West Alameda in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
History of the Alameda Belt Line
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 29, 2020
1. History of the Alameda Belt Line Marker
Inscription.
History of the Alameda Belt Line. . In 1918, the City of Alameda invested some of the profits from its Municipal Lighting Plant in a railroad. The "belt line,” so called because it traveled around, rather than into a city, ran 1.16 miles along Clement Avenue from Pearl Street to Grand Street. It served the industrial zone that the City had recently created on its north shore along the Oakland Estuary. The railroad's customers included Dow Pump and Diesel Engine Company and the newly minted Barnes and Tibbitts Shipyard.
In 1924 the City Council voted to extend the railroad to Sherman Street in order to serve the California Packing Corporation's Del Monte warehouse and the Alaska Packers Association. On December 15 of that same year, the City sold its railroad to the Western Pacific Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway for $30,000. Less than a month later, the new owners incorporated as the Alameda Belt Line (ABL). By the end of 1928, ABL had added 5.6 miles of tracks, including in the railroad yard that is now Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
ABL served Alameda's north shore for seventy years, closing on November 10, 1998. The Union Pacific Railroad continued to run its trains along Clement Avenue for two more years to accommodate Pennzoil-Quaker State.
Credit: Dennis Evanosky, Alameda Museum
In 1918, the City of Alameda invested some of the profits from its Municipal Lighting
Plant in a railroad. The "belt line,” so called because it traveled around, rather than
into a city, ran 1.16 miles along Clement Avenue from Pearl Street to Grand Street.
It served the industrial zone that the City had recently created on its north shore along
the Oakland Estuary. The railroad's customers included Dow Pump & Diesel Engine
Company and the newly minted Barnes & Tibbitts Shipyard.
In 1924 the City Council voted to extend the railroad to Sherman Street in order to
serve the California Packing Corporation's Del Monte warehouse and the Alaska
Packers Association. On December 15 of that same year, the City sold its railroad to the
Western Pacific Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway for $30,000.
Less than a month later, the new owners incorporated as the Alameda Belt Line (ABL).
By the end of 1928, ABL had added 5.6 miles of tracks, including in the railroad yard that
is now Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
ABL served Alameda's north shore for seventy years, closing on November 10, 1998.
The Union Pacific Railroad continued to run its trains along Clement Avenue for two more years to accommodate Pennzoil-Quaker State.
Location. 37° 46.748′ N, 122° 15.907′ W. Marker is in Alameda, California, in Alameda County. It is in West Alameda. Marker can be reached from Atlantic Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alameda CA 94501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 29, 2020
2. History of the Alameda Belt Line Marker - wide view
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 29, 2020
3. Original Alameda Belt Line Train Waiting Station
This station is about a 2 minute walk to the west/northwest from the marker.
Courtesy of Gary Lenhart, Alemedainfo.org
4. Marker inset: Diesel Locomotive
"The American Locomotive Company built this diesel locomotive for the Alameda Belt Line in 1942. The Central California Traction Company (CCT) in Stockton acquired it in 1963. CCT sold it for parts to the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad in 1976."
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 562 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 29, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
