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All the United States California Sacramento Sacramento Locomotive Works

Sacramento Locomotive Works

This 19th century train workshop is a treasure trove of railroad history.

Sacramento, California

Added By
Alan Newman
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Historically important diesel locomotive   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Entering the Shops   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
One of the products of the shop’s output, used for public train rides   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Vintage carriage   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Transfer table   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Doors arranged along transfer table deck to allow entry of locomotives   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Machine shop   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Everywhere you look it is railroad gold!   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Santa Fe loco in blue, and yellow version of its famous livery   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
A rare example of an SP loco with a 20 cylinder rather than the usual 16 cylinder engine.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Steam locomotive awaiting restoration   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
the Shops   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Stock of bogies   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
One of the old belt drive machines   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Locomotive Works   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
SP 6051_   https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:...
The yellow vehicle is a track survey car.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
SP 6051 enters transfer table   N2xjk
Many machines are currently kept covered because of a leaking roof   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Inside machine shop showing redwood roof trusses   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Rails which the transfer table runs on   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Next to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento is a large, somewhat tired-looking complex which proudly bears the label  “Sacramento Locomotive Works,” and which hides a veritable treasure trove for anyone interested in railroads, heavy engineering, or 19th century industrial architecture.

Often known as simply "the Shops," this historically important complex comes from small beginnings as the Central Pacific Railroad workshops. Within the Shops are the only remaining American railroad structures that were actually standing when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific met in 1869. The Sacramento workshops were later used by the Southern Pacific Railroad for almost 125 years.

The older building, which was built in 1867 on massive redwood piles, is called the Machine Shop, and has undergone different expansions several times to fit the needs of the Shops. It is currently actively used (but not owned) by the State Railroad Museum and houses an enormous range of locomotives (both steam and diesel), carriages, wagons and cabooses, and large machine tools. The newer building, which is nearest to the State Railroad Museum, is known as the Boiler Shop, and was built in 1888. It was used and continues to be used for much of the heavier work in the locomotive production and maintenance process.

Wherever you look in the Shops there are remnants of an important past. The nearby California State Railroad Museum plans to one day buy these workshops, so that restoration work can continue to be done, but also so that more people get to enjoy this little piece of California history.

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Trains Travel Machines Engineering Factories

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Due to safety concerns, there is no longer any public access to the workshops. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

Martin, aribrown, aland1958

  • Martin
  • aribrown
  • aland1958

Published

July 13, 2017

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  • http://cprr.org/Museum/Sacramento_Shops_HAER.html
Sacramento Locomotive Works
I-5
Sacramento, California
United States
38.587245, -121.500606
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