School Train, Excursions and Freights at Pinehurst

Continuing with the double-track section and shelter at Pinehurst, this section will review the area as a popular stop for rail traffic and rail excursions.

L81-05-USDA, AAA, Western Division Laboratories, BUT BUU-283-80, Panel 79, Courtesy EBMUD and others, (Image 1 of 16)

The east-bound school train led by SN 1017 sits at Pinehurst in this west view from June 29, 1940.

L81-10-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 2 of 16)

Same scene, although the date was not recorded of this west view of SN 1017 and the east-bound school train, here joined by an ex-Northern Electric Niles Car on the eastern-most track.

L81-15-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 69100sn, (Image 3 of 16)

Another west view that Dudley Thickens recorded as June 6, 1939 with SN 606 pulling SN 1009 and two other cars packed with rail fans. The scene fits better with an event occurring one month earlier to the day, SN 606 leading a Cal-Nevada excursion from the Bay Area to Sacramento and Stockton via the SN and Central California Traction right-of-ways.

L81-20-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 69099sn , (Image 4 of 16)

Excursions after 1948 typically employed a second motor from the freight fleet for the return into Oakland and navigating the 4.6% downhill in Chabot Canyon. East view, SN 660 and MW 302, BAERA-sponsored excursion to Pittsburg from Sept. 12, 1948.

L81-25-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd , (Image 5 of 16)

A near repeat to L81-30, but it is now Sept. 18, 1949, and SN 660 is doing the honors of escorting MW 302 back to Oakland in this east view during a Northern California Railroad Club-sponsored excursion Oakland to Pittsburg.

L81-30-Railroad Negative Exchange, Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 6 of 16)

Ahead to July 6, 1952, and SN 1005 is reunited with MW 302 on a BAERA-sponsored excursion to Pittsburg and Mallard in this west view as it poses in front of the Pinehurst shelter to the delight of a large contingent of rail fans.

L81-35-Addison H Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 5210, (Image 7 of 16)

Now a view looking southeast at the same scene as L81-35, with SN 1005 and MW 302 at the BAERA-supported excursion, July 6, 1952.

L81-40-Addison H Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52101sn, (Image 8 of 16)

One last one in color, a south view from July 6, 1952, MW 302 and SN 1005 on the eastern-most track.

L81-45-Roy Proffer Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59255sn, (Image 9 of 16)

A north view from Aug. 10, 1952, this south view east of the Pinehurst shelter again features SN 1005 and MW 302. It has not been determined who sponsored this excursion, except that it was a privately-supported venture to Pittsburg and Mallard.

L81-50-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd , (Image 10 of 16)

SN 654 had its turn to return MW 302 to Oakland, BAERA excursion of May 2, 1954, east view. MW 302 received a fresh coat of paint for the trek to Pittsburg.

L81-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 75964sn, (Image 11 of 16)

Excursions on the SN took a pause in 1955, but the realization of abandonment in mid-1956 led to two or three mid-year excursions using SN 653, WP Observation Car 6121, and SLU 751. This east view is from the last of these excursions using this combination on July 6, 1956, sponsored by BAERA. Note how the grass has overtaken the track on the shelter siding.

L81-60-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 12 of 16)

The last set of SN excursions utilized SN 1005 and SLU 751 and were sponsored by BAERA. These took place on July 8, 1956, Nov. 10, 1956, and as in this north image, from Jan. 13, 1957.

L81-65-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 69116sn, (Image 13 of 16)

The presence of the double track at Pinehurst also allowed for capturing freight-switching that occurred prior to the uphill climb in the tunnel and extended descent into Oakland. SN 661, northwest view, circa 1952.

L81-70-Reg McGovern Photo, Courtesy Reginald McGovern, (Image 14 of 16)

A simple scene of a freight, SN 661 circa 1952, heading into the Pinehurst area, circa 1952, southeast view ...

L81-75-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55577.4sn, (Image 15 of 16)

... and leaving with SN 654 pushing from the rear, northwest view, circa 1952.

L81-80-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55577.5sn, (Image 16 of 16)