The California State Railroad Museum

Feature Heritage Railways (part 2)

Stephen E. Drew, Kyle W. Wyatt and Catherine A. Taylor

history, accomplishments, philosophy, Early History of California Introduction and vision. State Railroad Museum We will begin with an overview of the This article describes what we believe is CSRM as it exists today—its collections, The CRSM is an ambitious, multi-phase one of the largest and most ambitious facilities and programs. We will then project of California State Parks—we are railway preservation projects underway discuss the history of the SP Shops in order one of some 250+ units of the California in the United States today—the to provide a context for understanding Department of Parks and Recreation. We completion of the California State what we hope to accomplish. Finally, we arrived in the railway preservation field Railroad Museum (CSRM) and the will explore the unique public–private in 1969 when the Pacific Coast Chapter preservation of the Southern Pacific partnership that is underway in of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Railroad’s Sacramento Shops (SP Shops). Sacramento to preserve and develop the Society began presenting their historic We will provide a behind-the-scenes look SP Shops including the final phase of the collection of locomotives and cars to the at this project with a description of its Railroad Technology Museum. State of California. The Pacific Coast Chapter was organized in 1937 in the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Area where they began collecting historic steam locomotives and rolling stock. Their first acquisition was the 1875 Virginia & Truckee (V&T) switch engine named the J. W. Bowker after the V&T’s revered Master Mechanic. Over the next 30 years, the Chapter collected some 30 locomotives and cars dating from 1873 to 1954. The Chapter operated many pieces of the equipment on fund-raising excursions with the hope of one day developing a major railroad museum in the Bay Area. But the politics and funding were not to be. Frustrated by attempts to develop their own museum, the Chapter made a magnanimous gift of the core of their collection of locomotives and carriages to the State of California. Overnight, the State was thrust into the railway preservation movement.

Key visionary—William Penn Mott, Jr. The visionary who accepted this gift for the State was the late William ‘Bill’ Penn Mott, Jr (1910–92)—Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation in the administration of then Governor Ronald Reagan, and who was later appointed Director of the US National Park Service after Reagan was elected US President. Mott had the vision to Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most-visited railroad museum, CSRM is located in Old appreciate what a major railroad museum Sacramento. Here, a uniformed docent talks to visitors in front of an 1875-vintage North Pacific Railroad locomotive, Sonoma, and its train of 19th century passenger coaches. (CSRM) could mean for California’s State Park

Why Sacramento? Early researchers on the project recommended Sacramento as the location for the state railroad museum. Sacramento is indeed historic soil on which to locate the facility—the first railroad in the state ran from Sacramento to the nearby community of Folsom; ground was broken at Sacramento for construction of the western part of the Transcontinental Railroad; and the largest railroad industrial complex west of the Mississippi River has been located for decades at Sacramento. While the state railroad museum might enjoy more visitors had it been located in San

Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego, Steam-powered excursion trains are a regular feature in Old Sacramento during the summer, thanks to the Sacramento was the birthplace of Sacramento Southern Railroad, official excursion railroad of CSRM. Trains depart every weekend April– September from the reconstructed Central Pacific Freight Depot, taking passengers on a 6-mile roundtrip ride railroading in the state and the most along the banks of the Sacramento River. (CSRM) appropriate place historically. Mott orchestrated the so-called ‘Great Train often succeed not just on their merits but Robbery’ whereby the Chapter’s gift of because they have a strong and active Museum’s Master Plan 30 locomotives and cars in total was political constituency. California’s ‘relocated’ from the Bay Area and moved railroad museum is no exception. Dr Comprehensive master plans are 90 miles inland to Sacramento. Denny Anspach was one of the museum’s wonderful documents. Hardly a week founding fathers who purposely goes by that some recent visitor to our Development of Old established his radiology practice at museum doesn’t call with a compliment Sacramento State Historic Park Sacramento so he could be a staunch and ask how they might create a similar advocate for the railroad museum. Other visitor attraction in their community. Old Sacramento State Historic Park was early supporters included State Senator There’s usually a long, initial silence on in its embryonic stages in the early 1960s. Albert Rodda, Chairman of the Senate our end of the telephone. We will ask Old Sacramento was the birthplace of Finance Committee; Senator James Mills, what they have in the way of a Sacramento—it was the furthest inland president pro tempore; and the collection—after all, museums exist only river port that would became the jumping- Sacramento Trust for Historic as they have collections which need to off point for California’s Gold Rush of Preservation. The Sacramento Trust be preserved, researched, conserved, 1849. Redevelopment and preservation together with Southern Pacific Railroad exhibited and interpreted. Frequently the of the historic six-block district would be and the Pacific Coast Chapter were callers will say they just plan to acquire a a joint venture between the City and successful in hosting a dinner in 1970 for few old locomotives and cars—no small County, through the Sacramento Housing then Governor Reagan onboard the task at this advanced date in the railway and Redevelopment Agency; the State of Museum’s private car The Gold Coast. preservation movement. Then we’ll move California, through State Parks, would After a memorable evening, the Governor on to discuss the value of having a plan! create an anchor visitor destination with was motivated to sign the first funding On many occasions, one feels good if the state railroad museum. legislation in support of developing the 20% or 30% of a master plan is CSRM in Old Sacramento. accomplished. But the time and Political advocacy imagination spent on our 1973 Master In a political arena, competing projects Plan was well invested. The plan

envisioned several phases—three restored Building is an historic 1854 structure in archaeology uncovered up to 40 layers or reconstructed buildings, i.e. the Central Old Sacramento. The Big Four Buildings of paint, lettering, striping and varnish on Pacific Railroad Passenger Station, the are the Huntington, Hopkins & Company older pieces of equipment. Wood Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot, the Hardware Store—operated by two of the dimensions were duplicated exactly. Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill Buildings, prominent members of the Central Components were replicated in great an operating steam excursion train Pacific’s Big Four—and the Stanford detail. Scholarship and historical opportunity, a major Museum of Railroad Brothers Store, which were together accuracy were the hallmarks of each of History, and a companion Railroad located at Second Street and ‘K’ Street and the restoration projects. The results have Technology Museum. To date, nearly reconstructed in Old Sacramento in been truly miraculous! Oblivious to our 80% of our master plan has been 1980. The Huntington, Hopkins & hard work, some Museum visitors today completed and we are now poised to Company Hardware Store is a 19th ask, ‘Where did you ever find all these finish the final phase of the project—the century hardware store featuring period locomotives and cars in such great Railroad Technology Museum. displays and selections of reproduction condition?’ If emulation is any measure hardware products for sale. Upstairs, of success, it is gratifying that so many The Central Pacific Railroad between the administrative offices of the railway museums around the world are Passenger Station Railroad Museum and the Railroad now adopting the intellectual and The first phase of the master plan—a type Museum Foundation, is the Railroad physical approach that we incorporate in of trial balloon—was the reconstruction Museum Library. The Library consists of our equipment restoration program. But of the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger thousands of books, several hundred the real story of our hands-on equipment Station on its historic site in Old thousand original ink on linen drawings, restoration and conservation program Sacramento. The building stood on this more than 2 million pictorial images, and remains to be told in the new Railroad site from 1867 until 1879 and was, for a plethora of original corporate records, Technology Museum. several years, the western terminus of the correspondence, maps, timetables, trade first Transcontinental Railroad in the USA. catalogs and ephemera with an emphasis Collection development The Station was fairly accurately on railroads and railroading in North Looking beyond the initial 30 pieces of reconstructed with main waiting room, America. The lower floor of the Big Four rolling stock, it was obvious that selected separate waiting room for ladies and Building comprises closed stacks plus acquisitions and concerted development children, ticket office, agent’s office, 24,000 ft2 off-site for management of the of the collection would be prudent. baggage room and the Silver Palace collection. Since opening in 1981, the Among selected acquisitions, project Eating Stand. It opened in 1976 under Library has become North America’s presentations saw the addition of the period gas lamps with seven of the largest and foremost independent Santa Fe 2-6-2 No. 1010, Southern Chapter’s locomotives and cars on research center for railroad history and Pacific’s diminutive 4-2-4T No. 1 C. P. display. Volunteers and staff periodically technology. Huntington, and the famous SP cab- opened locomotives and cars for closer forward 4-8-8-2 No. 4294 from the City inspection, offered tours and track-laying Equipment restoration program of Sacramento. demonstrations, and occasionally got a Planning for the Museum of Railroad In the mid 1970s, the Museum had head of steam up on an 1873 steam History began in earnest in 1976. Several several dozen full-size pieces of locomotive. After 3 years, the initial of the Museum’s early pieces of equipment but lacked the myriad of visitor levels exceeded projections by equipment could most reverently be smaller three-dimensional artifacts more than 300%, helping to pave-the- described as chicken coops that were needed to carry key interpretive way for state funding of additional phases largely being held together by termites exhibits—the bells, buttons, badges, of California’s railroad museum. holding hands. Not finding anyone in tickets, tokens and other paper and the business of accurately restoring 19th hardware artifacts. Initially, the Museum The Big Four and Dingley century locomotives and cars, the published and distributed thousands of Spice Mill Buildings Museum prevailed upon Southern Pacific brochures convincing collectors, Railroad and set up shop in an old SP railroads, employees, dealers and The second phase of the project was the Unit Shop to painstakingly restore 20 railroad families why they should present Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill locomotives and cars between 1976 and cherished heirlooms to the Museum for Buildings. The Nathaniel Dingley 1981. Careful research and industrial permanent preservation and possible

6 Japan Railway & Transport Review 31 • June 2002 Copyright © 2002 EJRCF. All rights reserved. display. Fortunately, it is no longer 12 years of planning by California State Rails and the Mexican American Railroad necessary to publish such brochures—the Parks, and more than four decades of Workers Exhibit to multi-year exhibits like Museum of Railroad History today is its dreaming and planning by the Pacific Coast that of the Toy Train Operating Society. own best salesman as it informs, educates Chapter, the third and most ambitious phase Our latest exhibition is a 5000 ft2 exhibit and stimulates visitors to inquire about of the CSRM to date—the Museum of on the historic SP Shops. donating several hundred collections Railroad History—was opened to the annually. Donated items range from single public when California Governor Jerry Collection additions sheets of paper to entire truckloads of Brown officiated at the opening ceremonies Since 1981, we have also made selected collections. The western railroads have on 2 May 1981. additions to the Museum’s collections. In been generous in sharing their expertise, 1986, Santa Fe approached the Museum facilities, artifacts and even personnel—it to accept nine first- and second- is a close working relationship that Museum Railfair Sacramento 1981 generation diesel-electric locomotives, staff work diligently to cultivate and three steam locomotives and a doodlebug maintain. Today, approximately 5% of the Such a grand event called for a grand motorcar. Today, the collection totals 214 collection is on display at any one time. celebration and the Friends of the locomotives and cars larger than 18" The remainder is housed off-site—awaiting California State Railroad Museum—the gauge housed at Sacramento and our funding for additional exhibit opportunities predecessor to the current Museum ancillary facility at Railtown 1897 State in the Museum of Railroad History and the Foundation—was organized by the late Historic Park—90 miles away at new Railroad Technology Museum. Ed Combatalade (1905–90). For nine Jamestown, California. days in May 1981, Sacramento and the May 1981 opening of Museum of world enjoyed a three-ring circus Restoration program Railroad History consisting of the newly opened Museum Since 1981, the Museum has returned Ground was broken for the new Museum of Railroad History, free public displays two steam locomotives and more than six of Railroad History in April 1978—just of historic railroad equipment gathered diesel-electric locomotives to operation. weeks before the passage of California’s from throughout North America and Recent projects have included Granite financially limiting Proposition 13. The including the operating replica of Rock 0-6-0ST No. 10, which was 100,000 ft2 building would be the largest Stephenson’s Rocket from the National originally built for the US Army during purpose-built railroad museum Railway Museum at York in the UK, and WWII and the Budd Cochiti dining car constructed in the US. Nearly a year of The Song of the Iron Horse—an upbeat built for the famous Santa Fe streamline construction was invested driving railroad musical review using many of the Super Chief train in 1937, which has upwards of 1000 piles some 80 ft into visiting locomotives and cars. This was become the centerpiece of the Museum’s the ground to support the structure and the first large-scale gathering of railroad popular Dinner in the Diner exhibit. anticipated displays. The architect was equipment and an associated railroad very sympathetic, picking up the railroad pageant since the great Chicago Railroad Recent acquisitions bridge or truss motif in the design of the Fair of 1948–49. When all was said and Recent acquisitions include additions to Museum’s roof trusses. The largest wood done, nearly 100,000 visitors had toured the papers of legendary Transcontinental truss spans 116 ft, has a 7" camber and is the Museum and the Sacramento Bee Railroad surveyor Theodore Judah not decorative—it actually is carrying the newspaper estimated that more than (1825–63) including his personal gold load of the roof. 250,000 visitors had enjoyed the free scale and Sierra Nevada paintings by his The first piece of equipment into the outdoor displays. wife, Anna. A recent major addition to building was a narrow-gauge freight train. the Museum Library is the photograph With cribbing carefully designed for the Ongoing exhibit development and negative collection of the late Lucius Museum’s second-floor gallery window, A great museum is truly never complete. Beebe (1902–66) and Charles Clegg the locomotive, tender, box car, tank car Since 1981, we’ve tried not to miss scores (1916–79)—the Museum already exhibits and caboose were carefully lifted in by of opportunities to rotate and change The Gold Coast, their unique private car crane and pushed into position on the exhibits—new reasons to bring visitors and the acquisitions continue. narrow-gauge trestle—24 ft above the back for another visit. Exhibits have main floor. ranged from interpretive displays of Museum volunteers Finally, after 3 years of actual construction, several weeks like Black Hands: Iron Throughout its growth and development,

the Museum’s primary labor force call a preserved railway. The site covers California State Railroad Museum continues to be volunteers who work in 26 acres, and includes an historic Foundation which operates the both public and non-public positions roundhouse, stores dating from 1897, six Museum’s stores and is an equal partner throughout the Museum. Currently, there steam locomotives, six diesels and more with the State in the daily operations. The are more than 800 volunteers, most of than 40 passenger cars and freight cars. Foundation assists in the daily operations, whom staff key interpretive areas Steam excursions depart Jamestown on handles the membership program, and throughout the Museum like the Railway weekends from April through October. has made possible such key interpretive Post Office Car, the St. Hyacinthe events as Railfair 1991 and Railfair ‘99. sleeping car, the Cochiti diner, and who The Foundation is a vibrant partner with help make possible key outreach Museum Today the Museum as we look forward to programs such as Operation Lifesaver, completing the last and by far the most Interpretive Handcar Program for The Museum continues in daily operation ambitious component of the Master schoolchildren, the annual US National today—operated by California State Parks Plan—the Railroad Technology Museum. Handcar Races, living history program, in a strategic partnership with the interpretation aboard Amtrak trains and California State Railroad Museum The Historic Southern Pacific the Museum’s steam excursion trains at Foundation. It attracts more than Railroad Sacramento Shops Sacramento and Railtown. Others are 500,000 visitors annually and is actively involved in research, providing Sacramento’s leading tourist attraction The Museum had long eyed the adjoining administrative support, maintaining the and one of the most visited railway SP Shops as a site for the Railroad Museum’s right-of-way, and much more. museums in the world. The largest single Technology Museum but the economics, group is the some 160,000 politics and current rail operations made Sacramento Southern Railroad schoolchildren who use the Museum as this vision seem impossible. Shortly after After two trial weekend operations in an extension of their classroom studies. Union Pacific (UP) acquired the Southern 1982 and 1983, the Museum’s A key partner with the Museum is the Pacific Railroad in 1996, UP concluded Sacramento Southern Railroad was launched in 1984. The Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot was constructed in 1986 as the northern terminus for operation of excursion trains. Today the Museum’s largely volunteer steam excursion train program handles up to 80,000 riders annually on a 7-mile, 45- minute round-trip ride from Sacramento south along the Sacramento River. The master plan envisions extending the operation over the full 17 miles of the line to the ports of Freeport and Hood so that passengers could travel one way by steam train and the other by riverboat or paddle-steamer.

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park In 1992, the Museum assumed day-today operating responsibility for Railtown 1897 State Historic Park located in the California Mother Lode in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This historic Inside the roundhouse area of CSRM, guests are invited to step aboard several exhibits including a Pullman- style sleeping car complete with night-time lighting, motion and sounds, and a dining car filled with railroad property is the closest to what Europeans china. (CSRM)

8 Japan Railway & Transport Review 31 • June 2002 Copyright © 2002 EJRCF. All rights reserved. that the Railroad Technology Museum California railroads. The most significant preserved by the Nevada State Railroad could be the highest and best use of the of these was Southern Pacific. While Museum in Carson City, Nevada. When historic SP Shops that date to the 1860s. remaining independent companies, the cost of locomotives from commercial The SP Shops are indeed an historic operations of the different lines were builders dropped, Sacramento complex where giant steam locomotives coordinated. In 1885, a new holding production was suspended temporarily. were built and diesel-electric company called the Southern Pacific locomotives were later rebuilt. Clearly Company, was formed to control the Unique locomotive designs they are the most appropriate site for the various railroad holdings of the owners. In 1881, Stevens designed a 2-6-2T Railroad Museum’s final phase—the Operating companies were variously sold locomotive specifically to haul commuter Railroad Technology Museum. or leased to the new holding company, trains around Oakland and Alameda in including both the Central Pacific and the the Bay Area. A total of seven were Sacramento and Transcontinental Southern Pacific railroads. The SP Shops constructed in Sacramento in late 1881 Railroad were officially the Central Pacific Shops and early 1882. Central Pacific No. 233 Shipment of goods in sailing ships from prior to 1885, but became the SP Shops is a survivor from the original seven and the east coast around Cape Horn to in the reorganization. has been acquired recently by the CSRM. California took many months. Located far Between 1882 and 1885, Stevens from the eastern centers of industry, the Innovative leader produced experimental locomotives to strongly self-reliant California merchants The early complex was under the test some of his innovative ideas. The decided to found a railroad and on 8 leadership of General Master Mechanic first was Central Pacific No. 229, a 4-8-0 January 1863, ground was broken on the A. J. Stevens (1833–88). Hired in 1870, completed in April 1882 for hauling levee next to the Sacramento River in he oversaw development of the facility heavy freight through mountains. It was Sacramento for the Central Pacific and many pieces of machinery and very successful and between December Railroad, a company already recognized equipment were designed and 1882 and January 1884, the Cooke by the US Congress as the western link in constructed in the shops. Locomotive & Machine Works the Transcontinental Railroad. Facilities included the erecting shop, constructed 24 to the same design for the Sacramento was already a major boiler and tender shop (including a Southern Pacific. These were the only shipping point for the region, with riveting tower), blacksmith shop, brass Stevens-designed locomotives built by a goods and materials coming up river in and copper shop, foundry, rolling mill, commercial builder. steamboats and smaller sailing vessels spring shop, car shop, planing mill, paint Several features were characteristic of from the deep-sea port of San shop, 29-stall roundhouse, etc. These Stevens’ production locomotives in the Francisco, making Sacramento the covered the basic functions but expanded 1880s. Most notable was the Stevens logical starting point for construction greatly in size over the years. patent valve gear, a variation on the of the western leg of the Under Stevens, the Central Pacific Shops Walschaerts design adapted for separate Transcontinental Railroad. The constructed several series of locomotives, lead and cut-off motion. Stevens also completed railroad served San featuring unique design characteristics used exceptionally long cylinders in Francisco directly (via a ferry from developed by Stevens and his team. relation to cylinder diameter. For Oakland), but initial construction was Stevens was an innovator, working to example, the 4-6-0 cylinders had an 18" eastward from Sacramento. advance the steam technology of the day diameter with a 30" stroke. The Just north of downtown Sacramento was and quickly adopting important locomotives also used radially stayed a marshy area where the American River innovations from others as well. boilers instead of the almost universal joined the Sacramento River. This land Locomotive construction at Sacramento crown bar boilers common in American was acquired by the Central Pacific relied on the support of the railroad railroading at the time. Railroad as the site for its general owners and was always influenced by the workshops. Construction of permanent cost and availability of locomotives from Car department competing with buildings started in 1868 and expanded the east-coast commercial builders. commercial builders over the years to cover more than 240 The earliest group of locomotives built Master Car Builder Benjamin Welch acres of land in the heart of Sacramento. under Stevens was 14 sturdy 4-4-0 (1880–1913) directed operations in the The owners of the Central Pacific soon engines completed between 1872 and carriage department. Welch had been began acquiring ownership of other 1874. One—V&T Railroad No. 18—is one of the first workshop employees hired

by the Central Pacific in the early 1860s significantly, a new, greatly enlarged and continued as head of the car shops Organizing and Systematizing erecting shop was added to the west side until after the turn of the 20th century. of the old erecting and machine shop, The shops built a few passenger cars in Stevens died suddenly in early 1888 and and the old erecting bays became the late 1860s, including the business car his successor, H. J. Small, was a much expanded machine shop space. that carried the Central Pacific dignitaries more conservative man. Where Stevens to the Transcontinental Railroad looked for innovation and experimented Southern Pacific and Union Completion Ceremony at Promontory with new designs, Small stuck with the Pacific split Summit, Utah, on 10 May 1869. The car tried and true designs, even returning to Harriman died in 1909 and the US was sold to V&T in 1875 and later crown bar boilers for new constructions. Supreme Court ordered the separation of converted into coach No. 17. Amazingly, The building of new locomotives ended the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific it survives today in the collection of the under Small. systems in 1912. Nevertheless, the SP Nevada State Railroad Museum. Another If Small wasn’t a mechanical innovator, Shops continued to expand with new group of passenger carriages was he was an organizer and systematizer. foundry and car shop facilities. During constructed in the mid-1870s, but Under his leadership Southern Pacific the shortages of WWI, new locomotive passenger cars were generally purchased developed a set of Common Standards construction returned to Sacramento with from commercial builders. (which could be reasonably called the a series of thirty-two 2-6-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-0, On the other hand, many head-end cars Huntington Standards in honor of the and 4-6-2 locomotives assembled (baggage and postal) were built in the then railroad president) for locomotives, between 1917 and 1920 from spares for shops throughout the 19th century. cars, parts, structures, facilities, and old Harriman Standard designs. Freight wagons were the bread and butter almost everything needed in running the More new steam locomotives followed of car construction in both the 19th and railroad. with 32 new 0-6-0 switchers in 1919– 20th centuries. The shops competed with 23. These were followed in 1925–30 by commercial builders for contracts to Harriman and Union Pacific gain the largest locomotives ever constructed supply Southern Pacific and there were control by the SP Shops—49 modern 4-8-2 many production runs. C. P. Huntington (1821–1900), the last locomotives. By this time, the Shops had of the founders of the Central Pacific and developed into the largest vertically Southern Pacific railroads, died in 1900 integrated industrial operations west of and E. H. Harriman (1848–1909) gained the Rockies. The Shops had long been control of Southern Pacific in 1901. the single largest employer in the Harriman was already president of the Sacramento area and few people were Union Pacific Railroad and he unified not touched by their operation in some operations of the two railroads as way or other. Associated Lines. Harriman was very impressed by the Southern Pacific’s Decline of SP Shops system of Common Standards and it was The 1929 Great Depression brought soon extended and expanded to many changes to railroading and to the encompass both the Southern and Union SP Shops. Many operations were closed Pacific systems, commonly known as the never to reopen, although basic Harriman Standard designs. Out of this operations continued on a reduced scale. emerged a set of Common Standard The last new steam locomotive—a large designs for locomotives, passenger cars 0-8-0 switcher—was completed in 1937, and freight wagons, most of which were the previous one having entered service developed in the design offices of the SP in 1931. Shops. The late 1930s saw the introduction Inside the boiler shop at the SP Shops, a huge cab- Harriman also initiated major expansions of diesel locomotives on the Southern forward steam locomotive is getting a complete overhaul. This engine is virtually identical to the last and improvements of railroad equipment Pacific. New development stopped preserved cab forward, Southern Pacific No. 4294, and facilities. The SP Shops got their during WWII but the entire which today is displayed at the CSRM in Old Sacramento. (CSRM) share of these expenditures. Most locomotive shop operation was

10 Japan Railway & Transport Review 31 • June 2002 Copyright © 2002 EJRCF. All rights reserved. revised and retooled between 1945 and 1955 to service diesels instead of steam. While many ancillary shops closed, the core locomotive and car functions remained.

GRIP Program From the 1970s, Southern Pacific demonstrated its shop capabilities by launching the General Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (GRIP), a comprehensive from-the-frame-up overhaul and upgrade of older diesel locomotives that renewed and recapitalized them for many more years of service. Electrical systems were re-engineered to bring them up to then-current standards, and all mechanical systems were removed and rebuilt before reinstallation. SP Shops workers paused from their labors for a lunch-time band concert inside the erecting shop on 3 July 1920. Each SP operating division, from Portland, Oregon, to Algiers, Louisiana, had its own employee band. GRIP continued into the early 1990s, (CSRM) working its way successively through different classes of locomotives. Union Pacific reacquired First, it would provide a suitable facility Southern Pacific in which to conduct the ongoing Southern Pacific Purchased by In 1996, Union Pacific reacquired control restoration and maintenance work. This Denver & Rio Grande Western of Southern Pacific in a merger that facility would be accessible to the public extinguished the Southern Pacific name. through controlled environments and The 1980s were difficult times for Union Pacific moved quickly to access with restoration and maintenance Southern Pacific with a failed merger with rationalize its shops and the last operation staff demonstrating and explaining tools, the Santa Fe Railroad diverting resources was transferred out of the SP Shops in materials and techniques. and attention, followed by the effective December 1999. At last, the adjacent Second, it would provide high-quality, purchase of the railroad by the owner of CSRM saw an opportunity to develop its interactive exhibits interpreting railroad the much smaller Denver & Rio Grande long-planned Railroad Technology engineering and technology. Using Western (although the resulting company Museum in the historic SP Shops. sectioned locomotives, scale models, retained the Southern Pacific name). interactive displays, oral histories, and With competitors merging to form larger, Railroad Technology Museum many other interpretive techniques, the stronger companies, Southern Pacific’s at Historic SP Shops public would be able to learn about position became weaker and weaker. issues such as steam and diesel This was reflected in more deferred The Museum’s Master Plan envisioned technology, car design, track and maintenance and greatly reduced shop two interlocking museums—one devoted structures design, local labor history, the operations. Added to the problems was to the social, political and economic importance of the SP Shops, and the the national trend to contract out more history of the railroad in California and relevance of railroading today in meeting functions that had formerly been handled the western US; and the other devoted many of our transportation challenges. internally. The operations of the SP Shops to the science and technology of the Third, it would provide much needed were dramatically reduced and Southern railroad industry. covered storage for our non-exhibited Pacific began looking at other, non- collection and would allow public tours railroad uses for the site’s 240 acres. Components of plan of the non-exhibited collection. The The plan for the Railroad Technology collection is huge (over 200 pieces) Museum had three primary components. dating from the 1860s to the present

which must be rotated on and off display. Railroad Technology (MORT). The 1990s occupy approximately 40 acres within Currently, our ability to do so is limited recession hit California particularly hard the yard. The Museum currently leases due to physical constraints and lack of and many projects were scrapped. The two structures—the boiler shop and restored equipment to put on display. MORT project was put on indefinite hold, erecting shop. The Museum would increase our ability although several staff members took to rotate exhibits with restored every opportunity to keep it alive and Development challenges equipment, to operate more equipment kicking. While the SP Shops present a tremendous as it is restored, and to provide the best opportunity for the Museum, they are not possible public access to the ongoing Grasping the opportunity without challenges. Of primary concern process. The goal is to rotate displays Union Pacific’s 1996 acquisition of is that Union Pacific is in the process of monthly and operate demonstration Southern Pacific presented a remarkable remediating the site under the directions equipment daily. opportunity for the Museum to acquire of the Department of Toxic Substance the SP Shops. The prospect of being able Control. Union Pacific is bearing the Site Selection and Pursuit of to use these buildings to create an urban remediation costs which are estimated at New Museum museum complex contiguous with the over $100 million but the remediation Old Sacramento Historic District, as well will not be completed until 2004–05. Planning for the new museum began in as to recreate a railroad experience The Museum’s responsibilities with the mid-1980s following completion of presented a once-in-a-lifetime respect to toxic remediation are limited. the flagship Museum of Railroad History opportunity that the Museum could not The site on which the Museum plans to in Old Sacramento. Site selection began allow to pass. Museum representatives place the Railroad Technology Museum with an assessment of various sites near met with Union Pacific officials in has underground water reclamation the Museum’s existing facilities in Old Pennsylvania in mid-1996 to discuss issues which are being addressed by Sacramento and along the Museum’s about acquiring the buildings. Union Pacific and should not affect railroad right-of-way. At that time, the By mid-1997, the Museum was holding public access. However, there are Museum approached Southern Pacific regular meetings with Union Pacific to additional above and below ground toxic about use of the SP Shops. During merger discuss the potential acquisition. considerations that must be addressed by discussions between Southern Pacific and Architects and engineers were re- the Museum, such as removal of lead Santa Fe Railroad, acquisition of the engaged to assist with planning and paint, and disturbance of contaminated shops appeared to be feasible but when estimating the new museum at the new ground in order to place new utility lines the merger fell through, Southern Pacific site. While it would be wonderful to use and sewers. Since the Museum will was not in a position to discuss the the seven buildings on the site, the trench only sewer and utility lines, there project. It was clear that the SP Shops estimated cost was between $45 million are expected to be minimal costs to could only be acquired by purchase from and $90 million and was not feasible. remediate only the trench areas. SP, putting the price tag for the project The Museum had to prioritize its needs Other challenges relate to the financial far out of the Museum’s reach. and determined that phasing in the entire burden of acquiring historic buildings, Reluctantly, the Museum pursued other project over time is the most sensible and the many unknowns associated with potential sites and settled on a bare 15- approach. Initial efforts have focused on their restoration and on-going acre parcel nine blocks south of the the boiler shop and erecting shop as the maintenance. Clearly, we will not have existing Museum and along the core facilities at a more modest cost of enough initial funds to rehabilitate all Sacramento Southern Railroad right-of- $25 million. Other associated seven historic structures. It will be way. In the early 1990s, the Museum developments include a new Museum incumbent upon us to find suitable secured a 99-year lease on the site from Store, multi-purpose space, offices, and partners for development. Our first the Sacramento Housing and a library and archives building and are concern has been to secure the site Redevelopment Agency at a cost of being funded separately. (primarily the boiler shop and erecting $1000 per year. By 1991, approximately Negotiations with Union Pacific centered shop for our immediate needs), and to $1.5 million had been invested in the site around transfer of the title to six or seven begin evaluating them in terms of their to complete a feasibility study and structures (and a land lease of sufficient structural integrity and other critical preliminary plans for construction of a length) that remain standing in the 240- maintenance needs. Our next step will new facility to be called the Museum of acre yard. The structures themselves be to acquire the buildings from Union

12 Japan Railway & Transport Review 31 • June 2002 Copyright © 2002 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Pacific, thereby giving us maximum flexibility in how the project is financed and phased in over time. Another challenge is that Sacramento a good deal of influence over the redevelopment of the entire 240-acre yard. The buildings cover approximately 40 acres in the southern part of the yard contiguous with the historic Southern Pacific Depot built in 1926. The political dimension of the project cannot be overstated. Several interest groups are actively lobbying Sacramento to hold off on any development of the yard to ensure that the depot remains a depot and continues to be used for passenger services. Artist’s impression of the entrance to the proposed Railroad Technology Museum. To be located within the former SP Shops complex, the Museum entrance is also expected to feature the relocated historic Water Tower—which once supplied the entire Shops complex—plus a local signaling facility known as Elvas Tower. The Depot Debate (CSRM) Partnership for preservation and • Ensure that the new development can In the mid-1990s, the City of Sacramento development accommodate all transportation worked with Southern Pacific to create To promote the site preservation and modes; The Railyard Specific Plan for future development, the Museum has joined • Revitalize the downtown area; development of the yard. The Plan called with Union Pacific and other transport • Link the intermodal area to adjoining for the 1926 Depot to be adaptively providers to form the Sacramento neighborhoods; reused for non-railroad purposes and for Intermodal Transportation Alliance (SITA) • Link the intermodal station a new intermodal station to be for promoting the northern track thematically to the Railroad constructed some distance away. After realignment and construction of the new Technology Museum to the north and the purchase of Southern Pacific by intermodal station 400 ft north of the Old Sacramento historic district to the Union Pacific and ensuing changes in the existing 1926 Depot. The aim is to keep west. downtown Sacramento area, the Plan is the depot as the gateway to the new outdated and no longer feasible. Union intermodal station and the Railroad The SITA plan also focuses on Pacific is amending the Plan for approval Technology Museum to the north. The connectivity around the downtown area. by the City and a vital change is Alliance has since grown to include the Road links between our facilities in Old relocation of the freight and passenger local light rail organization, the Sacramento and the SP Shops, and that main line and construction of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the provide easy entry and exit from freeways intermodal station some 400 ft north of Old Sacramento Management Board, the and other surface streets are critical to the 1926 Depot. Sacramento Downtown Partnership, and development of the Railroad Technology The proponents of keeping the depot many others who are concerned about Museum. The plan focuses on strong unchanged are lobbying hard to keep the the future of transport in the Sacramento pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle, and rail tracks where they are. If the tracks are region. Clearly, the Railroad Technology access in and around the site, and not moved, the Museum’s free movement Museum and its key location within preservation of the 1926 Depot as the between its facilities in Old Sacramento Sacramento’s downtown development gateway to the entire development. and the SP Shops would be severely area makes our membership of SITA and restricted. Moving the tracks north is vital involvement in the associated local Museum track access to the Museum, Union Pacific and other politics non-negotiable. The Museum is an advocate of transport providers. northwards relocation of the track in Alliance goals order to achieve the level of track access The goals of the Alliance are to: required to maintain current operations

(providing charters, handling visits by connections to the Railroad Technology ambitious, but critically important project rolling stock, servicing customers at the Museum and could develop a substantial in North American railway preservation. south end of our right-of-way, moving in part of the SP Shops complex, thereby Acquisition and preservation of the SP maintenance equipment and reducing our obligation to rehabilitate all Shops preserves one of the most acquisitions, holding Railfairs, etc.), to seven structures. important industrial heritage complexes provide access to Union Pacific and in North America. In terms of local, Amtrak main lines, and to ensure easy Conclusion regional and state-wide significance, access to the SP Shops. An added benefit The Railroad Technology Museum will preservation and reuse of the SP Shops of this new access is the opportunity for benefit the community in many ways. will allow us to interpret the railroad as seamless integration of heritage and Children will be able to explore science one of the two most important historical modern railroad operations—both and technology through hands on, forces that shaped Sacramento, California passenger and freight. Comparing interactive exhibits. The facility could and the West (the other was the California heritage and modern railroad operations easily support curriculum-based Gold Rush). and the ability to see both at work is a educational programs for teenagers and Our continued involvement with all the key aspect of the Railroad Technology young adults. Vocational education redevelopment partners and stakeholders Museum. programs could be established to provide will be paramount in the years to come. skills training and workforce re-entry I preparation. Ethnic diversity will be Financing highlighted through ongoing study and This article was first presented at the international conference ‘Slow Train Coming: Heritage Railways in exhibition focused on the thousands of the 21st Century,’ held in York in September 2001. As mentioned earlier, financing the new people who once worked in the shops. facility is a challenge. However, the The Railroad Technology Museum is an Museum has already secured $5 million in project funding and there are numerous Stephen E. Drew funding sources available in the next year. In March 2002, a $2.6 billion Parks Bond Mr Drew is Senior Curator at the California State Railroad Museum where he has worked for 28 was approved by voters. Over $300 years. He is a graduate of the Museum Management Institute and has a BA in history. million of the bond will be set aside for cultural development. Another initiative relating to transportation funding is possible in November. If that goes forward, the Museum will have a $7 million funding line. In addition, more Kyle W. Wyatt federal funds are expected to be available under the Transportation Enhancement Mr Wyatt is Curator of Railroad Operations at the California State Railroad Museum. Prior to Act (TEA) and some will be available for joining CSRM, he was Curator of the Nevada State Railroad Museum. He has an MA in history. transportation museums. In terms of development of other buildings on the site of the SP Shops, the Museum is seeking partnerships with other compatible museum projects. The most promising candidates are the Catherine A. Taylor California Department of Transportation which is developing a 50,000 ft2 museum Ms Taylor is Director of the California State Railroad Museum. She is also currently Chairman of focused on California’s transportation the Sacramento Association of Museums. She is a graduate of the Museum Management Institute and has a BA in history. infrastructure. Another candidate is the City of Sacramento’s archives and museum facility focusing on local history. Both projects have ideal thematic