Nuts for Walnuts II – Views from Cole Avenue

Now to the north side of the processing plant of the Contra Costa County Walnut Growers Association, CCCWGA, and the spur from the main line between Cole and Lacassie Avenues. The spur served the plant, adjacent Diamond Match Lumber Co. and other businesses. Detail from aerial view from Mar. 3, 1952.

L57-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 2481-1, (Image 1 of 15)

This east view from 1924 prior to the creation of Cole Ave shows the spur emerging east of the lumber company as it hugs the west side of East Street.

L57-10-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 35797sn Detail, (Image 2 of 15)

Ahead to the mid- to late 1930s, a southeast view of trio SN1007, SN 1019, and the Moraga, crossing a small path at the future position of Cole Avenue. Note the sign for the lumber company. The home seen in L57-10 to the north of the spur is at the left.

L57-15-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57508sn, (Image 3 of 15)

Exactly how wide open the west side of this section of Walnut Creek was before WWII is shown in this north view of a two-car train with SN 1026 from July 14, 1940, north view.

L57-20-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 10137sn, (Image 4 of 15)

A little bit to the north, more open space as well to the west in this northwest view of SN 1017, circa 1940.

L57-25-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives,, 63870sn, (Image 5 of 15)

The next several images will trace SN 1005 from an east view as it leaves the spur for the main line on an excursion from Aug. 10, 1952.

L57-30-Addison Laflin Photo, Sappers Collection Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 648, (Image 6 of 15)

SN 1005 from an east view as it leaves the spur for the main line on an excursion from Aug. 10, 1952.

L57-35-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 7 of 15)

The last of three images of SN 1005 from an east view as it leaves the spur for the main line on an excursion from Aug. 10, 1952.

L57-40-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64583.5sn, (Image 8 of 15)

Shown here is the terminus of the siding that served the CCWGA, southeast view, circa 1950. A comparable image for the siding to Diamond Match has not been found.

L57-42-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 169714sn, (Image 9 of 15)

Up to now, images of passenger cars have been utilized, but the main business interest in this section was in freight traffic, starting here with SN 670 serving the spur on its way across Cole Ave. circa 1950, east view.

L57-43-Alvon J. Thoman Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54190sn, (Image 10 of 15)

Caboose 1607 sits on the siding in this northeast view from 1954, with Cole Ave. to the right, and the Cannery off in the distance to the left.

L57-45-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives,63854sn, (Image 11 of 15)

This was the last freight to leave Oakland with SN 652 in the lead, approaching the spur on this final run, Feb. 27,1957, south view.

L57-50-LL Stein Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 63861sn, (Image 12 of 15)

Minutes later, SN 652 is dropping off some of its load via the spur, southeast view, Feb. 28, 1957.

L57-55-LL Stein Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 63860sn, (Image 13 of 15)

Now to the “End-of-an-Era” celebration and excursions as the SN is about to turn over the right-of-way from Pringle Ave and beyond to BART, south view, April 12, 1964. This image shows the relationship of the the spur to the siding and mainline, as well as an additional branch of the spur heading for the Cannery.

L57-60-Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 14 of 15)

A southeast view, Sep. 25, 1966, as the spur has outlived the mainline and siding, but all this will be gone in one more year ...

L57-65-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 11891, (Image 15 of 15)