The State Belt switched countless cars but, as was common for interchange lines, owned very few cars itself. Four “idler flats” (more on those below) and several maintenance-of-way cars populated the roster, all of which were endemic to the railroad.
Idler Flatcars
Idler flatcars had a very specific purpose in life – they were used as spacers between the locomotive and freight cars that were being pushed onto barges. This was done to prevent the heavy locomotive from running onto the barge and accidentally sinking it. Since the freight cars were now several idler cars away from the locomotive, two idler cars had steps at the ends for the brakeman to stand on.
The State Belt Railroad serviced several ferry slips along San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront, the most famous being Pier 43 near Fisherman’s Wharf. This ferry slip still stands today just a short walk from Pier 39. The State Belt received freight cars here from the Northwestern Pacific (from Marin County), the Santa Fe (from Richmond), and the Western Pacific (from Alameda).
Bizarrely, none of the State Belt’s four idler flats actually began their life as flatcars. Nos. 1-3 were rebuilt from old Union Oil Company tank cars and still have vestigial curved tank braces over the truck bolsters. Their ancient archbar trucks were banned from interchange service by the ICC in the Thirties, but since these cars were not intended for interchange with other railroads, there was no issue and they were retained. No. 4 was cut down from a reefer boxcar.
Idler No. 1
Rebuilt from UOCX #921 (née UOX 94). Identical to #2 and #3 except for the addition of end steps for the brakeman. Sold to The Double T Agricultural Museum in Stevinson, CA; plans are to reunite this car with a tank for water car duties.
Idler No. 2
Rebuilt from UOCX #917 (née UOX 98). Identical to #3. Stored at The Double T with no.1, but planned to eventually be returned to San Francisco.
Idler No. 3
Rebuilt from UOCX #907 (née UOX 88). Identical to #2. Stored at The Double T; same plans as #2.
Idler No. 4
Rebuilt from unidentified refrigerator boxcar. Had brakeman’s steps like #1. Sold and sent to Salinas; plans are to reconstruct the reefer body.
“House Cars”
Paper records from the Twenties indicate income from boxcar and gondola car rentals to companies on the line that used them in captive service. No photos have surfaced of these cars.
Work Cars
A few work cars and a crane were also used by the State Belt.