The Concord Depot – North Views Through Time
After passing under BART, the west-bound lane of Clayton Rd. swings to the right, settling in between East St., left, and the BART elevated structure.
L133-05-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 1 of 19)
During SN operation, however, this area was the “City Limit” and was occupied by the railway right-of-way, with the electrical substation to the right and the depot to the left in this undated north view. This update will focus on north views of the south facing side of the depot.
L133-10-James C Holmes Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 103013sn , (Image 2 of 19)
In the 1973-74 timeframe, the Concord depot was long gone. BART was on the way up and the SN on the way out. North view.
L133-15-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 100585BARTD, (Image 3 of 19)
Back in time to June 1968, only partial remains of the ties of the SN track hint at the position of the former depot. The option of boarding a train was now replaced by the option of spray wax or not after your car wash at the ex-depot site.
L133-20-Louis L Stein Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 100604sn, (Image 4 of 19)
The last electric passenger excursion with SN 1005 and Salt Lake City and Utah 751 parlor car sits at the depot on Jan. 13, 1957, north view. A nice glimpse of East St. along the left margin.
L133-25-Roy Proffer Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 102995sn , (Image 5 of 19)
This north view from the summer of 1956 shows the same SN 1005 and SLU 751 on excursion at the depot. Note the “Concord” sign affixed to the south wall has been obscured by paint.
L133-30-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 6 of 19)
Luckily history buff Louis L. Stein took this undated north view of SN 660 and caboose capturing the temporary coats of paint on the depot.
L133-35-Louis L Stein Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 100606sn, (Image 7 of 19)
The black license of the car by the depot in this north image confines the date to 1951-55. A vine grows along the south-facing wall obscuring the depot name plate.
L133-40-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 100951sn, (Image 8 of 19)
The orange license plate on this car sets the date to the late 1940s to 1950. SN 660 passes the depot, which now sports an additional lean-to structure. Compare the tree-lined appearance of East St., left margin, with that seen from 1957 in L133-25.
L133-45-Buckingham Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54290sn , (Image 9 of 19)
No license plates needed here as MW 302 on excursion passes the depot in a photo opportunity on Sept. 12, 1948, north view.
L133-50-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray , (Image 10 of 19)
The excitement over the final Sunday SN passenger train’s arrival at Concord depot is caught in the moment with this north view of SN 1014, SN 1005 and the Bidwell parlor car, June 29, 1941.
L133-55-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 100976sn, (Image 11 of 19)
Another north view of the depot, SN 1014 and trailer, and a car with 1941 plates...
L133-60-Ken Kidder Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 12 of 19)
... and SN 1025 as part of a three-car train in 1941 ...
L133-65-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 13 of 19)
...and another, SN 1003, SN 1024, and SN 1007, May 25, 1940.
L133-70-Tom Gray Collection, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 14 of 19)
A rare passenger car-freight combination as SN 1005 lines up next to caboose 1613 in this ca. 1940 north view at the depot.
L133-75-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 100978sn, (Image 15 of 19)
Now back to 1922, two passenger trains, SN 1015-1018-1020 and SN 1016-1208 line up at the depot. Note the scaffolding for the future lean-to structure. The individuals pictured, l to r, are VC Ross, Brakeman; Charles O. Holmes, Motorman; Unidentified; Jim Barnes, Conductor.
L133-80-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 57442sn, (Image 16 of 19)
As a comparator to 133-10, this north view south of Clayton Rd. shows the Concord depot facilities on Feb. 14, 1921. The tallest structure in the background with the cupola is the second Concord Grammer School, this structure dating back to the 1890s.
L133-85-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 97265sn , (Image 17 of 19)
Finally, a north view of the Comet, SN 1017 and milk cans at the depot from 1913.
L133-90-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 34291oae, (Image 18 of 19)
SN 1005 and 1023 ready to go on May, 27, 1941 to explore the adjacent yard and the north-facing side of the depot in a future update.
L133-95-Louis Bradas, Jr, Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 67940sn, (Image 19 of 19)
