Track Panel Under Construction
A low profile (steel ties) track panel is being assembled to slide under Number 4's frame which has been jacked up. With the rails under the engine, the driver wheels will be placed under the frame and reassembly of the journals and springs can occur next. This will enable the start of the reassembly of the locomotive.
Open House held at Work Site - August 1, 2010
On Sunday August 1st, San Francisco Trains hosted an Open House at the work site. Community members, volunteers and also former workers from Southern Pacific's Bayshore shops all visited the site and inspected the locomotive, recent progress, and also the roundhouse.
Baylands Bus Tour visits the SFT Project Site
UPC hosted a bus tour of the Baylands and one of the stops was a visit the San Francisco Trains work site. Guests heard a short presentation about the Roundhouse, State Belt Steam Engine #4, and the goals of SF Trains. July 2010
Bayshore Roundhouse Is Nationally Registered Historic Place
On March 26th, 2010 the National Park Service listed the building as item #10000113. A major accomplishment, and the first Building in Brisbane to be so recognized
Bayshore Roundhouse Nomination Approved by California
Only one step left to go until the Roundhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places! On January 29th the California Commission of Historic Places approved the building is worthy of this status, and sent the docket onto the Department of the Interior. When listed on the national register, the site automatically is entered on the state register. Helping this along the way was a resolution passed by the Brisbane City Council endorsing this nomination as prepared by Architectural Historian Richard Brandi, (working pro bono) Much credit is also due to the people who lent their talents, including Randall Ruiz, Kyle Wyatt, Brisbane City Staff and State Department staff. A copy of the nomination is available on request.
Brisbane Day in the Park October 3rd and Board Meeting October 8th
San Francisco Trains will exhibit artifacts from the State Belt #4 and Bayshore Roundhouse on October 3rd and Brisbane Community Day. That is from 10am till 4pm and is on Old County Road in Brisbane, a block in from Bayshore Blvd. Beside our exhibit there are other community groups including San Bruno Mountain Watch, food and games...and the Soap Box Derby!
The Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday October 8th, 2009 7pm, at the Millbrae Train Museum, Millbrae California. The historic train station is at the corner of Murchinson and California Ave, one block from the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Ave and next to Millbrae BART and Caltrain Intermodal Station. Any questions or comments are welcome and if you can't attend but want to participate, please email you comments or questions to Thomas@sanfranciscotrains.org
Announcement: Board & General Meeting
Meeting is scheduled for Thursday July 23, 2009 7pm, at the Millbrae Train Museum, Millbrae California. The historic train station is at the corner of Murchinson and California Ave, one block from the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Ave and next to Millbrae BART and Caltrain Intermodal Station. --Please note the date is changed from the previously annonced July 9th
Roundhouse Cleanup and Fencing to Begin
To prevent further vandalism to the roundhouse we now have permission to fence the building and remove the general debris left there in the last twenty years.
State Belt #4 by Bayshore Roundhouse April 26, 2009
A tremendous accomplishment; A steam locomotive restoration on historic property.
The State Belt #4 with the Bayshore Roundhouse in the backgroud. It's been 50 years since steam engines were regularly serviced and rebuilt at the shops in Brisbane. This site is large enough to position the engine in a manner to finish the restoration that has been held up for 4 years. Moving the engine took months of planning and refitting the used fencing donated to us. Expenses for the crane and trucks on April 18 were quite a setback, please consider making a tax deductible donation to help us cover the $4000 cost.
Roundhouse Nomination, April 2009
Architectural Historian Rich Brandi has been researching the significance of the Bayshore Roundhouse in the quest to have the building placed on the Register of Historic Places. This is a positive step not only to preserve the building but a lever that can be used to secure funding and tax incentives when development starts in Brisbane. Rich has written successful nominations in the past, has a family history connected with the SP shops and Visitacion Valley Community. We met at the Society of Industrial Archeology Conference in June 2008 when Rich gave a presentation on the former SP route to San Francisco.
New Site preparations under way, March 2009
Volunteers have worked during some very wet weekends but the turnout has been strong! A sign of encouragement is the Bayshore roundhouse next to our new site. One some weekends we logged 100 person hours removing old fencing in the parking lot, salvaging different sized poles, gates, chain link fence. All the poles are in place and the push to get the fence and barbed wire up begins on April 4th.
Dave Hannigan, John Goldie, Jay King (all 3 pictured above), plus John Fenlon Paul D'Orazio, John Fuller, Paul Kinneman, Vern Bruce, Cory Clar, Ralph Bennett, Brett Tallman all deserve a hat's off for the effort.
We also want to thank JC and Jerry of Construction Services and their associate Kevin for support as we leave the Schlage Lock Site behind. They have been accommodating of our non-profit budget and schedule, and were able to give us the excess fencing around the back of the Schlage site for our new location.
November 2008
Engine Move and Bayshore Roundhouse
One step closer, we hope, to a permanent home, we are moving the engine by the Bayshore Roundhouse to the concrete pad 150 feet from the northeast corner of the building. Free use of the space is being donated by property developer Universal Paragon Company, and an interim use permit to occupy and proceeed on the restoration for 4.5 years was approved by the Brisbane Planning Commission. The level foundation needs to be cleared of debris and fenced with the next several weeks. A site plan for the level space includes orientation for locomotive engine to be reassembled.
May 2008
Boiler, Air tanks and more have been painted over the last month! The boiler is painted in high temperature service coating and sports a number 4 on the steam dome for the curious passebys on foot or when viewed from Caltrain. The smokebox is also painted, and front handrails and bell cradle are up. Volunteer John Fenlon has undetaken the task of painting nearly every component we can move around in the yard, including the airtanks, many many feet of steam and airpipes, brake rigging, and the tender truck which is being reassembled. Visitors are even stopping by!
April 2008
Engine number recreated! Thinking that we'd have to guess on the actual size the #4 that was on that numberboard, we were suprised to find the finely scribed lines on the circular plate when getting it ready for repainting. Faint but tracable, the actual size number was transferered to a clear sheet of plastic then tranfered to a plate of brass, and the number was milled by volunteer Willie Cashman. The old saying goes, the least expensive restoration method is to jack up the numberplate and roll in a new engine. With no more new Vulcans, well just keep plugging along with what we have.
Announcement: Board Meeting
Board of Director Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 12, 2008 7pm, at the Millbrae Train Museum, Millbrae California. The meeting is in the historic train station corner of Murchinson and California Ave, one block from the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Ave. Access from Caltrain Start time 7pm. Agenda is online at http://www.sanfranciscotrains.org/corporate.html --please note the date is changed to 3-12-08
2008 Freedom Train
On Monday, January 21, 2008, the Freedom Train will once again take passengers to San Francisco to celebrate the life, legend and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Catch the Freedom Train to San Francisco at one of four stations:
San Jose Diridon Depart 10:00 AM
Sunnyvale Depart 10:15 AM
Palo Alto Depart 10:29 AM
San Mateo Depart 10:52 AM
San Francisco Arrive 11:25 AM
For more details see http://www.mlkscv.org/mlk-freedom-train-san-jose-san-francisco.htm
Family Movie "Polar Express" December 18th in Visitacion Valley
VVBOOM is hosting Family Movie Night
Movie: Polar Express Location: Taqueria Nayarit - 98 Leland Avenue Tuesday December 18th, Time: 6:00 pm Admission: Free with Leland Avenue Proof of Purchase
Bring your Lawn Chairs, Blankets, and Pillows and ENJOY THE SHOW!!!!
http://blog.myspace.com/vvboom
Announcement: Board Meeting
Board of Director Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 5, 2007 7pm, at the Millbrae Train Museum, Millbrae California. The meeting is in the historic train station corner of Murchinson and California Ave, one block from the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Ave. Access from Caltrain Start time 7pm. Agenda is online at http://www.sanfranciscotrains.org/corporate.html
September 2007
Tender oil tank painting done.
This was the first major component painted entirely with POR 15 rust converting primer. It is difficult painting final coats in the dusty outdoors so the ideal method turned out to be painting in the early morning before the windspick up.
Close up of rivet detail:
The last component of this is the replacement lid. The drawings don't show the exact parts the hinges were made of and oil burning Vulcans are very rare.
April 29, 2007 - Painting Progress
We made some progress on the tender oil tank. Starting from the bottom up! The underside of the tank was fully prepped and painted with POR15, an amazing paint that converts rust to a bond and is considered the best paint on the market for preservation of metal. Next is painting the sides and top, making a new cover, new latches, and reinstalling the valves.
Thanks to Ian Hart and John Fuller for their hard work prepping, and to Dave Hannigan and Jay King for helping turn the tank onto it's side so we could access the bottom.
Work Days Spring 2007 updated
Here's when you can come out and join in preserving history firsthand!
Sunday April 8; Sunday April 22;
((Saturday April 21 workday canceled for opportunity to participate in Earthday events))
Saturday & Sunday May 5 & 6
Work hours 9am-5pm or other if requested. Volunteers will need to sign liability release. There are no creature comforts at our workspace but we can support the neighborhood businesses for snacks coffee and lunch.
We're at 200 East Sunnydale Avenue in San Francisco.
It's about 1/2 mile north of the foot of Geneva Blvd at Bayshore Blvd. Turn into the industrial lot behind the carwash. OR take Caltrain, get off at bayshore station and walk 100 yards west towards the the building that says "PL" on it. You can see the cab from the railroad tracks. OR take the new Third Street Light Rail to the end of the line at Sunnydale!
January 2007
A winter break from the Vulcan restoration is helping repatriate the British railcar orphaned in San Francisco following the Flying Scotsman USA Tour early 1970's. http://www.sanfranciscotrains.org/flying-scotman-observation.html The railcar will be loaded onto trucks on Saturday January 13th, first step on it's way home.
November 14, 2006
New Tarpoline covers have been placed over the drivers, frame and boiler for protection during the winter months. Thanks John Fuller and Marty for helping out with this task.
October 7, 2006-State of Idler Cars
The Golden Gate Railroad Museum and San Francisco Trains, Inc., have worked out arrangments with the Double T Agricutural Museum to preserve the 3 of the unique "idler flats" from the State Belt Railroad. These former tank cars, equipment with home built decks, pushed and pulled rolling stock onto the barges where the engines would not go. Idler Cars No. 1 & 3 will be preserved intact and stored for future return to the Bay Area in the central valley at Stevinson CA, and #2 will be converted back to a tank car with a period riveted tank by Double T. #1 is in the best condition with decking and footboard intact, #2 is in the worst condition with bowing side sills and decking in poor condition. The Double T Agricultuaral Museum has the oldest Union Pacific engine known to exist, a 4-4-0 American type built in 1887. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_737
August 7, 2006
The engine was moved smoothly, the entire process went well and we want to thank Dave Roth, John Fenlon, & Ed from the GGRM, volunteers Vern, Brett, Cris, DJ and John as well as our hired companies South Bay Crane and S&R Trucking, and in kind donation of service from Target Logistic organized by Chuck Meier. The engine, our two support/storage containers and supplies are in the fenced lot, and the tender frame and water tank sit across the former house lead to Bayshore Yards.
Now that the move is over, here's the work list!:
Right away: Pack the containers as full as possible. Stack outside materials and cover. Make room for work areas, and install active solar system including panel, regulator, batteries, LED lighting at site.
Preserve the boiler, tender oil tank, locomotive air tanks by wire brushing and painting the exterior, and capping and sealing the interior.
Complete reaasembly of tender trucks for static display of tender.
Seal engine cylinder from the weather. Level engine and construct short sections of track under her to allow the drivers, driving boxes, shoes and wedges to be fitted up under the engine.
That should keep us busy for a few months!
July 19, 2006
Expect the engine and tender to be moved on the last week of July. The engine and tender and container will be moved on Wednesday, and the balance of small stuff on Thursday and Friday and hopefully nothing on Monday. We expect that South Bay Crane and S&R Trucking will put in their usual 110% effort. Target Logistics has offered in-kind donation by transporting the palletized components that will fit in their bobtail trucks.
Our new location is on the border of San Francisco and Brisbane on East Sunnydale Avenue We are 100 feet away from the lead track to the former SP Bayshore yards and situated between two important rail locations: The Caltrain Bayshore Station and the end of the new MUNI Third Street Light rail extension.
We have recieved our EIN number from the IRS, recognizing us as a legitimate business.
July 1, 2006
A new location is being prepared for the Steam Engine. The plan is to finish the move before July 31st. More details will be posted here soon as the paperwork is finalized.
May 30, 2006
San Francisco Trains wishes to thank Budget(aka Cedent) Rent A Car and the City of South Francisco for allowing us a temporary extension for keeping the engine and containers storing parts at the lot in South San Francisco. We are still looking for a long term solution for keeping the engine in or around San Francisco.
May 12, 2006
Our storage lot in South San Francisco has been discovered to be a problem. Three months after arriving we found that the city would not permit the land for outside storage. Once again, the upmost urgency of finding a home for the engine is apparent. Click on the ["contact us"] link for more information or to offer help.
April 19, 2006
Though not directly train related, the Friends of the Music Concourse are giving a presentation at SF History Day on April 30 at the San Francisco County Fair Building (corner of 9th ave and Lincoln Way). $10 advance, $15 admission at door.
The presentation will include "an illustrated talk on the history of the Music Concourse will show the Concourse as it has developed over the years, since it was first the site of the California Midwinter Fair of 1894. After that, we will give an account of the actual steps involved in landmarking the Concourse, including the documentation, public outreach, neighborhood support, preservationist's involvement, and public hearings. This presentation will also be of interest to those who would like to landmark a building, a statue or even a fountain."
February 28, 2006
State Belt #4 in South San Francisco: The engine and tender are in storage in South San Francisco. Thanks to all who helped in the process: John Fuller, Jeff Capretti, Tom Kehoe, Ian Hart, Dave Johnson, Cory Clar, Brian, Kevin, Golden Gate Railroad Museum participating members: Vern Bruce, Jay King, Dave Hannigan, Dave Roth, and the GGRM board for providing funds for expenses over the volunteer efforts.
January 18, 2006
San Francisco Trains has filed Articles of Incorporation to become a 501c3 non profit. The whole process will take perhaps 3-5 months. We are grateful to a Law Office who is handling this incorporation for the cost of the filing fees only.
December 12, 2005
In our continuing quest to find a home for the #4 and the flat cars, we are making a presentation to the Treasure Island Development Authority. As some of you may know, the State Belt #4 was used on Treasure Island to deliver goods to the exhibition in 1938 and 1939.
We will post more news about this as we get it.