Dudley Thickens’ Saranap – The Western Plains

June 28, 1933, northeast view, Saranap. Twenty year old Dudley Thickens climbed the hill to the west of Tice Valley Boulevard and captured this lasting image of his world. More on this picture in a later Landmark section, but for now, just who was Dudley Thickens?

L28-05-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57123sn, (Image 1 of 18)

Dudley Wold Thickens was an employee of the Sacramento Northern, and later of its parent, the Western Pacific. He is known as having taken many photos of railroads and ships, and was a founding member of the Bay Area Electric Railroad Association. Less appreciated is how he documented life in Saranap.

L28-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57128sn, (Image 2 of 18)

Thickens was born on Nov. 10, 1913, and he came to Saranap with his mother and sister after his father passed away in 1917. He went to elementary school in Saranap for 5 years, and went to high school at San Ramon High in Danville. Two images of Thickens as a 20 year old, left, Dec., 29, 1933, right, Apr. 1933.

L28-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57496 and 95wrm, (Image 3 of 18)

Naphtaly, Dewing, Kinney, all names associated with early 20th century Saranap. Thickens continued course work in Concord before accepting a job with the SN in 1935. He married Louise Odell and they raised three children in Lafayette. He died on May, 18, 1993. He left us with a unique documentation of Saranap. His story begins on the town’s western edge ...

L28-20-Courtesy California Board of Equalization, 862-7-317, (Image 4 of 18)

A comparison of disjointed sections of Saranap from the end of SN passenger service, lower, versus the end of all railroad operations, upper. Note the conversion of ranch land to housing, but also the conservation or addition to orchards. The color dots are for aligning the segments. Ref: Upper, Contra Costa County Planning Dept.; Lower, USGS/USDA BUU-337-36, July 4, 1940.

L28-25-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 13560-1, lower, 13562-4, upper, (Image 5 of 18)

This map from 1938 is to emphasize that roads were present in central and eastern Saranap from the early part of the 20th century, but the western section occupied by the Kinney ranch land had no roads until after WWII. Alternating white and black line is SN right-of-way.Official Map of Contra Costa County complied by R. R. Arnold, G4363.C6.1938.A7.

L28-30-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkeley, Detail , (Image 6 of 18)

The borders of unincorporated Saranap were revised several times in the 20th century. High above eastern Lafayette and Reliez Creek a strip of houses across the top of the image is West Newell Avenue, populated in the late 1940s, still carrying a Walnut Creek postmark, and still the most western part of Saranap. South view, Nov. 14, 1956.

L28-35-© Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5208-14 , (Image 7 of 18)

On the ridge above the section of what is today West Newell Avenue, Thickens captured a 3-car train as it sped by the confluence of Reliez and Las Trampas Creeks. The hills of Lafayette provide a backdrop. North view, Nov. 24, 1938.

L28-40-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57387sn , (Image 8 of 18)

Immediately to the east, Thickens continued along the ridge and waited for a 2-car train to pass with Walnut Creek far off in the distance. North view, Nov. 24, 1938.

L28-45-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57388sn, (Image 9 of 18)

Aligning the two previous images creates a panorama of Saranap. From this image, the presence of the transmission towers and overhead power lines predated the homes that will populate the valley. North view, Nov. 24, 1938.

L28-50-Dudley Thickens Photos, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57387 and 8sn, (Image 10 of 18)

In addition to panoramic displays, Thickens also walked the line, here documented in an east view from June 15, 1933. Note the crossover of the position of the catenary holders, and the bales of hay off in the adjacent fields.

L28-55-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57359sn , (Image 11 of 18)

A scene captured by many was this east view, here pre-1920, of the western plains of Saranap with Mount Diablo looming in the background. This pre-1920 postcard omits the name Saranap in its description. Whether it was out of ignorance, location or timing relative to name change from Ramon Junction in late 1913 remains unanswered.

L28-60-From the family photo collection of Mary Mangini, (Image 12 of 18)

Ahead to 1940, and there has been little change in the scenery. By chance, or possibly great patience, the far right section shows a second train waiting by the double-track curve at the block signal. Note cows grazing to the south.

L28-65-Roy E. Covert Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57357sn , (Image 13 of 18)

Pre-WWII images of the western plains, upper, were often confused with its neighbor to the west in Lafayette, lower, the section east of Reliez Station Road. Attention to transmission towers, the position of the catenary poles, creek position and tree line override the common profile of majestic Mount Diablo. Roy E. Covert Photo, 1940, top; lower image from 1925 photo.

L28-70-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57357sn and John Harder., (Image 14 of 18)

This detail from a Dec. 31, 1946 east view aerial document new additions to post-war Saranap. The arrows mark the following - SN-Reliez Station grade crossing, yellow; present Pleasant Hill-Olympic Boulevard intersection, blue; Kaiser Estate, built in 1946, orange; Freeman Rd., white; Juanita Dr., green; and Kinney Dr, turquoise; Newell Road, black; Las Trampas Creek, purple; and Reliez Creek, red.

L28-75-RL Copeland Photo, Courtesy Contra Costa Historical Society, 7348 Detail, (Image 15 of 18)

Thickens’ Jul., 1950 east view of SN 660 illustrates the absence of a paved road adjacent to the right-of-way for this section prior to transforming the latter to Olympic Boulevard circa 1960. The alignment of backyards of homes on West Newell Ave. to the south in this image are a legacy of the presence of the SN. This may be reviewed in the update “Why the Backyards Face Olympic Boulevard.”

L28-80-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 18714sn, (Image 16 of 18)

The newly built homes along Freeman Road are documented from this rear SN motor in an east view, circa 1947. The block signal at the origin of the by-pass track is in full view as the lead motor navigates the double-track curve.

L28-85-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57358.2sn, (Image 17 of 18)

Making it around double-track curve, seen in 1950 in an east view, left, and a west view, right, will be the next subject to be covered.

L28-90-E.K. Muller Photos, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 179584sn, l, 179586sn, r, (Image 18 of 18)