SPARKS, Nev. — Union Pacific has begun demolition on the former Southern Pacific machine shop in Sparks, a building that predates the city, KTVN-TV reports. The railroad and city have also updated plans for when community members can claim bricks from the historic structure as a keepsake.
The bricks will now be available while supplies last from Feb. 24 through April 5, a change from the original dates [see “Union Pacific to tear down …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 7, 2024]. Bricks can be claimed in the east lot at Cottonwood Park, 777 Spice Islands Drive; those collecting bricks will be asked to park on Spice Islands Drive and walk to the designated area.
The building dates to 1904 and was a significant service facility during the years through 1957 when Sparks was the largest SP terminal between Sacramento, Calif., and Ogden, Utah. UP is removing the building, which was privately owned but on railroad land, to expand intermodal facilities. There had been an effort to preserve the structure, but the railroad cited safety issues in proceeding with the demolition. UP received the required demolition permit from the city earlier this month.
Wasn’t the UP plan after first announcing the demolition to sell the bricks? It might help their bottom line since their stock isn’t doing all that well. Maybe they realized there would not be much of a demand for the bricks unless some contractors show up.
Wonder what kind of growth they are seeing to support intermodal expansion? Reno/Sparks area has certainly grown.
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On one hand, doesn’t seem like UP can compete with a truck from Port of Oakland to Sparks/Reno NV since the distance is not that huge, On the other hand, drive I-80 a few times say during rush hour when commuters are stacked up getting out of San Fran/Oakland/East Bay say to Vacaville, or the weekend traffic trying to get to Tahoe with bottlenecks before you get to Sac or a good ol accident along the way and better yet when winter storms kick in chain restrictions or out right closure to get over Donners Pass. Then it is seems like UP has some opportunity.
hope someone documents this structure photographically, both inside and out.