Steam & Excursion > Some Steam Shops Are Instantly Recognizable From Their Location!

While many steam structures on certain railroads were duplicated in many different locations on that railroad, there were some of them, that by their location alone were instantly identifiable.  This was one such structure.

Nestled in this small flat area at the base of the surrounding hillsides we see a small 2-stall enginehouse that clearly is located at Port Costa on the Southern Pacific.  This location was often photographed because of it's relative ease of accessibility and the steady stream of steam action present there.  On this day we catch SP #2807 as she slowly chuffs her way into the first stall with SP #1792 already occupying the 2nd stall.

The old car body off her trucks on the  ground in the background serving as a yard office, only adds more character to this timeless scene.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/20 02:24 by LoggerHogger.

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Just another day at work.   Love it.  Something else gone from America that I miss.

Lightened it up a bit.  Neat photo.

JBWX

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The engine house, with its clerestory roof and narrow windows, looks like it dates from the 1870's.  Nice.

With the Carquinez Straight often acting like a wind tunnel, the roundhouse crews likely enjoyed the protection offered in the two-stall structure.    

Note the Armstrong turntable. Clear evidence, along with the obvious locomotives present, of SP’s need for smaller power in the area.

Thanks, Martin. Another jewel from your collection.

Walter

Posted from iPhone

GUYS...At one time,SP had about 12 engines working out of Port Costa,, the 1792 sitting in the round ouse was used on the run to San Ramon,1769 1810 and 1822 were also rotated out of Oakland to Port Costa towork the San Ramon branch....Before the AC's arrived on the Western Division, almost every EB got a helperout of Port Costa for the climb to the bridge at Martinez....But at the time, 4300'and 4400's GS-2 and GS-3's were the road power and they actuall never needed a helper unless they were held at east Ozol for any reason...Port Costa was very busy....

Elesco wrote:

> The engine house, with its clerestory roof and narrow windows, looks like it dates from the 1870's.  

The Port Costa roundhouse (the SP officially classified it as a roundhouse) was built in 1901.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/20 14:05 by johnsweetser.

These little gems could be found everywhere, once upon a time.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

I meant to delete my message about when the Port Costa roundhouse was built but that didn't work. While the table of SP roundhouse data found on pgs. 30-31 of "Southern Pacific Lines Common Standard Plans, Vol. 5" states the roundhouse was built in 1901, I question if this is correct since I found one source that indicated there was a roundhouse at Port Costa at least as early as 1887.

Posted from iPhone