How about a ghostly encounter here at Bayshore Roundhouse? This brick roundhouse whispers tales of a bygone era. It stands near the southern end of San Francisco, a relic of ambitious railroad dreams.
Welcome to the Bayshore Roundhouse. It is a unique piece of railroad history. It represents a time when steam engines ruled the rails. Constructed in the early 20th century, it was part of the Bayshore Cutoff project. The project rerouted the Southern Pacific Railroad’s entry into San Francisco.
This roundhouse once serviced engines hauling freight. It supported trains to and from the bustling Bayshore Yard. That yard was the busiest on the West Coast. It managed nearly all rail freight entering and leaving San Francisco.
Bayshore was an industrialized hub. Hundreds worked daily here. Besides the Roundhouse, there were many buildings. There was a Machine and Erecting Shop, four stories high. There was a Tank and Boiler Shop. Passenger and freight engines underwent major maintenance there. A Planing Mill and Car Shop handled woodwork and passenger car repairs. There was also a Freight Car Repair Shed. Employee facilities included a restaurant and a hospital. An icing facility kept refrigerated boxcars cold.
But like many things, the Bayshore Roundhouse’s fortunes declined. Rail traffic dwindled. The Roundhouse closed in 1982. The yard was abandoned in 1988. Most buildings were torn down. But the Roundhouse endured. The Icehouse is now home to a machinery company.
Decades of abandonment have taken their toll. A 2001 fire destroyed half the roof. Dirt and trash cake the floor. Every window is shattered. Surviving timber deteriorates. Yet, the city recognizes its significance. With help from San Francisco Trains, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Now, let me tell you about the phantom locomotive. In 1908, The San Francisco Call featured a story about it. The roundhouse watchman, Michael Flaherty, had a story. He had heard the rails click. He heard the ghostly whistle. He heard a phantom locomotive rush past. It ran through the closed doors of the empty roundhouse.
Flaherty shared other tales. One involved Pete Quinn. Quinn was an engineer. He saw a phantom train heading straight for him in the Sierras. Quinn prayed instead of jumping. The phantom locomotive passed through his train. It was a warning. They discovered a washed-out trestle bridge ahead.
Another story involved a Santa Fe telegrapher. He saw a phantom locomotive preventing a collision. These tales are a bit sketchy. It is uncertain if Flaherty actually saw the ghost train pull into the Bayshore Roundhouse. But the stories add to its mystique.
Today, the ruins are fenced off. But some say you can get permission to explore from San Francisco Train, Inc. Be safe, ghost hunters. If you visit the Roundhouse, look for a ghostly watchman. Maybe you will see Michael Flaherty awaiting the arrival of his phantom locomotive. The Bayshore Roundhouse is the largest remaining roundhouse in California. It stands as a testament to a golden age of rail travel. It reminds us of the power and the mystery of the railways.