The Roanoke-Reata Corridor and Views of Hillcrest Road

This north view from Jan. 1957 shows all the major features of Rockridge Curve just prior to SN abandonment of the right-of-way. This section will focus on the western section relative to the concrete bridge at the EBMUD facility, or left portion of the image.

L39-01-Louis L Stein Collection, Courtesy BAREA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64575sn, (Image 1 of 20)

This Dec. 1, 1937 west view into Chabot Canyon shows the SN Chabot Road trestle and the SN right-of-way to the northeast. Today the rail bed sits between Roanoke Road and Reata Place, and skirts the Berkeley border perched below Hillcrest Road. Although reduced to a steel overpass once Chabot Elementary was constructed, the original structure over the road was part of an elongated trestle.

L39-05-Nickerson Photo, Copyright California Department of Transportation, 454, (Image 2 of 20)

The SN, yellow line, between Chabot Road and the EBMUD Claremont facility. Roanoke Road, orange arrow; private road precursor of Reata Place, blue arrow. Refs: top left, USDA AAA Western Division, Courtesy EBMUD; top right, RM Towill, Courtesy Earth Science and Map Library, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; and bottom, HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District

L39-10-Multiple Attributions, see image caption, (Image 3 of 20)

Roanoke Road climbs from Chabot Road to meet Hillcrest Road as seen in this northwest view. In the 1920s, Thomas Bros. maps labelled it as Broadway, and in the 1930s, New Broadway. The longevity of many of the homes along its length will become apparent in the images that follow.

L39-15-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 4 of 20)

The lone home at the end of the isolated segment of Hillcrest Rd., number 280, was designed by UC Berkeley-trained architect William R. Yelland for Capt. and Mrs. Edwards, the latter the daughter of the Hind family that lived at 208 the Uplands. Construction was completed in 1925. Peter Jenny noted that the upper half of this home burned in the 1991 fire, and was restored. Read more at http://www.margarettamitchell.com/Whats%20New/newsletter0511.html

L39-17-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 89622sn, (Image 5 of 20)

SN 654 begins its pass over Chabot Road toward College Avenue in this north view circa 1950. Many homes have been added to the south side of Hillcrest Road since 1925. The mile marker on the trestle indicates the distance from the Transbay Terminal as 9.87 miles. Appreciation to Jeff Asay for pointing this out.

L39-20-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 6 of 20)

For comparison purposes, this north view from 1925 taken from the Chabot Road trestle documents the high walls on either side of the right-of-way. Also featured is a home still present at the end of Hillcrest Road.

L39-25-Harry A. Mitchell Photo, Sappers Collection, BAERA, WRM Archives, 57468sn, (Image 7 of 20)

In addition to the increased foliage, this north view from 1954 reveals that the high wall along the future Reata Place side has been reduced, and the EBMUD Claremont Laboratory is in full view, the latter having been built in 1930.

L39-30-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 8 of 20)

In time between the previous two images, this circa 1940 north view places SN 1014 at the southwestern end of the curve.

L39-35-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60065sn, (Image 9 of 20)

Small numerals plus stripes adorning SN 661 means circa 1948 in this north view. Note the homes along Roanoke Road on the left side of the image.

L39-40-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60062sn , (Image 10 of 20)

To see it in color is always useful to appreciate the scene, here with MW 302 from May 31, 1951, north view.

L39-45-George Krambles Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52123sn, (Image 11 of 20)

One last north view, this time from 1956 as SN 660 finishes Rockridge Curve. To those who knew the photographer, Dave Gumz, his roadster was a frequent guest in his 1956 images, the top of which is seen here parked below the trestle on Chabot Road.

L39-50-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55847.2sn, (Image 12 of 20)

Looking northeast circa 1950, SN 604 and 603 lead a freight over Chabot Road. The house in the distance on Chabot Road on the right side of the image will be discussed in upcoming Landmarks.

L39-55-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 13 of 20)

Another color image of MW 302 from May 31, 1951, northeast view, adds views of the homes along the Roble Road-Roble Court junction, right-middle portion of image.

L39-60-George Krambles Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52124sn, (Image 14 of 20)

Now facing west at the conclusion of the passenger era, 1941, Chabot Elementary School and the homes along Roanoke Road bracket SN 1016 and trailer to the left and right, respectively.

L39-65-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 50645sn , (Image 15 of 20)

Further northeast in the canyon, this west view circa 1940 of SN 1014 provides a view of the precursor to Reata Place, at this point noted as a private road on the Sanborn maps.

L39-70-Ralph Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 16 of 20)

Proceeding further northeast, but now facing north, the EBMUD Claremont Laboratory comes into view in this undated image.

L39-75-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60064sn, (Image 17 of 20)

Reaching the northeastern end of this segment, this SN freight has passed the concrete overpass over the road up to the EBMUD Claremont facility, and is heading for Chabot Road, west view, 1955.

L39-80-John Harder Photo, Courtesy Ray Raineri , (Image 18 of 20)

Two detailed northeast views from the 1950s to follow. First, the end of a freight with SN 670 and caboose 1622 both attended by workers watching the steep climb on the first part of the curve. Apr. 5, 1952.

L39-85-Wilbur C Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Garth Groff , (Image 19 of 20)

Wil Whittaker returned in early 1957 for a similar shot with color film, this time catching SN 654 placed at the rear of a freight heading up the grade. After SN abandonment, the Rettagliata family acquired this section of the SN right-of-way, and would soon create Reata Place, a contraction of their name. More on this topic in the future.

L39-90-Wilbur C Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Arnold Menke , (Image 20 of 20)