An added benefit of this new access is the opportunity for seamless integration of heritage and modern railroad operationsboth passenger and freight. 1010, Southern Pacific's diminutive 4-2-4T No. 
I took Amtrak from the Bay Area and walked a short block to the museum which is located in Sacramento's Old Town. The building of new locomotives ended under Small.
There's usually a long, initial silence on our end of the telephone. the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station, the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot, the Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill Buildings, an operating steam excursion train opportunity, a major Museum of Railroad History, and a companion Railroad Technology Museum. Shipment of goods in sailing ships from the east coast around Cape Horn to California took many months. Go in the Pullman car that just reopened. Clearly, we will not have enough initial funds to rehabilitate all seven historic structures. Today, nearly 5 million Sacramento visitors walk the cobblestone streets and wooden boardwalks every year, taking in river cruises on the Sacramento River, or touring the town in a horse and buggy. Freight wagons were the bread and butter of car construction in both the 19th and 20th centuries. By Clare Olivares, AFAR Local Expert, Excites Kids and History Buffs Alike. While many ancillary shops closed, the core locomotive and car functions remained. It opened in 1976 under period gas lamps with seven of the Chapter's locomotives and cars on display. This was the first large-scale gathering of railroad equipment and an associated railroad pageant since the great Chicago Railroad Fair of 194849. sacramento sutter attractions carson nevada railroad nv locomotive museum state engine map darling mohler annie homes These were followed in 192530 by the largest locomotives ever constructed by the SP Shops49 modern 4-8-2 locomotives. Railroads were instrumental in California's connection to the rest of the world and an important component of the state's history. Upstairs, between the administrative offices of the Railroad Museum and the Railroad Museum Foundation, is the Railroad Museum Library. The facility could easily support curriculum-based educational programs for teenagers and young adults. There are a train station and depot, hardware store, theater, and various business buildings. During the shortages of WWI, new locomotive construction returned to Sacramento with a series of thirty-two 2-6-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-0, and 4-6-2 locomotives assembled between 1917 and 1920 from spares for old Harriman Standard designs. The collection is huge (over 200 pieces) dating from the 1860s to the present which must be rotated on and off display. 1,at the California State Railroad Museum, Information Links:View CSRM Railroad Equipment Roster(pdf 64.2 kb) Sierra 3 Locomotive Restoration.
The goal is to rotate displays monthly and operate demonstration equipment daily. Others are actively involved in research, providing administrative support, maintaining the Museum's right-of-way, and much more. The Museum continues in daily operation todayoperated by California State Parks in a strategic partnership with the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. ), to provide access to Union Pacific and Amtrak main lines, and to ensure easy access to the SP Shops.
In 1881, Stevens designed a 2-6-2T locomotive specifically to haul commuter trains around Oakland and Alameda in the Bay Area. Oblivious to our hard work, some Museum visitors today ask, Where did you ever find all these locomotives and cars in such great condition? If emulation is any measure of success, it is gratifying that so many railway museums around the world are now adopting the intellectual and physical approach that we incorporate in our equipment restoration program. May 1981 opening of Museum of Railroad History Since 1981, we've tried not to miss scores of opportunities to rotate and change exhibitsnew reasons to bring visitors back for another visit. Construction of permanent buildings started in 1868 and expanded over the years to cover more than 240 acres of land in the heart of Sacramento. The Museum had long eyed the adjoining SP Shops as a site for the Railroad Technology Museum but the economics, politics and current rail operations made this vision seem impossible. Development of Old Sacramento State Historic Park.
You can walk through a sleeper car as well. The completed railroad served San Francisco directly (via a ferry from Oakland), but initial construction was eastward from Sacramento. New development stopped during WWII but the entire locomotive shop operation was revised and retooled between 1945 and 1955 to service diesels instead of steam.
The Shops had long been the single largest employer in the Sacramento area and few people were not touched by their operation in some way or other. Added to the problems was the national trend to contract out more functions that had formerly been handled internally. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park Master Car Builder Benjamin Welch (18801913) directed operations in the carriage department. Restoration program The lower floor of the Big Four Building comprises closed stacks plus 24,000 ft off-site for management of the collection. 229, a 4-8-0 completed in April 1882 for hauling heavy freight through mountains.
The Big Four Buildings are the Huntington, Hopkins & Company Hardware Storeoperated by two of the prominent members of the Central Pacific's Big Fourand the Stanford Brothers Store, which were together located at Second Street and K Street and reconstructed in Old Sacramento in 1980. 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. The first piece of equipment into the building was a narrow-gauge freight train. Locomotive construction at Sacramento relied on the support of the railroad owners and was always influenced by the cost and availability of locomotives from the east-coast commercial builders. Other associated developments include a new Museum Store, multi-purpose space, offices, and a library and archives building and are being funded separately. The operations of the SP Shops were dramatically reduced and Southern Pacific began looking at other, non-railroad uses for the site's 240 acres. Today, the collection totals 214 locomotives and cars larger than 18" gauge housed at Sacramento and our ancillary facility at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park90 miles away at Jamestown, California. Other exhibits focus on the importance of railroads to California's agriculture sector and the diverse populations that helped create and used the railroads. While remaining independent companies, operations of the different lines were coordinated. Since 1981, the Museum has returned two steam locomotives and more than six diesel-electric locomotives to operation.
We arrived in the railway preservation field in 1969 when the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society began presenting their historic collection of locomotives and cars to the State of California. Components of plan Components were replicated in great detail. The goals of the Alliance are to: Museum track access english As mentioned earlier, financing the new facility is a challenge. The shops built a few passenger cars in the late 1860s, including the business car that carried the Central Pacific dignitaries to the Transcontinental Railroad Completion Ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah, on 10 May 1869. Operating companies were variously sold or leased to the new holding company, including both the Central Pacific and the Southern Pacific railroads. Tips Be sure to look into the museum's excursion train ride. It attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually and is Sacramento's leading tourist attraction and one of the most visited railway museums in the world. By learning about this romantic form of travel and the technological challenges that came with it, visitors will learn the context of the state's history. The proponents of keeping the depot unchanged are lobbying hard to keep the tracks where they are. Now, Old Town Sacramento has been designated as a National Landmark and a state historic park. Why Sacramento? barstow map california area desert digital Currently, there are more than 800 volunteers, most of whom staff key interpretive areas throughout the Museum like the Railway Post Office Car, the St. Hyacinthe sleeping car, the Cochiti diner, and who help make possible key outreach programs such as Operation Lifesaver, Interpretive Handcar Program for schoolchildren, the annual US National Handcar Races, living history program, interpretation aboard Amtrak trains and the Museum's steam excursion trains at Sacramento and Railtown. Initially, the Museum published and distributed thousands of brochures convincing collectors, railroads, employees, dealers and railroad families why they should present cherished heirlooms to the Museum for permanent preservation and possible display. After two trial weekend operations in 1982 and 1983, the Museum's Sacramento Southern Railroad was launched in 1984. 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. The museum has exhibits that focus not only on the locomotives and rail cars but also on how trains helped develop California and the West. To promote the site preservation and development, the Museum has joined with Union Pacific and other transport providers to form the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Alliance (SITA) for promoting the northern track realignment and construction of the new intermodal station 400 ft north of the existing 1926 Depot. The buildings cover approximately 40 acres in the southern part of the yard contiguous with the historic Southern Pacific Depot built in 1926. Among other static displays, it houses the only SP Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 steam locomotive in existence and, although not operating, is absolutely stunning! The MORT project was put on indefinite hold, although several staff members took every opportunity to keep it alive and kicking. Okay, a buff of ALL large mechanical things. At that time, the Museum approached Southern Pacific about use of the SP Shops. While the SP Shops present a tremendous opportunity for the Museum, they are not without challenges. The second phase of the project was the Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill Buildings. Located in Old Sacramento, this is one of the premier attractions in the city. Harriman was already president of the Union Pacific Railroad and he unified operations of the two railroads as Associated Lines. In 1992, the Museum assumed day-to-day operating responsibility for Railtown 1897 State Historic Park located in the California Mother Lode in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill Buildings. Museum Hours:10:00 am - 5:00 pmTickets sold until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day Train Operating Hours:Departures on the hour 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Excursion trains run weekends April through September. The structures themselves occupy approximately 40 acres within the yard. This land was acquired by the Central Pacific Railroad as the site for its general workshops. The all-volunteer crews take visitors on a trip back in time to the heyday of California train travel. Hired in 1870, he oversaw development of the facility and many pieces of machinery and equipment were designed and constructed in the shops. 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. Since Sacramento played such an essential part in the first transcontinental railroad, it's no surprise that time is dedicated to discussing how the east and west coasts were first connected. Tripods and handheld flash are allowed during this event. A full scale diorama features the wood burning Gov. Their large library collection is equally impressive. Most significantly, a new, greatly enlarged erecting shop was added to the west side of the old erecting and machine shop, and the old erecting bays became expanded machine shop space. YesDogs allowed in exterior portions of railroad displays. The Museum had to prioritize its needs and determined that phasing in the entire project over time is the most sensible approach. Shortly after Union Pacific (UP) acquired the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1996, UP concluded that the Railroad Technology Museum could be the highest and best use of the historic SP Shops that date to the 1860s. OneV&T Railroad No. But the real story of our hands-on equipment restoration and conservation program remains to be told in the new Railroad Technology Museum. But the time and imagination spent on our 1973 Master Plan was well invested. Fortunately, it is no longer necessary to publish such brochuresthe Museum of Railroad History today is its own best salesman as it informs, educates and stimulates visitors to inquire about donating several hundred collections annually. For nine days in May 1981, Sacramento and the world enjoyed a three-ring circus consisting of the newly opened Museum of Railroad History, free public displays of historic railroad equipment gathered from throughout North America and including the operating replica of Stephenson's Rocket from the National Railway Museum at York in the UK, and The Song of the Iron Horsean upbeat railroad musical review using many of the visiting locomotives and cars. 1 C. P. Huntington, and the famous SP cab-forward 4-8-8-2 No. There's a section dedicated to kids and young-at-heart so model railroad enthusiasts won't be let down. GRIP Program Mott had the vision to appreciate what a major railroad museum could mean for California's State Park System in California's capital city of Sacramento. The Historic Southern Pacific Railroad Sacramento Shops. The Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station Key visionaryWilliam Penn Mott, Jr. Union Pacific's 1996 acquisition of Southern Pacific presented a remarkable opportunity for the Museum to acquire the SP Shops. The city's master plan painstakingly reconstructed gold rush era buildings, and added museums, shops and restaurants. In a political arena, competing projects often succeed not just on their merits but because they have a strong and active political constituency. Twenty one restored locomotives, various railcars and numerous exhibits illustrate how railroads shaped people's lives and the culture of the West. There are also model trains and areas geared towards children. Guide led tours are not available at this time. Harriman and Union Pacific gain control Both projects have ideal thematic connections to the Railroad Technology Museum and could develop a substantial part of the SP Shops complex, thereby reducing our obligation to rehabilitate all seven structures. California State Railroad Museum Excursion Trains run from April through September (select dates October through December), where you can take a ride behind an authentic locomotive in Old Sacramento. A key partner with the Museum is the California State Railroad Museum Foundation which operates the Museum's stores and is an equal partner with the State in the daily operations. Nearly a year of construction was invested driving upwards of 1000 piles some 80 ft into the ground to support the structure and anticipated displays. Small, was a much more conservative man. The Nathaniel Dingley Building is an historic 1854 structure in Old Sacramento. Grasping the opportunity The SP Shops are indeed an historic complex where giant steam locomotives were built and diesel-electric locomotives were later rebuilt. Our latest exhibition is a 5000 ft exhibit on the historic SP Shops. Stevens was an innovator, working to advance the steam technology of the day and quickly adopting important innovations from others as well. Of primary concern is that Union Pacific is in the process of remediating the site under the directions of the Department of Toxic Substance Control. 916-323-9280TDD 916-324-2667Accessibility Information916-323-9280, CSRM111 "I" StreetSacramento, CA 95814-2265, California State Railroad Museum Foundation, Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks, Old Sacramento SHP General Plan Project Information. This article was first presented at the international conference Slow Train Coming: Heritage Railways in the 21st Century, held in York in September 2001. We will provide a behind-the-scenes look at this project with a description of its history, accomplishments, philosophy, and vision. Located at the western terminus of the first transcontinental railroad, the Railroad Museum is part of the larger Old Sacramento State Historic Park.
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. With a floor area for exhibits of over 100,000 sq. Recent acquisitions Southern Pacific Purchased by Denver & Rio Grande Western.
However, there are additional above and below ground toxic considerations that must be addressed by the Museum, such as removal of lead paint, and disturbance of contaminated ground in order to place new utility lines and sewers. 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. The site on which the Museum plans to place the Railroad Technology Museum has underground water reclamation issues which are being addressed by Union Pacific and should not affect public access. Our continued involvement with all the redevelopment partners and stakeholders will be paramount in the years to come. Included are a Pullman-style sleeping car, a dining car filled with railroad china, and a Railway Post Office that visitors can actually step aboard. Car department competing with commercial builders The SP Shops got their share of these expenditures. Book a tour through the railcars, given by costumed train enthusiasts, who explain the mechanics and the lifestyle on the tracks. The Museum's Master Plan envisioned two interlocking museumsone devoted to the social, political and economic history of the railroad in California and the western US; and the other devoted to the science and technology of the railroad industry. While it would be wonderful to use the seven buildings on the site, the estimated cost was between $45 million and $90 million and was not feasible. Our first concern has been to secure the site (primarily the boiler shop and erecting shop for our immediate needs), and to begin evaluating them in terms of their structural integrity and other critical maintenance needs. Collection additions With More Than, of Exhibition Space, This Museum Hosts Numerous Restored Trains, The California State Railroad Museum is among the world's biggest, There's a section dedicated to kids and young-at-heart so model railroad enthusiasts won't be let down, Watch for the large-scale model of the donner pass that allowed trains to pass through the sierra nevada mountains--it, Regular coach tickets cost $12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6 to 17 and free for youth 5 and younger, Adults and kids alike can wander for hours among restored locomotives, cars, bridges and railroad equipment, During summer, you can also hop aboard a steam train that takes you for a ride along the sacramento river, There are interactive displays and a play area for kids, Visitors to the museum can see museum exhibits, attend events at the museum, and access museum educational programs, You can stroll through a sleeper auto also, This place is pretty cool. We will begin with an overview of the CSRM as it exists todayits collections, facilities and programs.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park was in its embryonic stages in the early 1960s. 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. Welch had been one of the first workshop employees hired by the Central Pacific in the early 1860s and continued as head of the car shops until after the turn of the 20th century. The architect was very sympathetic, picking up the railroad bridge or truss motif in the design of the Museum's roof trusses. Besides the museum, you'll find many restored and reconstructed buildings here from the mid-1800'sCalifornia's boom years. Another challenge is that Sacramento a good deal of influence over the redevelopment of the entire 240-acre yard. Located on I Street in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is actually a group of six buildings covering over 225,000 square feet. During merger discussions between Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroad, acquisition of the shops appeared to be feasible but when the merger fell through, Southern Pacific was not in a position to discuss the project. The first was Central Pacific No. Almost all the wagons can be viewed inside. Finally, we will explore the unique publicprivate partnership that is underway in Sacramento to preserve and develop the SP Shops including the final phase of the Railroad Technology Museum. The Station was fairly accurately reconstructed with main waiting room, separate waiting room for ladies and children, ticket office, agent's office, baggage room and the Silver Palace Eating Stand. Early researchers on the project recommended Sacramento as the location for the state railroad museum. Southern Pacific and Union Pacific split
Frequently the callers will say they just plan to acquire a few old locomotives and carsno small task at this advanced date in the railway preservation movement.
We will ask what they have in the way of a collectionafter all, museums exist only as they have collections which need to be preserved, researched, conserved, exhibited and interpreted. Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. In 1996, Union Pacific reacquired control of Southern Pacific in a merger that extinguished the Southern Pacific name. The museum pays tribute to days of the Iron Horse, featuring nearly two dozen vintage locomotives and rail cars. Development challenges
The Library consists of thousands of books, several hundred thousand original ink on linen drawings, more than 2 million pictorial images, and a plethora of original corporate records, correspondence, maps, timetables, trade catalogs and ephemera with an emphasis on railroads and railroading in North America. By this time, the Shops had developed into the largest vertically integrated industrial operations west of the Rockies. Put California State Railroad Museum into our Sacramento tour planning website and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next. The Railroad Technology Museum is an ambitious, but critically important project in North American railway preservation. The Railroad Technology Museum will benefit the community in many ways. Several features were characteristic of Stevens' production locomotives in the 1880s. Ethnic diversity will be highlighted through ongoing study and exhibition focused on the thousands of people who once worked in the shops. The California Railroad Museum is one of California's State Parks and a nice way for kids and adults to learn about the rich history of the American West. When the cost of locomotives from commercial builders dropped, Sacramento production was suspended temporarily. Looking beyond the initial 30 pieces of rolling stock, it was obvious that selected acquisitions and concerted development of the collection would be prudent. 
