March 13, 1937.  Modesto, California.

This interesting little 0-6-0 worked for the M&ET.  It is former State Belt (San Francisco) Railroad 4, built by Vulcan Iron Works in 1911.  Sold to the M&ET and renumbered as 5, it would later be sold to the A. D. Shrader Company and then used in the construction of the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island.  Following stints in a scrap yard and a museum deadline in Utah, it is now preserved at the Golden Gate RR Museum in San Francisco.  It is the only surviving steam locomotive from both the M&ET and the State Belt RR.  It is also the only surviving steam locomotive that spent much time on Tidewater trackage.

This photo was taken in the Modesto Terminal area south of the TS freight depot.  The overhead wire belongs to the Tidewater.  The seeming abundance of wire would indicate that the TS still did some switch work with the steeplecabs.  Another interesting sight is the wooden ATSF boxcar in the left background.

photo by Al Rose.  Martin E. Hansen collection.

 

Connections and Neighbors

Modesto and Empire Traction Company