present day roundhouse? Thanks!

NKP779 Wrote:
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> Gee, How about a photo of the present day
> roundhouse? Thanks!

Here is an example. The roundhouse doors are still able to open.

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That is an awesome adaptation of the building. However the three way switch...is that an original configuration or an architect's dream implemented?

The track gauge looks kinda wide...........is it more than 4 foot 8.5 inches?

When I first saw this roundhouse back in the 1950s it was clearly in service. The surprise was that it had no turntable.

Westbound Wrote:
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> When I first saw this roundhouse back in the 1950s
> it was clearly in service. The surprise was that
> it had no turntable.


Yes, it never did have a turntable.

Martin

There never was a turntable here, not enough room for it.

Love that first photo, all I've ever known is the second photo. I remember doing a double take the first time I saw the building, by then the freight tracks were gone and the F line tracks were in place along most but not all of the Embarcadero. It's fun how much railroad history is still left in The City.

Nathan

That's why it has those switches.... Mojave's last engine house had no turntable either.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

But Mojave had a wye, which would have been interesting in SF.

Out