Revision of the West Pittsburg Wye

SN 661 leads a transport of military equipment west past the deserted West Pittsburg passenger shelter circa 1950 in a northeast view. The jumble of overhead wire marks the West Pittsburg “Wye” or y-shaped track arrangement, a key component of the SN’s most profitable freight operation along the north coast of Contra Costa County.

L201-01-Tom Buckingham Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54299sn , (Image 1 of 50)

The non-populated and industrial area in this 2018 north oriented aerial had once been called West Pittsburg based on the SN station stop and wye, here boxed in red. The name had also been used for what is today Bay Point until 1993, when the name was dropped due to confusion with the area to be discussed in this landmark. The inverted wye track alignment is still very clearly outlined in this view.

L201-05-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 2 of 50)

This north-oriented aerial from 1939 aligned with the previous view is shown to emphasize that the industrial area to the northeast had not been developed as of this date, but will become Pacific, Gas and Electric in the 1950s.

L201-10-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 3 of 50)

This pre-Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Railway era map from 1908 confirms the area was barren save some creeks and bordered on the south side by the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads. According to the Contra Costa Gazette referenced in Ira Swett’s “Sacramento Northern”, the first train to travel beyond Bay Point on July 2, 1913 included a back-and-forth between West Pittsburg to Pittsburg prior to heading to Sacramento. Ref: G4363.C6 1908 .M3

L201-15-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, (Image 4 of 50)

No image of the construction of the wye at West Pittsburg has been found, but the fact that the first train carrying officials to Sacramento included a trip to Pittsburg suggests it was built as a single structure in 1913. Next, a closer look at the early wye using George Russell aerials circa 1930 starting with this north view. Ref: API 578_27_BOX 72

L201-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 5 of 50)

Starting left to right, west to east, north view circa 1930, a passenger train, red arrow, at the West Pittsburg shelter, blue arrow, with a second train in between the wye, yellow arrow, and a train on the east arm of the wye, violet arrow. The Mallard ferry slip and SN Ramon Ferry can be seen straight above the latter. Ref: API 578_27_BOX 72

L201-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 6 of 50)

Shown here is a southwest view circa 1930 of the area between the subway and wye. Regular passenger service from the Key Mole to Pittsburg commenced on Aug. 5, 1913. When regular service to Sacramento began on Sept. 3, 1913, the West Pittsburg to Pittsburg segment was reduced to a branch line with connections to the mainline at West Pittsburg. Ref: API 578_8_BOX 71 thru 74

L201-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 7 of 50)

A direct southwest view circa 1930 of the wye will serve to provide details about landmarks. Ref: API 578_13_BOX 71 thru 74

L201-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 8 of 50)

This southwest view circa 1930 shows that each arm of the wye had a single track, while the line to Pittsburg between the takeoff for the two arms had a passing track, here occupied by a passenger train. Note the block signals to the west or right, the station shelter, and the latrine. Ref: API 578_13_BOX 71 thru 74.

L201-40-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 9 of 50)

Next this east view oblique from Jan. 20, 1951 taken west of McAvoy.

L201-45-R.L. Copeland Photo, Courtesy the Contra Costa County Historical Society, 7275, (Image 10 of 50)

Its hard to know where to begin with this detail of the east view oblique from Jan. 20, 1951. For this presentation, note the Contra Costa Water District Mallard Pumping Station and associated buildings, orange arrow, and their proximity to the SN wye just above or east of it. The position of the trains on the wye suggests a more complex track than the previous circa 1930 aerials revealed.

L201-51-R.L. Copeland Photo, Courtesy the Contra Costa County Historical Society, 7275, Detail, (Image 11 of 50)

To help sort out the components of the wye, Steve Lane, shown here in a northeast view from 2016, will lead a tour starting starting at the northeast end of the SN subway. These images will be complemented with those during the SN era. Appreciation to NRG, the successor to Pacific Gas and Electric, for granting permission and providing access to what will be presented.

L201-55-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 12 of 50)

SN 1014 makes the turn to approach the subway heading to San Francisco from West Pittsburg on the first Interstate Commerce Commission, ICC,-directed July 5, 1941 trip from Pittsburg in this north view. To the left of the train, a tower can be seen in the distance, part of the Contra Costa Water District Mallard Pumping Station. To the right of the train, a parked car and cattle guards can be seen.

L201-60-Richard Jenevein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 134285sn, (Image 13 of 50)

Moving further east, MW 302 crosses the cattle guard on an excursion in this north view circa 1950. More structural details of the Contra Costa Water District Mallard Pumping Station can be seen along the left edge.

L201-65-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 147250sn, (Image 14 of 50)

Now pivoting to view the northeast, SN 660 approaches the cattle guard en route to Oakland on Jan. 1, 1947. In the distance, SN 605 is next in line with a long freight contingent.

L201-70-Ted Wurm Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 33415sn, (Image 15 of 50)

A view of the cattle guard in 2016. At this point in time, the track from the subway through the wye was largely intact, although overgrown in spots. See the next image ...

L201-75-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 16 of 50)

An overgrown section between the subway and wye in 2016, east view. Note behind the thicket is the Pittsburg Power Station, constructed in 1954 by Pacific, Gas and Electric, now overseen by NRG. Any image to the east and north of the right-of-way after this date will show some iteration of this power plant.

L201-80-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 17 of 50)

Now facing west, SN 1017 leads a two-car train to the West Pittsburg shelter on Aug. 11, 1940. The industrial components of Shell Point are visible in the background.

L201-85-Wilbur C. Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Arnold Menke and Garth Groff, (Image 18 of 50)

The Contra Costa Water District buildings are a reminder that this four-car train led by SN 1006 is approaching the West Pittsburg shelter circa 1940, northwest view.

L201-90-Bud Smith, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57094sn, (Image 19 of 50)

A similar west view in 2016. The pumping station has been upgraded from what has been shown from 1940, and the tower has been removed.

L201-95-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 20 of 50)

Brakeman Charles Gsell poses by the rear of a two-car train with SN 1023 in the rear in this west view from June 22, 1941. The switch in this image was the western-most of the several at the start of the wye. Passenger trains would always be seen with the switch positioned to direct traffic via the mainline, San Francisco to Sacramento, the Pittsburg spur local stopping to the west.

L201-100-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 147737sn, (Image 21 of 50)

In 2016, the most westward switch seen here in a west view is positioned on the opposite side or north of the rails relative to the previous image. A full explanation follows.

L201-105-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 22 of 50)

Presented here is a diagram labelled “Sacramento Northern Ry. Proposed Siding West Pittsburg, Mar. 31, 1943”. It is speculated that the opening of the Concord Naval Weapons Station and Oakland Army Base around the same time period necessitated the need to increase the capacity of the western arm of the wye, although the revision shown here was not the design ultimately chosen.

L201-110-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 36916 , (Image 23 of 50)

The pre-1940 wye had single tracks on each arm of the wye. The addition of switch 1 for a dead-end spur, and switch 7 to split the western arm into two tracks, still evident in the 2009 north-oriented aerial, increased freight capacity. Two tracks now extended north of the previous end of the wye at switch 6. Switch 8, seen in the 1950 insert, was added to bring these back to a single track heading out to Mallard Slough. Ref for Insert: USDA Western Division, BUU-4G-80, Mar. 12, 1950.

L201-115-Courtesy Google Earth and Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 93984cv, (Image 24 of 50)

Four east views from 2016 showing A, switch 1, the origin of the dead-end spur; B, switch 2, the origin of the western arm to Mallard; C, the diamond cross-over of the western arm; and, D, switch 3, the origin of the western end of the passing track. The post in the left part of this image had once held the West Pittsburg sign.

L201-120-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 25 of 50)

Now back to SN days, SN 1014, the last passenger train fulfilling the second ICC directive to complete the San Francisco to Pittsburg run on July 12, 1941, sits to the west of the shelter in this northeast view as switch 2 is reset for freight traffic from Mallard. Freight train service continued from Pittsburg as well, specifically from Columbia-US Steel.

L201-125-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 147742sn, (Image 26 of 50)

The meeting of San Francisco-bound SN 1011 and the Pittsburg local SN 1019 at West Pittsburg, circa 1940, east view.

L201-130-Tom Gray Collection, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 27 of 50)

After passenger service ended, the little shelter remained, providing freight workers protection from the elements, the latrine as the only other alternative. SN 604 approaches on the western arm of the wye to Oakland from Sacramento circa 1952, east view. Freight stored on the dead-end spur and passing track seen here was a constant.

L201-135-Reginald McGovern Photo, Courtesy Reginald McGovern, (Image 28 of 50)

The shelter disappeared sometime between 1952 and prior to the SN acquiring its diesel F-3 units in 1957. During that period, back-to-back Western Pacific F-3s, here 920-D in the lead in a southeast view, handled steel traffic via the Santa Fe and Stockton after the SN Lisbon trestle collapsed in mid-1951. The West Pittsburg sign on the shelter ended up on a pole.

L201-140-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 147743sn, (Image 29 of 50)

The pole was still present sans sign in 2016, in a west view with switch 2 visible to the west, left, and in an east view with switch 3 in close proximity, right.

L201-145-Stuart Swiedler Photos , (Image 30 of 50)

The pole with sign is seen as SN 143 passes in this west image from one of the Apr. 12, 1964 “End-of-an-Era” excursions. The track emerging to the right or north is the passing track seen in the earliest of photos, then further right the track for the western arm of the wye, and finally further right, the gondola SM 4013 on the spur track.

L201-150-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85034sn, (Image 31 of 50)

Tom Gray captured it all in this similar west view. For this discussion, switch 3 for the western end of the passing track is seen to the left of MW 302 during this late 1940s excursion.

L201-155-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 32 of 50)

Four views from 2016 showing, A, an east view of the crossing of the passing track at its west end; B, an east view in the middle of the passing track segment; C, an east view of switch 4 at the east end of passing track with switch 5 in the distance for the eastern arm of the wye; and, D, a west view of switch 4 at the east end of the passing track.

L201-160-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 33 of 50)

EK Muller’s east image of SN 661 from June 5, 1951 reinforces the concept of large freight loads and active switching in the area.

L201-165-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 112957sn, (Image 34 of 50)

This east view of the Pittsburg local SN 1001 outbound from Pittsburg on Aug. 26, 1940, the last day, coincidently, of West Pittsburg to Sacramento train service provides a direct contrast to the previous image, as freight traffic during daylight hours would pick up with the impending war. Switch 4 and the eastern end of the passing track can be appreciated in the distance.

L201-170 Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 97950sn, (Image 35 of 50)

As for any images of active freight traffic in the passenger era, the best image found was of SN 606 outbound from Pittsburg. This east view also features switches 4 and 5, and the proximity of the eastern-end of the passing track to the end of the eastern arm of the wye.

L201-175-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 138448sn, (Image 36 of 50)

Switch 5 is seen in 2016 in west, left, and east, right, views at the origin of the eastern end of the wye. If you haven’t noticed by now, the red discs atop the switches were used for other purposes over the years.

L201-180-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 37 of 50)

Next, a series of photos showing the status of the arms of the wye as of 2016, starting with the east arm. A, northwest view from the track to Pittsburg of the bullet hole-ridden switch 5 showing curvature of east arm; B, southeast view from the east arm track back to switch 5; C, northwest view from the east arm track toward the merge with the west arm; and, D, northwest view from the east arm track showing west arm track approaching from west.

L201-185- Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 38 of 50)

For the west arm, A, a northeast view from the west arm track with the dead-end spur to the left or west; B, a northeast view from the west arm track approaching switch 7; C, a southwest view toward switch 7 showing the west arm dividing into two tracks, a 1940s addition; D, a northeast view showing the two tracks of the west arm separating.

L201-190- Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 39 of 50)

Next to the top of the wye. A, a west view of the two west arm tracks to be referred to as the eastern and western-most west arms, respectively; B, a northeast view of the the eastern-most west arm, left, approaching the east arm, right; C, a northeast view of switch 6 and the joining of the eastern-most west arm and the east arm; D, a southeast view of switch 6.

L201-195- Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 40 of 50)

Beyond the wye, the left image shows the fused track, right, and the western-most west arm in a south view back toward the top of the wye. These two tracks would eventually join on the way to Mallard. The right image shows the two tracks heading toward Mallard following the poles. An image of switch 8 was not taken or even reached as a result of overgrowth.

L201-200- Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 41 of 50)

Images of passenger trains on the east arm of the wye are very rare since it was mainly for freight, particularly the steel train from Sacramento to Pittsburg. On the last day of Sunday service San Francisco to Pittsburg, June 29, 1941, this three-car train composed of SN 1014, SN 1005 and the parlor car Bidwell is seen reversing toward Pittsburg in a west view. This train may have gone as far as Mallard for the rail fans, and then ran reverse as seen here.

L201-205-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 147249sn, (Image 42 of 50)

Same situation as the previous image, probably on the second ICC-mandated last run on July 12, 1941, northwest view. Also seen is the then single track west arm coming in from the left and the two arms joining at switch 6, purple arrow, and the ferry Ramon at Mallard along the left edge, orange arrow. Across from the switch is the mile 45 marker, to be seen at close range soon.

L201-210-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57102sn, (Image 43 of 50)

SN 1012 meets SN 1025 at West Pittsburg circa 1940 in this northeast view. The western arm can be traced to the top of the wye marked by the block signals and beyond.

L201-215-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 138450sn , (Image 44 of 50)

A quadruple rarity. A color photo, a freight on the western-most west arm, the post-1940s double-track section displayed, and SN 603 lugging military vehicles. Northeast view, May 31, 1951.

L201-220-HM Stange Photo, Courtesy Art Peterson, (Image 45 of 50)

Maybe even more rare, John Holt caught back-to-back Western Pacific F-3s near the top of the wye in this northeast view, circa 1955. More typically seen between the Pittsburg to Clyde mainline on the steel train detour, their role here may have been to drop off or pick up freight.

L201-225-John Holt Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 147786sn, (Image 46 of 50)

A northeast view of the top of the wye or mile marker 45 on the second and last ICC-mandated service run of July 12, 1941. Switch 6 is visible offering the path of either wye arm. The West Pittsburg shelter will be reached at mile marker 44.78, both markers indicating the distance from San Francisco.

L201-230-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 92727sn, (Image 47 of 50)

This south view north of the top of the wye captures the rear of one of the last trains from San Francisco to Sacramento on Aug. 26, 1940. Given that the last San Francisco-bound train from Sacramento that evening consisted of SN 1015 and SN 1022, this two-car train may have just reversed course to make the 3-hour trip.

L201-235-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 97958sn, (Image 48 of 50)

Now back to 2016, the west view just east of east arm switch 5, this presentation would not have been possible without the generosity of NRG to allow this area to be investigated. Particular thanks to NRG employee Larry Ray for supervision, and to Steve Lane for sharing the opportunity.

L201-240-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 49 of 50)

Same west view, but now from the rear of an Apr. 12, 1964 “End-of-an-Era” excursion heading to Pittsburg, and the exploration of the territory to that city border continues next time.

L201-245-Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 50 of 50)