I visited the museum last month and thoroughly enjoyed it, thought the displays and info were actually rather better than many museums and I work on the railways in the Uk and have driven NG steam locos as a hobby. Not too dumbed down and the two volunteers I talked to were knowledgeable and friendly, spent quite a while chatting to the guy in the Cab Forward and he knew his stuff. It would be fantastic to open the shops up in a limited way to see the ‘reserve collection’ too even if just able to walk down one side of those bays by the traverser.
Until about 1950 Southern Pacific was the largest employer in Sacramento. The shops were originally built in the 1870s because all locomotives were built back east in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, etc. and had to be shipped to California. Some even came by sea. It was cheaper and faster to make all parts needed locally. Wheels and brake shoes were made in the SP Sacramento iron foundry. The list goes on and on. The openings in the roofs were for skylights. Electric lights were not very bright in the old days, so the more natural lighting in a building the better. There is a lot of information about the SP shops online, along with photos.
My memebership to the Museum Foundation is up for renewal this month and as a higher level memeber it is good to see the hiden areas memebership is used for. They don't do tours often - so this provided me with that boost to dig into my finances and support this important work.
Moviegoers can see #10 Granite Rock (From the GR facility in Aromas, CA). dressed in Japanese Olive Drab livery in "Memoirs Of A Geisha." The loco sat for many years on a short siding at the A.R. Wilson quarry at Aromas. My late wife and I visited Old Sac during the filming at the train shed, which had been suspended due to rain and otherwise inclement weather. This would have been late 2004. The location lady told us that there were 150 or so Japanese Nationals as background actors who, along with the other members of the crew/cast were ensconced in local hotels until the weather cleared.
I never realized the old sheds were full of trains and rolling stock - I had thought they were going to make it into a mall or similar update. Too bad this tour is not published or available on a limited basis to interested groups.
The Granite Rock no.10 is a special locomotive, for it is one of the many USATC S100 locomotives built during WW2, however, unlike most of its brethren that went to Europe and gained buffers and/or chain couplings, this one remained here on home soil, and it only has it’s knuckle coupler.
In addition, at least half of what you saw in the erecting shop is either operational/used, or in line to become operational. For example, ATSF 1010 is set to begin restoration in a few years once adequate funding is secured. Passenger cars that are in good enough condition will be brought back to life or rebuilt for use. The museum is ready and willing to do so much to bring more of the aracts back to glory, but we need your help! Nothing happens without time, money, and lots of helping hands. Volunteer anywhere in the museum and its many assets now, and watch history come back to life
@@nathanschmidt4889 The skylights in the roof are missing, glass panels are missing. The buildings needed lots of natural light in the old days because electric lights were so dim. Before 1890 there was NO electric light.
@dfirth224 that's definitely plausible, but not accurate. The shops were gas lit for the greater part of the late 19th century, with fully covered wood shingled rooves. The holes anymore are due to storm damage. With the advent of electricity, light bulbs quickly replaced gas lamps in the illumination of the shops. We intend the shops to be restored to an appearance of their hay day, including Edison style lighting in public areas, and industrial in the mechanical sector. First item on the list, though, is a new roof. The raptors are collapsing slowly, so it's a massive project, but it will be beautiful when complete
That’s not the boiler shop in the beginning. The boiler shop was a smaller building across the yard. It was kept far away from the larger complex buildings in case of explosions. I was there in the mid nineties.
@@richierich2048 I could have looked it up, pardon my Ranting..... I was taking pictures of SDP Locomotives in the 1960's when they first appeared. Saw a few running the Commuter Rails in 1969 in the Bay area. I grew up with F-7 and Alco's creating different noises in the Yards on either side of where I lived as a Kid. I could tell what was coming into town by their Horn. I assumed they were preserving one of the Passenger Locos.
@@dfirth224 I have seen many Tunnel Motors on El Cajon pass, thank you. Dennis Washington had some difficulties with heat on the tunnel over Mullen Pass, that Montana Rail Link encountered on the old Northern Pacific route. The new SD units Washington Industries purchased to overcome the need for major power and good traction, was intended to replace MRL's SD 45 collection, that did a good job in the early years of that outfit moving Coal and Grain Trains over the Divide.
When I visited in 2022, the Woke political exhibits in the Sacramento Railroad Museum were very disappointing. The State Parks are doing the same thing to Sutter's Fort and even considering changing its name.
Like what? Recognizing that Central Pacific discriminated against Chinese imagrants during its construction by not paying them as much? Or that railroad companies in general displaced many native Americans off their land?
@@yeoldeseawitch You sound woke yourself. No one forced the Chinese to stay here. They were not enslaved like the blacks. They came for the Gold Rush but the white miners forced them out of the gold fields. The railroads wanted white laborers, but the whites were all off looking for gold. The Natives were forced off their land before there were ANY railroads here. They were forced off their land by white southern cotton planters who needed / wanted more land to plant cotton. Cotton wears out the soil after several years without fertilizer. This is why the cotton planters were always looking for new land to plant. It's the reason the cotton planters started moving into Texas in the early 1800s.
I’m glad someone was able to check this part of the CSRM out. It’s been awhile since someone went in and documented it
It was totally my pleasure. The CSRM is trying hard to open this to the public and connect this area to the museum.
I'm a big fan of railroad museum of old Sacramento and it's amazing history of trains I love ever since I was a little kid
Isn't the history of the rails here fantastic! Sacramento is really the connection to the country with the railroad. Thanks for watching!
Wow, what a impressive as I did not know there are more RR shop! I am glad saving RR shop as well as saving locomotives and cars!
its sooo cool to finnally see the inside of the shops
You and I had the same thought! I couldn't believe my eyes when I went inside!
I LOVE TRAINS!
VERY enjoyable and informative presentation! It’s great to know you have such a deep appreciation for historic artifacts! 🚂
Outstanding. Thanks for all the hard work to preserve both train and shop.
Thank you so much!
I visited the museum last month and thoroughly enjoyed it, thought the displays and info were actually rather better than many museums and I work on the railways in the Uk and have driven NG steam locos as a hobby. Not too dumbed down and the two volunteers I talked to were knowledgeable and friendly, spent quite a while chatting to the guy in the Cab Forward and he knew his stuff.
It would be fantastic to open the shops up in a limited way to see the ‘reserve collection’ too even if just able to walk down one side of those bays by the traverser.
Thank you for the comment! The California State Railroad Museum is working on opening the shops in the future.
I'm glad they are preserving the manufacturing machinery as well. All too often that equipment gets scrapped.
Thank you for that so amazing work keeping those marvels, including the nice building. I hope visiting someday!
Until about 1950 Southern Pacific was the largest employer in Sacramento. The shops were originally built in the 1870s because all locomotives were built back east in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, etc. and had to be shipped to California. Some even came by sea. It was cheaper and faster to make all parts needed locally. Wheels and brake shoes were made in the SP Sacramento iron foundry. The list goes on and on. The openings in the roofs were for skylights. Electric lights were not very bright in the old days, so the more natural lighting in a building the better. There is a lot of information about the SP shops online, along with photos.
My memebership to the Museum Foundation is up for renewal this month and as a higher level memeber it is good to see the hiden areas memebership is used for. They don't do tours often - so this provided me with that boost to dig into my finances and support this important work.
That is so cool! What a special comment, thank you!
Moviegoers can see #10 Granite Rock (From the GR facility in Aromas, CA). dressed in Japanese Olive Drab livery in "Memoirs Of A Geisha." The loco sat for many years on a short siding at the A.R. Wilson quarry at Aromas.
My late wife and I visited Old Sac during the filming at the train shed, which had been suspended due to rain and otherwise inclement weather. This would have been late 2004. The location lady told us that there were 150 or so Japanese Nationals as background actors who, along with the other members of the crew/cast were ensconced in local hotels until the weather cleared.
Thank you for the comment! I am sorry about the passing of your wife.
Woah! An SD45T-2? I did not know that CSRM had one. That is awesome! Would be awesome to see that restored to as delivered spec🙂
The Host And Museum Director Have A Cute Vibe
Well thank you Jack :-) Ty is an amazing guy!
Thanks for this all too brief tour!
So glad you enjoyed the tour!
Thank you!
I never realized the old sheds were full of trains and rolling stock - I had thought they were going to make it into a mall or similar update. Too bad this tour is not published or available on a limited basis to interested groups.
Thank you for the comment! The California State Railroad Museum is working on opening the shops in the future.
It's nice to see 4466, after its semi-sudden disappearance. At least it's indoors, awaiting to get restored.
The Granite Rock no.10 is a special locomotive, for it is one of the many USATC S100 locomotives built during WW2, however, unlike most of its brethren that went to Europe and gained buffers and/or chain couplings, this one remained here on home soil, and it only has it’s knuckle coupler.
Marx guy here, new sub.
One of my grandfathers was a clerk for the Western Pacific railroad in Sacramento and my other grandfather was a welder at the PFE in Roseville
Thank you for the comment! How cool!
They really need to get a metal roof on that place before it damages the building further
Working on it. It's the most expensive project they need to do, and it's converse a minute to do
In addition, at least half of what you saw in the erecting shop is either operational/used, or in line to become operational. For example, ATSF 1010 is set to begin restoration in a few years once adequate funding is secured. Passenger cars that are in good enough condition will be brought back to life or rebuilt for use. The museum is ready and willing to do so much to bring more of the aracts back to glory, but we need your help! Nothing happens without time, money, and lots of helping hands. Volunteer anywhere in the museum and its many assets now, and watch history come back to life
@@nathanschmidt4889 The skylights in the roof are missing, glass panels are missing. The buildings needed lots of natural light in the old days because electric lights were so dim. Before 1890 there was NO electric light.
@dfirth224 that's definitely plausible, but not accurate. The shops were gas lit for the greater part of the late 19th century, with fully covered wood shingled rooves. The holes anymore are due to storm damage. With the advent of electricity, light bulbs quickly replaced gas lamps in the illumination of the shops. We intend the shops to be restored to an appearance of their hay day, including Edison style lighting in public areas, and industrial in the mechanical sector. First item on the list, though, is a new roof. The raptors are collapsing slowly, so it's a massive project, but it will be beautiful when complete
Thank you for the comment! The California State Railroad Museum is working on that along with a mega preservation effort.
💪
That’s not the boiler shop in the beginning. The boiler shop was a smaller building across the yard. It was kept far away from the larger complex buildings in case of explosions. I was there in the mid nineties.
How do I tickets for a tour of the Locomotive Works?
Thank you for the comment! The California State Railroad Museum is working on opening the shops in the future.
BRING BACK RAILFAIR
Interesting, (promo) ? ? ?
the locomotive works are not part of the California State Railroad Museum and cannot be visited. is that correct? thank you
They are owned by the museum but not open to the public at this time. Liability issues.
Thank you for the comment! The California State Railroad Museum is working on opening the shops in the future.
So as I try to determine if that was an SD-40P or just another Diesel
this silly Poofter wanders off to another area.
Not a very good video.....
It's an EMD SD45T-2.
@@richierich2048 I could have looked it up, pardon my Ranting.....
I was taking pictures of SDP Locomotives in the 1960's when they first appeared.
Saw a few running the Commuter Rails in 1969 in the Bay area.
I grew up with F-7 and Alco's creating different noises in the Yards on either side of where I lived as a Kid.
I could tell what was coming into town by their Horn. I assumed they were preserving one of the Passenger Locos.
@@richierich2048 One of the famous "Tunnel motors". That's why it was saved. You can spot them by the lower mounted air intake grille. 1970s era.
😁
@@dfirth224 I have seen many Tunnel Motors on El Cajon pass, thank you.
Dennis Washington had some difficulties with heat on the tunnel over Mullen Pass, that Montana Rail Link encountered on the old Northern Pacific route.
The new SD units Washington Industries purchased to overcome the need for major power and good traction, was intended to replace MRL's SD 45 collection, that did a good job in the early years of that outfit moving Coal and Grain Trains over the Divide.
When I visited in 2022, the Woke political exhibits in the Sacramento Railroad Museum were very disappointing. The State Parks are doing the same thing to Sutter's Fort and even considering changing its name.
Like what? Recognizing that Central Pacific discriminated against Chinese imagrants during its construction by not paying them as much? Or that railroad companies in general displaced many native Americans off their land?
@@yeoldeseawitch You sound woke yourself. No one forced the Chinese to stay here. They were not enslaved like the blacks. They came for the Gold Rush but the white miners forced them out of the gold fields. The railroads wanted white laborers, but the whites were all off looking for gold. The Natives were forced off their land before there were ANY railroads here. They were forced off their land by white southern cotton planters who needed / wanted more land to plant cotton. Cotton wears out the soil after several years without fertilizer. This is why the cotton planters were always looking for new land to plant. It's the reason the cotton planters started moving into Texas in the early 1800s.
@@yeoldeseawitchthe tunnel vision of some people is really amazing!
And to think such people were raised with such attitudes!
WAAAHHH WAHHHH WAHHHH I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT