Dealings at the Depot - East Bay Hills Project

A quiet time at the Walnut Creek Depot in this southeast view circa 1940. This section will examine activities captured through the 20th century that reflect the function and history of this important SN landmark.

L45-01-Courtesy Paul Trimble, (Image 1 of 22)

An early undated north view of the combination station and freight depot.

L45-05-Courtesy BAERA, Wesern Railway Museum Archives, 75634sn , (Image 2 of 22)

This west view of the depot area circa 1914 shows a visit by the Oakland Rotary Club in autos flanking the railroad. The city population at the time was approximately 500 according to http://www.walnut-creek.org/about/history/timeline.asp. Note the power transmission tower in the center, present today on the north flank of Trinity Avenue, leading to another tower, far left.

L45-10-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 3 of 22)

This southeast view from May 25, 1940 showcases the variety of services at the depot, such as the Martinez-Diablo Stage to Alamo-Danville, left, and the Railway Express truck unloading US mail and other shipped materials at its namesake shed. The city population in 1940 just topped 1500.

L45-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 61465sn, (Image 4 of 22)

A southwest view of the depot confirms the bus company name, the Martinez-Diablo Stage, as SN 1014 awaits several passengers, circa 1940.

L45-20-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 61458sn, (Image 5 of 22)

A SN bus sits to the north of the depot along one of the Walnut Growers Association buildings awaiting passengers to move along south to Danville and Diablo in this undated northwest image.

L45-25-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60868sn , (Image 6 of 22)

Last, but not least, the delivery of milk by SN passenger trains was a common site in Contra Costa County, here with SN 1014 on June 6, 1940 in a northwest view.

L45-30-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 61453sn, (Image 7 of 22)

All aboard the school train, SN 1017 as train 12, heading to Concord. Conductor Ernest “Knobby” Knobloch is deep in thought as he reviews the schedule. Mail or other bagged cargo is seen loaded from the shed. Southwest view, June 7, 1940.

L45-35-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 61454sn, (Image 8 of 22)

SN 1014 is crammed full of passengers on its the last passenger stop at the depot, July 12, 1941, southeast view. The last official day of passenger service had been on Jun. 30, 1941, but a late filing with the ICC to terminate passenger service necessitated two additional July runs, this one being the last one.

L45-40-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60320sn, (Image 9 of 22)

By 1952, the only daily excitement at the depot involved freight switching, here SN 661 and tanker, and runs by the train on the spur, SN 603 and caboose 1607, between here and Concord to collect the summer and fall harvest.

L45-45-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55865.8sn , (Image 10 of 22)

Although rare, passenger trains did run through the depot, but only as part of excursions such as this one with MW 302 from May 2, 1954. North view.

L45-50-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 62372sn, (Image 11 of 22)

One more excursion for the record, here from a south east view with SN 1005, Aug. 10, 1952.

L45-55-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 12 of 22)

SN 143 awaits the signal to lead four passenger cars to Pittsburgh and back as part of the “End of An Era” excursion, Apr. 12, 1964, north view. This will be the last excursion ride for the SN in central Contra Costa County, and will mark the impending transfer to BART of the section of the right-of-way they will use in Contra Costa County.

L45-60-Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 13 of 22)

A crowd has assembled for the celebration in this northeast view, Apr. 12, 1964.

L45-65-Courtesy Charles Smiley and John Harder, (Image 14 of 22)

SN 143 is making its way over a switch track to begin for the hook up with the passenger cars. North view of the celebration, Apr. 12, 1964.

L45-70-Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 15 of 22)

With SN 143 now attached to the passenger cars, the band plays on with expectation for the initiation of the trip. Note the rustic appearance of the residential area to the west, soon to be cleared to make way for the south-bound lanes of North California Boulevard. North view, April 12, 1964.

L45-75-Courtesy Charles Smiley and John Harder, (Image 16 of 22)

Arnold C. Anderson, BART director from Castro Valley, is preparing to remove a spike from the SN at the depot as part of the End of An Era ceremony, Apr. 12, 1964. Mr. Anderson served on the first BART board for 16 years, including two years as president.

L45-80-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 17 of 22)

The image of Arnold Anderson holding the spike brings two thoughts to mind. First, by 1964 it was established that the area of the depot would not be used by BART. Second, a prominent civic leader in Castro Valley, Mr. Anderson had to wait until May 11, 1997 to see service extended to his city. Happily, he lived to be 99 years of age, passing away on Aug. 16, 2012.

L45-85-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 18 of 22)

Now a series of south views of the station starting with this circa 1940 image of SN 1009. Pay careful attention to the structures behind the station as the years move forward.

L45-90-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 67935sn, (Image 19 of 22)

Passenger service now over, this south view from Feb. 1947 shows a familiar scene of an extra caboose and box car that will be readied for the the next round up of a local agricultural product.

L45-95-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58879sn, (Image 20 of 22)

SN 143 and caboose sit quietly at the depot in this southeast view less than two weeks after the celebration, now Apr. 25, 1964. The Walnut Creek sign on the depot has been removed. Note the great view down the right-of-way through to the Granger Street-Mount Diablo Boulevard intersection.

L45-100-Victor Dubrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 62368sn, (Image 21 of 22)

The same southeast view as L45-85, the right-of-way is now the north-bound lane of North California Boulevard. Now the reason to come to this place is to enjoy a show or play at the Lesher Center, but the trees on the pavement mark the spot of the old depot, when dealings were different.

L45-105-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 22 of 22)