Monument Boulevard to Hookston

Leaving off from last time, a southeast view from Mar. 3, 1969 brings the survey to the Monument Blvd. grade crossing.

L211-06-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-32, Detail, (Image 1 of 25)

It is at Monument Blvd. where the the Corridor Trail ends, and the Iron Horse Trail and SP San Ramon Branch join to head south.

L211-10-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 2 of 25)

Next a southeast view from Mar. 3, 1969 of the area to be reviewed, from the Monument Blvd. grade crossing and bridge through to the industrial buildings at Hookston. Note the BART test track running along the top of the image.

L211-15-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-31, Detail, (Image 3 of 25)

The BART test track is now in the foreground of this northwest view from Mar. 3, 1969 looking right down Bancroft Rd. into Hookston. Although the latter and the Hook family are associated with Pleasant Hill, this section is where Pleasant Hill and unincorporated pockets to the west of the trail meet Concord and Walnut Creek to the east of the trail.

L211-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-44, Detail, (Image 4 of 25)

This southwest view is included to give an idea of the level of development of this area circa 1956. Monument Blvd. may be seen coming in from the left edge one-third of the way from the bottom of the image. Ref: brk00017182_24a

L211-25-Clyde Sunderland Photo, Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 5 of 25)

Four views from 2018 of the Corridor Trail. A, At Victory Ln., south view toward Monument Blvd.; B, the southern terminus just north of Monument Blvd., north view; C, joining of the Iron Horse Trail with Corridor Trail, southwest view; and D, northeast view across Monument Blvd. where the two trails meet.

L211-30-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 6 of 25)

A view from the back of the north-bound Ozol Local at Monument Blvd. shows the 86 foot-long bridge at mile 44.64 spanning Walnut Creek, the second one used at this location according to Irma Dotson. What follows are three additional images from Dan Engstrom’s Feb. 1978 ride, approaching the bridge from the north.

L211-35-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom , (Image 7 of 25)

Approaching Monument Blvd., Feb. 1978, south view.

L211-40-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom , (Image 8 of 25)

Crossing Monument Blvd., Feb. 1978, south view.

L211-45-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom , (Image 9 of 25)

Crossing the bridge just south of Monument Blvd., Feb. 1978, south view.

L211-50-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom , (Image 10 of 25)

Wayne Monger was there on Sept. 19, 1978 to record the last train led by SP 2634 crossing the bridge, southeast view.

L211-55-Wayne Monger Photo, Courtesy Wayne Monger , (Image 11 of 25)

South and north views, left to right, respectively, of the last train led by SP 2634 at Monument Blvd., Sept. 19, 1978.

L211-60-Wayne Monger Photo, Courtesy Wayne Monger , (Image 12 of 25)

A south view of the bridge in 2018 showing the walkway added in 1990.

L211-65-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 13 of 25)

Later updates will cover the area from the bridge through to Treat Blvd. For the remainder of this update, the area between the bridge and south to Hookston will be reviewed. Southeast view, Mar. 3, 1969.

L211-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-32, Detail, (Image 14 of 25)

A north view of the area between the bridge to just south of Treat Blvd. on Mar. 3, 1969 is shown to the left. The middle panel shows the north section from the 1969 image, and a 2019 version is to the far right. The trail deviates to the east a short distance after the creek crossing, white arrow, and then through Hookston starting just south of the Lisa Ln. grade crossing, orange arrow.

L211-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-23, Detail, and Google Maps , (Image 15 of 25)

The same Mar. 3, 1969 to 2019 comparison for the entire Hookston area. The area has retained its industrial beginnings. The trail and rail right-of-way become coincident just above Mayhew Way, turquoise arrow.

L211-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-23, Detail, and Google Maps, (Image 16 of 25)

Ted Hook of the pioneer family that settled Pleasant Hill and provided the land for the railroad is seen on his horse in the early 20th century, north view. Note the outline for the Walnut Creek Bridge in the distance.

L211-85-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 3276, (Image 17 of 25)

According to George Emanuels “Ygnacio Valley, 1834-1970”, the Hookston Winery started by the Hooks was the largest in the Ygnacio Valley. The Martinez Winery bought them out in 1892, and then the operation was sold to the California Wine Association in 1920. Note the wine barrels to the far left of the image in this undated view.

L211-90-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 52651, (Image 18 of 25)

Although the wine operation was closed about a decade later, the buildings remained as seen in this northeast view from Mar. 10, 1957 ...

L211-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5397-3, Detail, (Image 19 of 25)

... and this northeast view from Jan. 14, 1960.

L211-100-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 7240-2, Detail, (Image 20 of 25)

By Mar. 3, 1969, all the original building were history. Northeast view. See the next image for the direct side-by-side comparison.

L211-105-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-24, Detail, (Image 21 of 25)

A side-by-side comparison as noted. For this comparison, the middle image from 1960 was from Jan. 12, 1960.

L211-110-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5397-3, 7226-2, 15606-24, Details, (Image 22 of 25)

A small shelter sat near Hookston Rd. during the passenger era, the northeast view on the left, but by Feb. 22, 1942, north view on the right, only a flag stop sign remained.

L211-115-SP Official Photo, Courtesy BAERA, WRM Archives, 73572sp and CCC Historical Soc., 12990, (Image 23 of 25)

Two freight shots at Hookston, this one from Feb. 7, 1976, north view ...

L211-120-Wayne Monger Photo, Courtesy Wayne Monger, (Image 24 of 25)

... and Feb. 1978, north view. Note how the electrical lines temporarily flip to the east side of the tracks. More on this subject next time.

L211-125-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 25 of 25)