Why Do We Cross St. Mary’s Road in Burton?

At a spot just south of where Florence Drive originates from St. Mary's Road, the Lafayette-Moraga Trail crosses St. Mary's Road. North view.

L13-01-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 1 of 14)

This site was a grade crossing that provided many action scenes for SN photographers such as this close encounter of SN 1012 to the crossing traffic heading toward Moraga. It is circa 1939, and as such, Florence Drive does not yet exist. North view.

L13-05-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 10201sn, (Image 2 of 14)

Although a grade crossing seems to be less than ideal in this location due to traffic flow, when the Oakland and Antioch came through this section circa 1911, left, St. Mary’s Rd. was a muddy path relative to Jim Holmes’ photo circa 1950, right. Beyond the limits of this update, page 169 of “Moraga’s Pride” shows an image of St. Mary’s Rd. as a dirt track in 1929, and only after that time was the road to the north paved.

L13-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 108343sn, left, 103009sn, right, (Image 3 of 14)

From the other direction, the shelter and part of the freight shed can be seen beyond the crossing in this southwest view from Apr. 4, 1939.

L13-15-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archive, 53953sn , (Image 4 of 14)

Tom Gray captured two images on Apr. 22, 1950 that show the relationship of the Burton shelter to the grade crossing from a north view. The curve in St. Mary's Road and the grade crossing sign are evident to the east of SN 603 and 606.

L13-20-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 5 of 14)

At a very similar angle to L13-20, the grade crossing marker to the west of the tracks can be seen just around the curve. North view, Apr. 22, 1950.

L13-25-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray , (Image 6 of 14)

A SN 661 freight has crossed the grade crossing to the north at Glenside Drive and is heading for Burton. The two grade crossing signs are now visible, as is the top of a wig-wag signal. The origin of Florence Drive from St. Mary's Road, and and an unidentified structures along the latter are evident. Northeast view, circa 1950s.

L13-30-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy the California State Railroad Museum, CSRM 33353, (Image 7 of 14)

SN 661 has reached the crossing. Here, a better look at the grade-crossing signal and the confluence of trees surrounding Las Trampas Creek. Northeast view, circa 1950s.

L13-35-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy the California State Railroad Museum, CSRM 33354, (Image 8 of 14)

Now ahead to January of 1957 and a much reduced level of foliage, SN 652 and freight at the grade crossing, northeast view. The SN would abandon this segment on Mar. 1 of that year.

L13-40-Fred H Matthews Photo, Courtesy Anonymous Donor , (Image 9 of 14)

Although today's ground level views of the Lafayette hills are mostly obscured by vegetation, once above the trees, the forms and tree patterns of the hills to the northeast remain an important component in identifying photos from this region.

L13-45-Jerry D Kent Photo, Courtesy Jerry D Kent, (Image 10 of 14)

Images such as this one of a freight with SN 606 on the rear is easily placed north past the grade crossing on its way to Glenside based on the signature of the surrounding hills. Northeast view, circa 1948.

L13-50-Roger Heller Photo, from the collection of the Moraga Historical Society, Moraga, CA, NN5, (Image 11 of 14)

A southwest view on a rainy Feb. 28, 1957 shows SN 652 leading the last freight from Oakland at the St. Mary's Rd. Crossing.

L13-55-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Ralway Museum Archives, 110203sn, (Image 12 of 14)

There are extremely few images between this grade crossing and the next one to the north at Glenside Dr., the original route of the precursor to St. Mary’s Rd. This northeast view circa 1950 of a SN 654-led freight along Las Trampas Creek falls within that intermediate area.

L13-60-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray , (Image 13 of 14)

SN 603 in a southwest view circa 1950 draws us closer to Glenside, our next stop on our tour of Lafayette.

L13-65-Tom Buckingham Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54920sn, (Image 14 of 14)