Bayshore, however, kept its short table until ~1941. Earlier, Bakersfield had its 100 foot turntable replaced with a larger model, rendering it available for lengthening and installation at Bayshore. Thus, the Mission Bay table represents a good 'before' example of what SP converted. Since Mission Bay was primarily a passenger and switching loco facility - SP's GS-4's had a wheelbase of roughly 95 feet - the 100 foot design continued to be adequate to needs there.

The lengthening process of the former Bakerfield table was straightforward. Ten feet was spliced into the center of the bottom truss chord, and the top chord, the pin-connected link, was replace with a longer girder section. New center diagonals, various gusseting / bracing, timbering, and operator's cab were constucted along with the modifications required to fit new R.W. Young & Co. trucks.

The pit needed considerable attention, because it, like everything else at Bayshore, was constructed on fill, and the bottom probably sat below sea level. In widening the pit, SP drove 198 untreated timber pilings (curiously, the plans don't state their length) were driven around the outside of the new pit to support the concrete above. Before laying cothe concrete, workers applied three layers of "membrane" (probably heavy tarpaper / felt) and four layers of asphalt. The new 8x8 foot center block also sat atop new pilings.

Below you'll find photos of both turntables, and on page 2 (opens in a new window) you'll find links to the original nine ~2x3 ft. pages drawings created for the 1941 conversion.

The photographs below are from the collection of George Solimine Jr, photographer unknown.