Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops Paint Shop Plans Added

By 1872, shop managers at Southern Pacific’s Sacramento Shops realized that more space was needed for painting than was available in the wing of the planing mill that was being used at the time. The new paint shop was erected to the east of Car Shop No. 3 aligned parallel to it. The main building was 70 by 265 feet, with five parallel wings on the east side, each 70 by 20 feet. Unlike many of the buildings at the Sacramento Shops, the paint shop – through several reincarnations – survived until the Shops were closed in 1999. Check out the plans of this massive building.

Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops Overview & History Page Added

Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops Site Plan POST size

The Southern Pacific Railroad Sacramento Shops were the largest and most comprehensive railroad heavy repair facilities in the Western United States. This page offers an overview of the evolution of the Sacramento Shops from its beginning through the transformation from steam to diesel.

Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops Car Machine Shop Plans Added

Southern Pacific Sacramento car machine shop, west elevation. Photo by Jet Lowe.

We are kicking off a deep dive into the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad’s massive Sacramento Shops with plans for the car machine shop where railroad cars were built as late as 1937. Later, during the change to diesel locomotives, the first floor of the building was mostly used for a wheel shop, while the plating, painting, and upholstery shops on the second floor continued refurbishing Southern Pacific’s passenger car fleet. Check out the photos and plans of this historic building.

San Francisco & San Jose Railroad Depot, Menlo Park California Plans Added

San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Depot, Menlo Park California
Northeast (track) side of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company Menlo Park, California depot. Photography by Jack E. Boucher, 1974

The oldest railroad station still in use in California sits in Menlo Park. It was built in 1867 by the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company, the first incorporated railroad line in the state. It’s quaint architecture would make a nice addition to any 19th to mid-20th Century model railroad layout. Check out the plans.

Southern Railway Spencer Shops

Southern Railway machine and erecting shops, Spencer North Carolina

An outstanding sample of turn-of-the-century industrial architecture, the Southern Railway machine and erecting shops in Spencer, North Carolina would be perfect for a long, narrow space on your model railroad layout. And, the repeating brick masonry lends itself to selective compression to fit the space you have.

Old Frisco Depot Plans Added

Old Frisco Depot in Fayettevile Arkansas

You may have noticed we love depots here at FreeModelRailroadPlans.com and when it’s a depot built in the Pueblo Revival/Mission Style architecture, it’s guaranteed to be one of our favorites. The Old Frisco Depot in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is actually the third iteration of this depot, and in this case, the third time is definitely a charm! This depot is perfect for a long, narrow spot on your layout, or could be selectively compressed by removing or shortening the freight house. Check out her plans.