Vulcan 1759 - State Belt RR #4 Operation Years Scrapbook
Which comes first--the engine or the specifications? The first glimpse of the 100 year history of the State Belt #4 is this "Specifications for ....", a document written in San Francisco and signed by Ralph Barker, Assistant State Engineer, of the Port of San Francisco. This 10 page RFP was met with an answer from the Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes-Barre Pennslyvania, likely by way of local agent Harron, Rickard & McCone.
View the specifications here (PDF, 2.8MB), they are very thorough and match the engine nearly exactly.
The oil burner: Reputed to be the first oil burning engine built by Vulcan, these additonal notes from our documents show how the burner design was discussed and royalties paid for the use of the design. <<link to pdf "oil burner">>
State Belt Line
Our best guess is that the engine arrived in SF on July 27th, 1911, and that it would have been barged from Richmond CA, as there was no direct rail connection to the Port at that time. The little engine did not seem to make headlines at that time, as examination of newspaper files revealed no stories about the arrival. Its purchase price is reported at $11,785 It's trip from Wilkes Barre, PA was carried out under it's 'own wheels' with "C. W. Bowen, addendant".
Mr. Bowen wrote back to Vulcan Iron Works with this note: <link to 'all arrived ok'>. This letter states the railroad might cut out the back of the cab(which they did) Likely he was also checking in with Haron Rickard and McCone office on Townsend Street, he reports back on a sales lead for another Vulcan. The McCone company sold multiple locomotives in California according to Vulcans record books.
This began the stealthy existence of the Vulcan in San Francisco. "Stealthy" because with the exception of this picture below, no photographs or news about this period of 1911-1932 has surfaced. But we do know from physical evidence that the engine was involved in some sort of a wreck. The right front cylinder has been repaired, and in the picture you'll see a new front bumper beam, and very clean footboards. The replacement bumper was cast in Sacramento by the Southern Pacific.
In response to growing traffic on the State Belt Railroad the Port decided to sell the engine #4 (and #5) in 1924. Harbor Commisioners Superintendent T. J. McGinty reports "The engines are in good mechanical condition, but too light for the work we are compelled to perform".
The locomotive was sold for $1500 in 1932 to the railroad that advertised "Modern Efficent Tranportation".
Modesto Empire Traction Company
An industrious interchange route in Central California, the MET runs east and west. The 0-6-0 was run and run and was photgraphed more extensivly than at any other stage in her career.
When the Western Railroader ran it's story on the MET the Vulcan was photographed again pushing an ingenious device for keeping tracks free of weeds.
Using old boiler tubes and a pair of freight car trucks, a pipe from the engines dome delivered steam to the tracks. The pipe can be seen in the picture on the left side of the engine.
AD Schader
Go West-again. The engine took another barge trip on San Francisco Bay. This time she joins a smaller engine on Treasure Island delivering goods an materials for the Worlds Fair. The details of this time was published in the Dec. 1938 issue of Railway Magazine:
The president of Western Pacific Railroad took this photo of the engine on Treasure Island
We can place the engine in Southern Pacifics West Oakland yard in 1939--this Maryland Casualty Company inspected the engine on August 31 and the photographs was taken the next day.
Permanente
More mystery. Because our records of the engines history are from earlier sources, we rely on the Western Railroader which specifies the engine was sold to Permanente for use in the San Jose area. Once again, the Vulcan goes into stealth mode.
<<scan close up of WR roster>>
US Army
Understandably, during the war, we don't have any photographs taken on an Army base. Back to the central valley it hauled munitions, cargo and supplies for the Pacific Theater at the Sharp Army Depot, Lathrop California. The Army replaced the locomotive tires with a new set made in 1931. Then the soldiers came home and the Vulcan was put into the iron pasture.....
A 1946 photo by Doug Richter at the beginning of a 25 year rest:
Thanks to the Hagley Museum for the historical files and bulders photos. The original builders plans are courtesy of the Railroad Museum of Pennslyvania. Additional Photos courtesy Doug Richter, and Ralph Domenci.
Next: The Missing Years