Did Phil Bancroft Create Sparkle?

A well-intended article appeared in the Sept. 11, 1966 Contra Costa Times about Sparkle. Although confusing SN and SP rail operations in several parts and misspelling Clarence Trappe's name, a most interesting contention, rewritten in the box for emphasis, is whether Phil Bancroft created Sparkle.

L113-05-Contra Costa Times, Courtesy Contra Costa County Public Library, (Image 1 of 15)

Phil Bancroft’s aunt Fannie provided the Oakland and Antioch right-of-way east of the Walnut Creek, but the Bancrofts never owned any of the land adjacent to the mainline to the west of the creek where Sparkle resided.

L113-10-Courtesy California Board of Equalization, 862-7-3E, (Image 2 of 15)

Maps from 1885 onward confirm the Bancrofts never owned the property at Sparkle, the green arrow from a 1952 real estate map suggests the SN owned it. No where in Phil Bancroft’s oral history at the Bancroft Library does he mention that he leased land from that area, nor does he ever mention Sparkle. See  BANC CD 531 at Bancroft Library. Map Ref: BANC G4364_W17_G46_1952_C6_sheet2

L113-15-CCC Title Company, Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkel, (Image 3 of 15)

Passenger-era ground views from Sparkle are rare, here an example from the cab of a motor awaiting a three-car train led by SN 1008 to pass on to the Las Juntas station. July 4, 1940, southwest view.

L113-20-Art Alter Photo, Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81712sn, (Image 4 of 15)

With the blink of an eye, the same southwest view ahead to May 13, 1964 with SN 147, two tankers and caboose.

L113-25-Victor B DuBrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 89304sn, (Image 5 of 15)

Now a west view of one of the last SN forays through Sparkle, west view, with SN 142 and caboose 1634, May 28, 1964.

L113-30-Victor B DuBrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 88874sn, (Image 6 of 15)

A northeast view from the End-of-an-Era celebration and the transfer of the right-of-way to BART, Apr. 12, 1964.

L113-35-Victor B DuBrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 88864sn, (Image 7 of 15)

SN 1005 and Salt Lake and Utah 751 lead the last Oakland-Pittsburg excursion, Jan. 13, 1957, just prior to abandonment west of central Lafayette and removal of the overhead catenary. Northeast view.

L113-40-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 8 of 15)

Same northeast view of SN 1005 and Salt Lake and Utah 751 on excursion, Jan. 13, 1957, but here in living color.

L113-45-Richard Kampa Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum, 58314sn, (Image 9 of 15)

SN 1005 and Salt Lake and Utah 751 come to rest on the Sparkle spur or team track, north view, Jan. 13, 1957.

L113-50-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd , (Image 10 of 15)

The question is whether or not there is photographic evidence for Mt. Diablo or Aloha Fruit Farms products being shipped from Sparkle. More likely to be the case during Jul. - Oct., not represented so far in this review. A boxcar and flatcar with lumbar sits on the spur in this circa 1952 south view.

L113-55-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55561.7sn, (Image 11 of 15)

A west view from Jun. 5, 1950, still too early for pears, but lots of activity at the Sparkle spur. A closer view follows ...

L113-60-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 89613sn, (Image 12 of 15)

A detail from L113-60, a west view from Jun. 5, 1950, showing stacks of lumber being deposited at Sparkle.

L113-65-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 89613sn, Detail, (Image 13 of 15)

Finally, at harvest during an Aug. 10, 1952 BAERA-sponsored excursion. This east view of SN 1005 also captures two reefers, in particular an American Refrigerator Transit Company box car plugged in to keep everything cool. Whether they contained Bancroft pears cannot be proven, but do strengthen the possibility.

L113-70-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64583.6sn, (Image 14 of 15)

All that is left of Sparkle resides at the Western Railway Museum. You will not find any documents about Sparkle, about Phil Bancroft creating it, or what is contained in those reefers in L113-70. We know the Bancrofts did load pears onto SN cars at the spur at their Bancroft warehouse at Bancroft and Minert Rds., but more on that once Las Juntas has been crossed.

L113-75-Ryan Blake Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 82813sn, (Image 15 of 15)