Santa Fe Smokestack

Mt. Vernon Ave. at 5th St., San Bernardino, CA
Phone:

East < GO > West

This big old Santa Fe Railroad smokestack is 189 foot tall and stands about two blocks south of 5th St. (66) on Mt. Vernon Ave. It served the railroad powerhouse and shops that were demolished in 1994. That is just north 4th Ave. of where the pre-1931 alignment of 66 turned west. When the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad demolished the shop buildings that went along with this smokestack in 1990 they preserved this smokestack and the original shop whistle which blows weekdays at 8 a.m.

4th Street is blocked off now and there is really nothing left to see on the several block long stretch of it between Mt. Vernon and where it merges with Foothill Blvd. which is the original 1926 alignment of 66. So heading west on 5th which curves to the merge point with 4th and Foothill is probably the best choice.

On Mt. Vernon, 5th intersects with the post 1931 Route 66 going both west and east. Going east to N. E Street it was the post-31 city 66) and E Street was an early alignment going north from 4th Street. Taking E Street north from 5th will take you to the original McDonald's site and unofficial museum and also the the Inland Empire Military Museum next to it.

Photo(s): 2013