Belt Railroad Engine House and Sandhouse
historic place
In San Francisco, California, stands the Belt Railroad Engine House and Sandhouse, a designated Historic Place. The engine house was built in 1913, and the sandhouse in 1914. These utilitarian reinforced concrete buildings serviced the San Francisco Belt Railroad, which began operating along the city's waterfront in 1890. The engine house, a five-stall roundhouse, maintained steam and later diesel locomotives. During World War II, the Belt Railroad was vital for moving cargo, troops, and hospital trains. The Belt Line ceased operations in 1993. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, this site highlights San Francisco's historical waterfront transportation and its contribution to wartime logistics.