The Flood of 1937 and its Aftermath - East Bay Hills Project

Between December 10th and 12th of 1937, the Feather River flooded the town of Oroville leading to the destruction of the long trestle connecting the town to the SN bridge over the river. See US Dept. of the Interior report https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/0843/report.pdf

L153-05-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117805sn , (Image 1 of 31)

Whether it be a scene from 2017 at Riverbend Park, left, or the remains of the truss bridge from October 27, 1940, right, the history of this river crossing from the photographic and document records are of historical importance to the area. Both west views.

L153-10-Ted Wurm Photo, Courtesy BAERA, WRM Archives, 33474sn, and Stuart Swiedler, (Image 2 of 31)

The flood of 1907 surpassed that of 1937 based on the volume of water flowing in the Feather River, and the wagon-pedestrian bridge over the river was swept away leaving only the piers as shown in this west view. There are no records indicating any damage to the SN bridge or trestle Ref: https://westernsnowconference.org/sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2000Roos.pdf

L153-15-Courtesy Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, sc20382, (Image 3 of 31)

The images of the SN bridge and trestle from its construction, top left, until placement of overhead wires and covering, bottom right, circa 1907-1910 show the same wood structure.

L153-20-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 108538sn, 108555sn, 108553sn, 108577sn , (Image 4 of 31)

The first written evidence found describing structural issues with the bridge-trestle are shown in these two documents from late 1915 recommending revision of the truss bridge with steel girders, but only continued maintenance of the structurally sound trestle. The addition of roadways to the bridge never happened. Appreciate that at this time the NE was being held in receivership by Pacific Gas and Electric, specifically by lawyer John P. Coghlan.

L153-25-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 29803, (Image 5 of 31)

The cover page for the contract to renew the structure of the bridge, and one letter confirming the plan from 1916 are shown here. Although no other documents were found to document if and when the work was completed, the structure shown in the late 1930s confirm that the truss bridge’s spans were now made of steel.

L153-30-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 28803, (Image 6 of 31)

The bridge and trestle were tested by the flood of Mar. 1928 as documented by this west view.

L153-35-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 113980sn, (Image 7 of 31)

The trestle had served in part as a strainer of large tree sections, appreciated when the water had receded. West view, Mar. 1928.

L153-40-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 113979sn, (Image 8 of 31)

In this letter to SN President Harry Mitchell in Nov. 1933, the opinion of at least one structural engineer was that the truss bridge was in poor condition such that rail speeds should be reduced to 15 miles per hours with a limit to loads. Note no mention of the trestle is made.

L153-45-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 41180 , (Image 9 of 31)

The bridge and trestle in a north-oriented aerial just two weeks before the flood. Ref: AAX-129-35, Nov. 27, 1937

L153-50-US Dept. of Agriculture Photo, Courtesy the National Archives, Detail, (Image 10 of 31)

The scene on Dec. 11, 1937, the trestle having been ripped from its supports after several days of Feather River insult, west view.

L153-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 11 of 31)

This west view, taken after the waters had receded, tells the story.

L153-60-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117806sn , (Image 12 of 31)

Two east views from the Thermalito side show the progression of trestle destruction as the river’s current subsided. Dec. 1937.

L153-65-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117818sn, L, 117811sn, R, (Image 13 of 31)

An east view of an individual surveying the damage, with a view of the remaining portion of the trestle pier on the Oroville side in clear view. Dec. 1937.

L153-70-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117810sn , (Image 14 of 31)

A north view from Dec. 1937 of the remains of the main trestle pier with Table Mountain in the background.

L153-75-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117809sn , (Image 15 of 31)

Closer to and west of Marysville Rd., the damage to the rail is shown in an east view circa Dec. 11, 1937. The sandbags and passenger car SN 107 will be brought into view in the next image ...

L153-80-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 113712sn, (Image 16 of 31)

SN 107 sits just west of Marysville Rd., isolated from the SN mainline and Thermalito. The car would be returned to the SN mainline through the interchange with the WP in town and never be used in Oroville again.

L153-85-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 59082sn, (Image 17 of 31)

The days of direct passenger service to Oroville were over, but, as shown in these schedule from Jan. 15, 1939, the SN provided bus service from Oroville Junction or Chico until passenger service on the north end ceased on Oct. 31, 1940.

L153-90-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 18 of 31)

To accommodate a bus route, the original SN Oroville Junction stop, yellow arrow, was moved south, red arrow. Ref: AAX-88-100, Sept. 13, 1937

L153-95-US Dept. of Agriculture Photo, Courtesy the National Archives, Detail, (Image 19 of 31)

Although taken before the new station was built, the facilities were just north of the SN overpass. That overpass was replaced by the current level road at the intersection of Route 162 or the Oro Dam Blvd. West at Wilbur Rd. after the SN right-of-way was abandoned. Next for the details to document this. Ref: AAX-88-100, Sept. 13, 1937

L153-100-US Dept. of Agriculture Photo, Courtesy the National Archives, Detail, (Image 20 of 31)

This south view captures the new shelter as well as a bus leaving for Oroville on June 2, 1940. Noting the camera in one of the eager train passengers in car 223, and given the end of service that month, this crowd may have consisted of rail fans out for a ride.

L153-105-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106482sn, (Image 21 of 31)

The approach from the road overpass to the bus drop-off point is showcased here, taken south of the position of 153-105. SN bus 301 appears to have successfully delivered at least one passenger to a train in this south view from Oct. 27, 1940.

L153-110-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 89367sn, (Image 22 of 31)

Another south view, here with SN 223 on the rear of a train at the new Oroville Junction, Oct. 1940.

L153-115-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 106481sn, (Image 23 of 31)

Further south from the shelter the sign warns to keep away from the electric third rail as a two-car train with SN 223 in the rear makes a stop on its way to Sacramento on Apr. 14, 1940. The men’s room also gets its time in the sun in this image.

L153-120-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 68864sn , (Image 24 of 31)

A circa 1940 north view from the overpass provides a panoramic view of the entire new facility and operation at Oroville Junction.

L153-125-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106477sn, (Image 25 of 31)

An east view of the truss bridge remains from the Thermalito side in 1940 still warns to stay off the bridge, but at this point it is not due to the danger of an oncoming train or to prevent an electric shock. The Thermalito freight operation to the west would still be serviced by SN freight using the original Tres Vias wye. More on this topic later.

L153-130-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106924sn, (Image 26 of 31)

This west view from Oct. 5, 1943 shows the abandoned section of right-of-way west of the freight operation that continued to serve Oroville, the next topic in this historical survey.

L153-135-Roy Covert Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106914sn, (Image 27 of 31)

Some added aerials related to the next great Feather River flood, the “Christmas Flood of 1955”. East view, Dec 24, 1955.

L153-140-Copyright California Department of Transportation 4724-23, (Image 28 of 31)

A detail from 153-140, an east view along the Feather River from Dec. 24, 1955, shows details of the town including the State Theater. Note the Budd car along the top border at the WP station attached to a passenger coach.

L153-145-Copyright California Department of Transportation 4724-23, Detail, (Image 29 of 31)

Next, a northeast view, again Dec. 24, 1955 showing the Oro Blvd. West or Route 162 bridge along the lower right margin.

L153-150-Copyright California Department of Transportation 4724-22, (Image 30 of 31)

A detail from 153-150, a northeast view along the Feather River from Dec. 24, 1955, shows flooding of the post-1937, truncated SN right-of-way with the two spurs to the oil-related freight customers, the next subject of this series of updates.

L153-155-Copyright California Department of Transportation 4724-22, Detail, (Image 31 of 31)