Widboro, Hemme and Other Puzzle Pieces

A northwest view of northern Alamo in fall colors seen from above Hillgrade Ave. circa 1980, a time of transition, with the tracks removed from the SP San Ramon Branch, but no asphalt yet for the Iron Horse Trail.

L270-05-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 1 of 44)

Now back further in time, the May 4, 1947 California-Nevada Railroad Historical Society excursion. Robert L. Stein’s photo, left, and Insley J. Brain’s photo, right, both labelled Alamo, or near to it. Aside from contours on the ridge that have been altered since, the orchards provide no marker as to where these images were actually taken versus today’s town grid of streets.

L270-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 120659sp, l, 75236sp, r, (Image 2 of 44)

An aerial view from the Walnut Creek border, top, to the big curve at Ridgewood Rd., bottom, in 1939 highlights the complete dedication of the area to agriculture, particularly orchards, versus the suburban enclave of the 21st century. Once south of the kink in the trail necessitated by the Highway 680 overpass of Danville Rd. and culverting of San Ramon Creek, yellow arrow, the present path faithfully follows the railroad until downtown Danville.

L270-15-Courtesy Google Earth, Annotated by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 3 of 44)

This update will begin with an examination where the last update ended, yellow arrow, heading southeast where the right-of-way crossed Hillgrade Ave., orange arrow, in this west oriented aerial from Mar. 3, 1952.

L270-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 2481-5 , (Image 4 of 44)

After passing by the site of the former Oakland, Antioch and Eastern trestle, the track curved to the right or west for the short straightaway segment as shown in detail on the right. Southeast view, Apr. 25, 1962.

L270-25-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-1-4:25:62 , (Image 5 of 44)

This is shown on ground level on the left, a southeast view taken by Dan Engstrom from a caboose of the Ozol-Concord Local on a return trip to Concord in Feb. 1978, with the matching image ahead to 2022 on the right. It is truly amazing how the trees along the left or east flank have retained their basic shape in over four decades. The remainder of the images from Feb. 1978 to be shown in this presentation are from Dan as well.

L270-30-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r , (Image 6 of 44)

Inching further south, Dan took this image on the outbound trip from Concord to San Ramon in Feb. 1978, southeast view. Note the first tree on the right or west, the multiple wires crossing over the train’s path, then proceed to the next image.

L270-35-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 7 of 44)

That tree is long gone in 2022, right, but provides an essential marker in Feb. 1978, left, given the distant ridge is obscured in the later matching image. One very subtle feature present in each image are three sets of electrical transmission tower wires passing above the route identified in the previous image. The path then swings to the left or east.

L270-40-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r , (Image 8 of 44)

On to the next southeast directed aerial from Apr. 25, 1962, the left panel shows the position of the electrical transmission towers, red and turquoise arrows, responsible for the wires in the previous image. The right enlargement starting from the bottom edge of the image on the left, shows the distinctive mounds, yellow arrow, just north of Hillgrade Ave. Note the addition of utility poles on the right or west flank, orange arrow, and two drainage culverts, green arrows.

L270-45-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-2, (Image 9 of 44)

Dan’s shot from the caboose in Feb. 1978 captures the just passed Hillgrade grade crossing, left. The mounds are unique for this entire path, and have been preserved as documented in the matched image from 2022, right.

L270-50-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r , (Image 10 of 44)

Heading south, the situation gets a little more complicated comparing early 1960s aerials with late 1970s ground views. These Thomas maps show grade crossings that were present in 1953, colored circles, but did not survive until 1973, and one added grade crossing at Cervato Dr., red square. Reviewing historicaerials.com, the Diablo Vista crossing was there in 1958, but not 1968 or 1979, while Cerro Vista was there in 1958 and 1968, but not 1979. Ref: Left, G1528 A3 T5 1953; Right, G1528 A3 T5 1973

L270-55-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 11 of 44)

This northwest facing aerial from February 21, 1964 taken above the construction of the Highway 680 - Livorna Rd. interchange, left, shows the Hillgrade Ave. grade crossing, turquoise arrow, and the soon-to-be eliminated Cerro Vista grade crossing, yellow arrow, right. Irma Dotson in “San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific” found a reference to a flag stop named Widboro at mile 50.6, placing it somewhere near Cerro Vista.

L270-60-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10463-2, (Image 12 of 44)

The image provided by Dan on the left from Feb. 1978 is more difficult to place, but the presence of the drainage culvert, the utility lines in the trees, and the width of the right-of-way, the location best fits with what is shown on the aerial southeast view taken on Apr. 25, 1962 just south of Hillgrade Ave., right, the yellow arrow pointing to the drainage culvert.

L270-65-Dan Engstrom Photo, l, Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-2, r, (Image 13 of 44)

The next ground image from Dan from Feb. 1978, left, shows the segment of track south of the drainage culvert, but north of Cervato Dr., and if it had still existed, north of Cerro Vista. This segment is shown in a southeast from Apr. 25, 1962 on the right, with the yellow arrow marking the drainage culvert.

L270-70-Dan Engstrom Photo, l, Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-2, r, (Image 14 of 44)

The next southeast image from Dan from Feb. 1978 is one of the most interesting from a photoarcheological perspective. The red arrows show a unique wire configuration over the train, moving from poles west to a single pole east to west. That alignment remains in 2022, and you won’t find it anywhere else in Alamo. In the distance are two poles, marked by the black and green arrows. The insert from Google Maps from 2009 shows the same two poles in the distance, but the insert from 2022, identifying the intersection as Cervato Dr., the pole marked by green in the left images has been replaced.

L270-73-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, Google Maps, and Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 15 of 44)

This southeast view from Apr. 25, 1962 shows four grade crossings, north to south, bottom to top. First is Cervato Dr., then the remains of Diablo Vista, yellow arrow, then Livorna Rd., in 2022, Livorna Rd. West, and ending along the top with West Ramona Way. Note how the width of the right-of-way dramatically widens south of the former Diablo Vista crossing.

L270-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-2 copy, (Image 16 of 44)

Dan’s southeast view from the caboose on Feb. 1978, left, as well as the matching image on the right from 2022, confirm this widening of the width of land around the track.

L270-80-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r , (Image 17 of 44)

The widening of this section along the rails south of the former Diablo Vista grade crossing can be traced back at least until the end of 1938. There are no references to any SP-related facility here, but this would seem to have been a good place given that Livorna Rd. was a fairly prominent east-west conduit. The mileage is too far south to have been Widboro, if Irma Dotson’s published mileage information is accurate.

L270-85-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 18 of 44)

Moving further south, the southeast-directed aerial on the left from Apr. 25, 1962 highlights the big curve leading to what would become the commercial center of Alamo, centered around Stone Valley Rd. and the eventual Highway 680 interchange. The detail on the right labels the three grade crossings at the northern part of the curve.

L270-90-Courtesy California Department of Transportation, 8837-3, (Image 19 of 44)

Going back to the early 20th century, east view shows the big curve along the right or west edge with a cut through a small hill, left panel. The enlarged detail on the right shows the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Danville Branch and its station and warehouses at Alamo. The date of this image is not known, but the Danville Branch was abandoned in 1924.

L270-95-Cheney and Bird Photo, D4616C, Courtesy John Bosko Collection, (Image 20 of 44)

Back to Dan’s ride toward Danville and San Ramon in Feb. 1978, presented are two views as the Local starts the curve with more features of Las Trampas Ridge coming into view. Note the tree profile on the ridge ahead in the right image differs from that seen in the previously shown more northerly image in L270-30.

L270-100-Dan Engstrom Photos, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 21 of 44)

Two south views of the big curve, Feb. 1978 from Dan taken from the caboose of the Local south of Litina Dr., left, and in 2022, right, north of Litina Dr., both showing the Ridgewood Rd. crossing in the distance. The review has reached mile 51.5 of the SP route.

L270-105-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r, (Image 22 of 44)

The big curve can be admired in this northwest view from Feb. 21, 1964, left, showing the construction of the Highway 680-Stone Valley Rd. interchange. The enlarged detail on the right shows the Lunada Ln. grade, crossing yellow arrow, and an orchard outlined by the turquoise line. In 2022, a development is bisected by St. Alphonsus Way. This relates to what comes next …

L270-110-Courtesy California Department of Transportation, 10463-3, (Image 23 of 44)

Dan captured this east view toward Mt. Diablo, but the orchard outlined in the last entry is almost gone, save a stand of trees. Historicaerials.com documents the change in appearance having taken place between 1968 and 1979.

L270-115-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 24 of 44)

The next landmark was the site of the former Alamo SP station structure and warehouse. The purple circle encloses the warehouse, Irma Dotson noting that the station structure was removed very close in time to the date of the aerial.

L270-120-Courtesy Google Earth, Annotated by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 25 of 44)

The next southwest aerial from Apr. 25, 1962, left panel, features the crossing of Lunada Ln., enlarged on the right, after which the utility poles flip from the west to the east side of the track.

L270-125-Courtesy California Department of Transportation, 8837-4, (Image 26 of 44)

Dan looks back at the Lunada Ln. crossing from his caboose perch on the Local in Feb., 1978. The right, top panel, shows the crossing in 2022, where the post under the stop sign is incorrectly inscribed as Stone Valley Rd., and the panel below shows a northwest view from the same spot showing the large space along the east or right flank, of no known significance to the railroad operation.

L270-130-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r, (Image 27 of 44)

True to the spirit of puzzle pieces, presented here are two images Dan took in sequence, left to right, on his trip south in Feb. 1978. The train is curving west in the left image, the utility pole on the east flank, and there is a building, meaning it could have been taken after crossing Lunada Ln. or before Hemme Ave. based on the 1979 aerial from historicaerials.com. The train on the right is at a crossing on a straight segment, no buildings or poles are are seen.

L270-135-Dan Engstrom Photos, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 28 of 44)

This image of the southeast view of the town center on Apr. 25, 1962 reveals the straight section of rail with the utility poles on the east or left flank. The yellow arrow points to a trestle, and given that the previous image did not show any signs of it or the next crossing, that image was most likely taken at the Las Trampas Rd. grade crossing. Ref for Insert: Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkeley, G1528 A3 T5 1973

L270-140-Courtesy California Department of Transportation, 8837-4, (Image 29 of 44)

Wayne Monger provided this image, the only one in this presentation with an east view across the right of way, with SP 2596 holding up traffic on Sept. 7, 1978. The location remains a matter of conjecture. Despite the large evergreen obscuring much of the view in 2022, the choice of location would favor La Serena Ave., as it matches up favorably as to wires, poles, and tree configuration between the time periods.

L270-142-Wayne Monger Photo, Courtesy Wayne Monger, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r, (Image 30 of 44)

The trestle is seen in the left image from Feb. 1978, and the same southeast view from 2022 is juxtaposed on the right.

L270-145-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r, (Image 31 of 44)

Dan had earlier in his ride taken southeast views crossing the creek, and the subsequent turn afterward, left to right, respectively, including the footpath and documenting the utility poles on the east or left flank.

L270-150-Dan Engstrom Photos, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 32 of 44)

On May 4, 1947, the excursion train with SP 1795 sat by the warehouse at Alamo or Hemme, the latter name noted by Irma Dotson as the original name of the area to honor local land owner August Hemme. The date of the removal of the warehouse has not been found, but it was absent in the previous aerial from 1962.

L270-153-Louis L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 75269sp, (Image 33 of 44)

A word on the SP station depot in Alamo located at milepost 52.6. Irma Dotson shows three images in her book, one showing the northerly position of the station relative to the warehouse. The footprint of the former is marked by the orange arrow. No additional images have been found. The park that was created in 2018 on the other side of Hemme Ave., turquoise arrow, is shown in a southeast view, top left, and a northeast view, bottom left, in 2022.

L270-155-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 34 of 44)

Once the curve past Hemme Ave. is complete, the rail and trail make one gentle easterly curve just north of San Ramon High School as it approaches central Danville.

L270-160-Courtesy Google Earth, Annotated by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 35 of 44)

This southeast-directed aerial from Apr. 25, 1962 shows Alamo to just short of its border with Danville. The corridor beginning where the utility poles flipped to the west side, orange arrow, until Camille Ave. was lined by dense tree cover and an open patch of land to the east or left. Based on historicaerials.com, this area was completely developed with houses between 1968 and 1979, and almost all the trees lining the right-of-way were removed. Ref for Insert: Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkeley, G1528 A3 T5 1973

L270-165-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-4, (Image 36 of 44)

A similar set of southeast view and detail, this time from Feb. 11, 1965, above the almost completed Stone Valley Rd. - Highway 680 interchange. The trees bear witness to the winter scene. The orange arrow at Wayne Ave. points to two side-by-side utility poles, the last poles encountered as the right-of-way entered into Danville.

L270-170-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 11404-5, (Image 37 of 44)

The information provided in the last two aerials explains why this southeast view from Feb. 1978 is looking toward the Camille Ave. grade crossing, and looks nothing like the area presented in the 1960s aerials. Note as well the addition of grade crossing gates at the crossing, the first seen since leaving Walnut Creek based on Dan’s images from 1978. The utility poles continue past the crossing.

L270-175-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 38 of 44)

This southeast view from June 4, 1963 with accompanying detail on the right displays the entry into Danville. The two side-by-side terminal utility poles at the Wayne Ave. grade crossing in Alamo are marked by the orange arrow. The turquoise arrow marks the creek that serves as the border with Danville. Once past the creek, only the Hartford Rd. and Del Amigo Rd. grade crossings exist to the northern border of the Del Amigo High School - San Ramon High School complex.

L270-180-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 9761-4, (Image 39 of 44)

Dan was ready in the caboose of the Local for the most northerly creek crossing in Danville, southeast view, Feb. 1978, left panel. To the right, the same view with the replacement bridge on the trail in 2022. The Hartford Rd. crossing is seen in the distance.

L270-185-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r, (Image 40 of 44)

Moments before the previous image, Dan also documented the Hartford Rd. crossing, southeast view, Feb. 1978, left panel. To the right, the same view on the trail in 2022. Note in the left panel that the rails meet a tree barrier in the distance, signifying the eastward curve before Del Amigo Rd.

L270-190-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, l, Stuart Swiedler Photo, r, (Image 41 of 44)

The large aforementioned tree barrier, an evergreen, is seen at the curve north of the Del Amigo Rd. as documented by Dan, left panel, and moments before, he passed the straightaway leading from Love Ln. in the distance to his spot alongside San Ramon Valley High School, right panel.

L270-195-Dan Engstrom Photos, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 42 of 44)

This northwest view of the path of the new freeway crossing through Danville on Nov. 21, 1963, left panel, shows some landmark features of the right-of-way, the first shown on the right. The orange arrow marks a small trestle over a creek between the Del Amigo Rd. and Love Ln. grade crossings, top and bottom, north and south, respectively. The creek was subsequently culverted and covered on the east side of the trail, but is still visible on the west side in 2022.

L270-200-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10207-1 , (Image 43 of 44)

From the same northwest view, Nov. 21, 1963, now highlighting south of Love Ln., the spur to the Danville Warehouse and Lumber Co., much reduced from the 811 feet shown in Irma Dotson’s diagram from 1912 of the facility. Dotson provides published local accounts of the Company until 1961, but this image suggests the days of the SP serving the concrete or aggregates section, or the few remaining warehouses along the left lower edge, were much reduced in scope or over. Appreciation to Dan Engstrom for providing his personal collection of right-of-way images of this section of the SP San Ramon Branch, a truly unique set of images. Also, to Wayne Monger for supplying color shots.

L270-205-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10207-1 , (Image 44 of 44)