Alameda Belt Line
Encyclopedia
The Alameda Belt Line was incorporated on January 12, 1925 to take over about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of trackage constructed by the city of Alameda, California
on Clement Avenue in 1918. The company acquired the property on February 17, 1926 and was jointly owned by the Western Pacific Railroad
and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
. Due to mergers, it was eventually jointly owned and operated by the BNSF Railway
and Union Pacific Railroad
.
The ABL last operated in 1998, when its major shipper, a Del Monte cannery, closed. The Union Pacific then operated over the line through trackage rights
to serve one remaining shipper until late 2001. The final locomotive on the line was leased to the Central California Traction Company in Stockton, California.
The city of Alameda went to court to get the land returned to the city, in order to turn the former rail yard
into a public park, and won, per a provision in the original 1920s contract. As of 2008, only a few pieces of its trackage still remain in place. Most rails have been removed or paved over.
For much of its later history, the ABL was operated in concert with the Oakland Terminal Railway
.
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
on Clement Avenue in 1918. The company acquired the property on February 17, 1926 and was jointly owned by the Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
. Due to mergers, it was eventually jointly owned and operated by the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
and Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.
The ABL last operated in 1998, when its major shipper, a Del Monte cannery, closed. The Union Pacific then operated over the line through trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
to serve one remaining shipper until late 2001. The final locomotive on the line was leased to the Central California Traction Company in Stockton, California.
The city of Alameda went to court to get the land returned to the city, in order to turn the former rail yard
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
into a public park, and won, per a provision in the original 1920s contract. As of 2008, only a few pieces of its trackage still remain in place. Most rails have been removed or paved over.
For much of its later history, the ABL was operated in concert with the Oakland Terminal Railway
Oakland Terminal Railway
The Oakland Terminal Railway is a terminal railroad in West Oakland, California. The OTR was jointly acquired in 1943 by the Western Pacific Railroad and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to take over the Key System's freight railroad known as the Oakland Terminal Railroad. Today, the OTR...
.