Crossing Mount Diablo Boulevard

With the Broadway Shopping Center established and construction of the I-680/Highway 24 Interchange imminent, this east view captures the SN right-of-way crossing Mount Diablo Boulevard circa 1955-56. Detail Ref. #45 BANC PIC 1993.004 CC-C19-87.

L26-05-Clyde Sunderland Photo, Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 1 of 13)

Back in the 1920s, the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad or the Sacramento Short Line, as it was known, was flanked by Standard and Union Oil Company's outposts as it approached Walnut Creek from the southwest.

L26-10-Courtesy California Board of Equalization, 862-7-3F, (Image 2 of 13)

This composite 1947 versus 1953 west view shows key landmarks, such as Parkel Lumber and Supply, blue dot, the Masonic Temple, orange arrow, and the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, white arrow. This area was caught between the burgeoning activity of Broadway Shopping Plaza to the south and the established section of downtown to the north.

L26-15-Contra Costa County Historical Society, 4392, and Copyright CALTRANS, 3299-3 , (Image 3 of 13)

The Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church on Locust Street was east of the grade crossing, but was razed by the mid-50s, see L26-05, while the structure housing the Masonic Temple survives today as a historic landmark currently used for a retail business. Feb. 7, 1952.

L26-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Detail 2477-16, (Image 4 of 13)

Further west from L26-20, Union Oil Company sat on the east flank of the SN right-of-way. The other building on the west flank was the Berkeley Farms Creamery. Walnut Creek Senior Planner Andy Smith noted that at the time it was known as the South Berkeley Creamery, and had a restaurant in addition to the dairy. Feb. 7, 1952.

L26-25-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Detail 2477-15, (Image 5 of 13)

MW 302 and Salt Lake & Utah Parlor car 751 are about to enter the grade crossing having just passed through Saranap to the west. Southwest view, Jul. 4, 1950.

L26-30-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 6 of 13)

Just a few weeks earlier, Feb. 11, 1950, SN 661 and 603 with 670, not pictured at the rear, wait at the grade crossing at the old city limit. Northeast view.

L26-35-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 7 of 13)

Moments later, same scene as L26-35, northeast view, Feb. 11, 1950, SN 661 and its freight proceed across the grade crossing. Note Parkel Lumber and the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church to the east.

L26-40-Alvon J. Thoman Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 17161sn, (Image 8 of 13)

Next, three views at the SN-Mt. Diablo Blvd. grade crossing from July 6, 1952, the first an east view down Mt. Diablo Blvd., west of the crossing.

L26-45-Herrington-Olson Photo 9-9878, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 143611sn, (Image 9 of 13)

A complementary west view, east of the crossing, is next, July 6, 1952.

L26-50-Herrington-Olson Photo 9-9876, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 143608sn, (Image 10 of 13)

Finally, a south view along the right-of-way, north of the crossing, July 6, 1952.

L26-55-Herrington-Olson Photo 9-9874, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives,143607sn, (Image 11 of 13)

Although the Lafayette to Walnut Creek section was abandoned by the SN in Aug. 1958, the grade crossing in this May 13, 1959 east view has railroad track on the newly minted South California Drive and a new signal. Images implicating this crossing in construction of the I-680/24 interchange or Olympic Boulevard are lacking.

L26-60-Lester R. Foley Photo, Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek , (Image 12 of 13)

As the BART era ensued in 1964, the SN rails were gone, although the shadows provide a ghostly reminder. Two years later, right, the intersection is transformed as the southern terminus of North California Boulevard takes shape. Reference right panel Contra Costa County Historical Society 11885.

L26-65-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County Historical Society , (Image 13 of 13)