Belt Railroad Engine House and Sandhouse, Railroad maintenance facility at Embarcadero, San Francisco, United States.
The Belt Railroad Engine House and Sandhouse is a railroad maintenance facility at the intersection of Lombard and Sansome streets in San Francisco. It contains five locomotive stalls built with reinforced concrete and cement plaster, alongside a separate structure for storing sand used in train operations.
The facility was constructed in 1913 to support the San Francisco Belt Railroad, which moved cargo between ships and major railroads at the waterfront. Operations ended in 1993 after more than 80 years of service.
The name Belt Railroad Engine House reflects the San Francisco Belt Railroad company that operated here. Visitors can see how the building fits into the waterfront's transportation heritage and understand its role in the city's cargo movement.
The building sits at a street corner making it easy to spot and view from the surrounding area. Renovation work completed in 1984 restored original wooden doors and preserved structural elements, so the interior and exterior features are clearly visible.
During World War II, the facility became a hub for military transport operations along the waterfront. The building handled multiple troop and hospital trains regularly, revealing how civilian railroad infrastructure served the war effort.
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