Meinert Junction II – The Packing Houses and Water Tower

This update will focus on the key activity at Meinert Junction, the operation of produce packing houses or sheds to the east of the intersection of Minert Rd. and Oak Grove Rd. This will conclude the section involving the double-track section and spur tracks as outlined in this graphic produced by the SN dated Nov. 24, 1945.

L116-05-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 36395sn, (Image 1 of 18)

By the late 1930s, only Packing House 1 and 2 remained. The presence of more sheds prior to this is revealed in a SF-SRR internal report archived at the Western Railway Museum from June 26, 1924 noting new fruit sheds were being erected at Meinert by Tracy Waldron Co. and Shaw and Co. adding to Earl Fruit Co., Pioneer Fruit Co., Stewart Fruit Co. and Brookside Fruit Co. for a total of six companies.

L116-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 36395sn Detail, (Image 2 of 18)

Lowering the exposure of the image in L116-10 shows at least two other structures that had been erased on the south side of the mainline, supporting the existence of greater than two sheds in the area. Emanuels’ “Ygnacio Valley, 1834-1970” locates one shed to the southwest, one to the southeast, and the two to the northeast corner of the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern crossing.

L116-11-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 36395sn Detail, (Image 3 of 18)

The only visual evidence to support additional south-side structures is from this northeast facing image from Feb. 14, 1921. Two parallel tracks on the mainline are present with two large buildings on either side of the eastern arm of the wye. A third structure along the track approximates the position held by the passenger shelter present prior to WWI.

L116-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85642sn , (Image 4 of 18)

This southwest view of SN 1014 at the Meinert shelter from June 22, 1941 clearly shows along the left border the remains of the ties from the second mainline track that extended across the intersection. In addition, this is the only image found showing the small freight house present in the diagram in L116-10.

L116-20-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85633sn , (Image 5 of 18)

The railway created the spur to the two sheds. Two are seen in this northeast view of SN 1022 and SN 1014 during the last Sunday of passenger train service, June 27, 1941. Initial leases at Meinert Junction did not indicate the railway owned the land. In a letter dated Jan. 15, 1924, JH Shaw referred to land “leased to me” when notifying the railway about the building of the spur. Ref: BAERA 31409.

L116-25-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 67937sn, (Image 6 of 18)

This northeast view circa 1940 shows the front of Packing House 1 with SN 602 and two refrigerator cars. With client turnover, the SN eventually owned the sheds, as indicated in a Jan. 19, 1946 letter in which the California Fruit Exchange asked to lease Packing shed #1 from the SN for 5 years at $46.53 per month. The lessee payed for electricity and water, while the SN was responsible for construction improvements. Ref: BAERA 36380.

L116-30-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85608sn, (Image 7 of 18)

A long freight led by SN 660 from Jul. 7, 1940 shows the top of reefers opened and ready to be loaded with ice. Emanuels’ book notes that reefers could carry 500-600 boxes of pears. Northeast view.

L116-35-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85605sn, (Image 8 of 18)

BAERA member Paul Smith produced many images of activity at the produce sheds at Meinert and Bancroft. Trucks came from as far away as Oakland and Pittsburg to deliver ice in the form of 100 pound blocks to the reefers. This photo of Meinert Junction speaks for itself. Northeast view, circa 1940.

L116-40-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 57079sn, (Image 9 of 18)

A circa 1940 southwest view of trains on both sets of tracks preparing for loading produce. Emanuels’ book states that peak season brought 10 cars a day from Meinert and Bancroft. The boxcars were said to be interchanged with the WP, SP or ATSF railroads at McAvoy, but that has not been substantiated since the SN only switched with the SP at that spot and the WP didn’t go there.

L116-45-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 57078sn, (Image 10 of 18)

A detail of 116-45 notes Pacific Fruit Express on the boxcars. PFE was one the world’s largest refrigerator car or “reefer” leasing companies of the 20th century. It was started as a joint venture between the UP and SP railroads in the first decade. After WWI, the WP became a partner as well, but would later pull out prior to the consolidation of these railroads into the UP.

L116-50-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 57078sn, Detail, (Image 11 of 18)

SN 660 or 661 and freight reaches the Oak Grove Rd. grade crossing on a rainy day circa 1952, north view.

L116-52-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55612.1sn, (Image 12 of 18)

Signs of disuse are evident in this south view from the Apr. 12, 1964 End-of-an-Era excursion. Meinert was designated by the State of California in mid-1945 as an inspection for truck shipments of pears for canneries. They used SN land, at the southwest corner of the junction, although no images of the platform have been found. Ref: BAERA 36382.

L116-55-Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 13 of 18)

One last view of the packing houses from 1964, here from a northeast view. Along with the Bancrofts’ operation, to be discussed separately, the sheds will be remembered as providing an important source of jobs in the Ygnacio Valley. Next for details about that water tower ...

L116-60-Louis L Stein Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85625sn, (Image 14 of 18)

Water supply was always at problem at Meinert. Wells pumping into a 5,000 gallon storage tank needed to be supplemented with a second tank that became available in 1946. A southwest view of the original water tank to the west of Packing House 2 during its last days, May 22, 1964. Ref: BAERA 38604.

L116-65-Victor Dubrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 80518sn, (Image 15 of 18)

Although not found in ground images, the second water tank, red arrow, is clearly seen as being east of Packing House 1. The second water tower to the west of Packing House 2 visualized previously is marked by the blue arrow. Southeast view, circa 1956. Ref: brk00017178_24a

L116-70-Clyde Sunderland Photo, Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 16 of 18)

All of the aforementioned structures would be gone by mid-1964, as the SN ties have been removed and the new ones ready to be placed on the berm prepared for the BART test track. North view, Jul. 18, 1964.

L116-75-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives , (Image 17 of 18)

Finally to Apr. 1965, the test track is in operation at Meinert Junction. There would be no physical evidence left behind to suggest its importance to the agricultural history of the Ygnacio Valley or that such a place ever existed.

L116-80- Louis L Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85622BARTD, (Image 18 of 18)