The Curious Incident of the Overpass of the Walnut Creek, 1936

The BART overpass of the Walnut Creek seen in a north oblique view in 2012. Before revealing the “curious incident”, a chronological trip back in time at this location will follow.

L127-05-Courtesy Google , (Image 1 of 18)

An east view over I-680 at the Oak Park Blvd. interchange brings the timeline back to Mar. 3, 1969. A detail is next.

L127-10-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-25, (Image 2 of 18)

A detail from an east view over I-680 at the Oak Park Blvd. interchange, Mar. 3, 1969, reveals the BART test track crossing the creek alongside the soon to disappear orchards of the Bancrofts’ Mount Diablo Fruit Farm.

L127-15-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-25, Detail, (Image 3 of 18)

One more view for good measure from Mar. 3, 1969, here a northeast view showing the recently channelized creek.

L127-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-24, Detail , (Image 4 of 18)

The creek was not channelized when they built the test track. Here from Apr. 12, 1965, the same northeast view as L127-20.

L127-25-SF BARTD Photo, Collection of Harre Demoro, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 5 of 18)

The SN Walnut Creek overpass is seen in this Mar. 3, 1957 southeast view with the then flourishing orchards of the Bancroft family in the background, or east.

L127-30-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5397-4, Detail, (Image 6 of 18)

Nobody did more justice to the overpass than Wil Whittaker in this northwest view of SN 1006 and SN 1023 heading to Oakland in 1940. The only image found of the overpass from the passenger era, it shows the central pillar supporting two steel structures. The creek is merely a trickle in this image.

L127-35-Wilbur C Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Concord Historical Society, Arnold Menke and Garth Groff , (Image 7 of 18)

The overpass held up well until its unceremonious removal for the BART test track as evidenced by this northwest view taken just months previously during the End-of-an-era excursion led by SN 143 on Apr. 12, 1964. However, that cannot be said for its history prior to 1940.

L127-37-Tony Perles Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85021sn, (Image 8 of 18)

SF-Sacramento Railway president Harry Mitchell took several photos of the overpass in 1925. The single steel structure in this northeast view is supported by wood and steel trussing. The top of the Bancroft produce shed confirms the location.

L127-40-Harry A Mitchell Photo, Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRM Archives, 57480sn, (Image 9 of 18)

This northeast image was also taken by Mitchell, listed as 1925. Craig Sundstrom noted that this must be a revision of the support structure with concrete. The end of the trussing appears modified from the previous image. Additional information about the date of its removal has not been found.

L127-45-Harry A Mitchell Photo, Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRM Archives, 57479sn, (Image 10 of 18)

The Oakland Tribune of February 13, 1936 reported massive flooding in California that resulted in damage and closure of the overpass when the course of the Walnut Creek changed. This drawing accompanying the overpass revision proposal from the JF Knapp Co. of Oakland from May 22, 1936 is in response to the curious event that occurred in February.

L127-50-JF Knapp Co. Drawing, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 29808sn , (Image 11 of 18)

Now for the event, seen in a northeast view from Feb. 16, 1936. Dudley Thickness was an employee of the SN at the time and made a thorough pictorial documentation of the overpass support collapse. Although no photos have been found, based on L127-35 from 1940, a second steel overpass structure was added after the structure was secured.

L127-55-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59055bsn, (Image 12 of 18)

First from the northeast perspective, the scene on the overpass on Feb. 16, 1936.

L127-60-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59055asn, (Image 13 of 18)

A detail of of L127-60, northeast view from Feb. 16, 1936, does not provide identification of the motor, but nicely shows the switch track for the spur and pole positions to the Bancroft produce shed to the north, or left, and the Bancroft station shelter to the south, or right.

L127-65-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59055asn, detail, (Image 14 of 18)

Next from the southwest perspective, the scene on the overpass on Feb. 16, 1936.

L127-70-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59055csn, (Image 15 of 18)

A detail of of L127-70, southwest view from Feb. 16, 1936, shows the two crossbucks to the left, or south, for the two Las Juntas Way grade crossings, and freight awaiting the SN or SP to be switched at Las Juntas, to the north, or right.

L127-75-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59055csn, detail, (Image 16 of 18)

The impasse created by the overpass abutment collapse necessitated bus service, here shown after depositing riders to a soon to be west-bound train at Walnut Creek in this southwest view by the depot, Feb. 16, 1936.

L127-80-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59056asn, (Image 17 of 18)

A final and complementary northwest view along the Contra Costa County Walnut Association building of buses taking train riders to Concord on Feb 16, 1936. Appreciation to Craig Sundstrom for his contributions to this piece.

L127-85-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59056bsn, (Image 18 of 18)