The Sacramento Northern’s Other Tunnel

The long SN tunnel between Shepherd Canyon and Eastport got most of the notoriety because of its link between Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, but the other tunnel allowing passage from Chabot Canyon to Temescal was important once an efficient auto tunnel route was established in 1937 between the counties. Southeast view, June 19, 1956.

L4-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 4975-01, Detail, (Image 1 of 20)

Prior to the construction of the Broadway Low Level Tunnel, the railroad navigated an open path on the steep climb east along the edge of Chabot Canyon to Lake Temescal as seen in this east view from Jul. 21, 1922. The extension of Broadway to the tunnel necessitated a path beneath the new road.

L4-10-Cheney Photo W124, Courtesy of East Bay Municipal Utility District, P-DM-243, (Image 2 of 20)

A west view from Broadway shows SN 661 approaching the underpass in 1948. The presence of the motor at the rear of the train is explained in Robert A. Campbell Sr.'s "SN Operating Rules Through the Oakland Hills" at http://people.virginia.edu/~ggg9y/power.html

L4-15-Roger Heller Photo, from the collection of the Moraga Historical Society, Moraga, CA, NN-70, (Image 3 of 20)

Given that Chabot Rd. had provided direct auto and pedestrian access to Lake Temescal prior to the extension of Broadway, a small bore for that road was also included. SN 652 and freight as well as an auto on Chabot Rd. are shown in this west view from Broadway on Aug, 25, 1956.

L4-20-Fred Matthews Photo, Courtesy Anonymous Donor, (Image 4 of 20)

Joint Highway District #13 provided two grade separations or overpasses for Broadway, one over Golden Gate Ave., and a second over the SN and Chabot Rd. entry to Lake Temescal. Not a true tunnel, this east view from 1957, post-SN abandonment, shows the western-facing wall of the SN “box structure underpass” complete with retaining wall.

L4-25-Enrique K Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 69436sn, (Image 5 of 20)

An undated west view of the eastern-facing wall of the underpass as viewed from a vantage point coincident with the northwest origin of today’s trail along Lake Temescal.

L4-30-Grahame Hardy Collection, Courtesy California State Railroad Museum, CSRM 33349 , (Image 6 of 20)

The completion of the structure was noted in the Oakland Tribune on Jan. 6, 1935. This undated west view places you within the underpass looking toward Chabot Canyon and Rockridge. A trip through the underpass will begin at the Chabot Canyon or west side.

L4-35-Grahame Hardy Collection, Courtesy California State Railroad Museum, CSRM 33366, (Image 7 of 20)

Now facing east, the underpass appears in this Jan. 28, 1954 view with the path from Chabot Rd. to the right. The unreadable sign will come into view as the underpass is approached.

L4-40-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 8 of 20)

SN 605 emerges from the Broadway underpass, circa 1950, east view.

L4-45-Robert P. Townley Photo, Courtesy Robert P. Townley, (Image 9 of 20)

The access to the Lake via Chabot Rd. appears to the right as SN 606 emerges with its load from Lake Temescal in this east view from Apr. 1, 1947. Still need to get closer to read the sign.

L4-50-Robert L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 47197sn, (Image 10 of 20)

Proceeding further east, the sign’s warning is obvious given the dangers that lurk in an underpass, directing those on foot to enter the Lake Temescal through the Chabot Rd. underpass. SN 661 on view from 1949. No images have been found to document cars passing through this portal, although prior to Broadway’s construction cars were permitted via this approach.

L4-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 56035sn, (Image 11 of 20)

Ignoring the warning sign, this undated east view was taken within the underpass on the way to Lake Temescal.

L4-60-Grahame Hardy Collection, Courtesy California State Railroad Museum, CSRM 33365, (Image 12 of 20)

Inching closer to the lake, an east view from within the underpass, this time dated, Jan. 28, 1954.

L4-65-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 14 of 20)

SN 660 is seen on the rear of a SN 652-led freight that appears to have surrounded by a forest, but a small section of the Landvale Rd. at the top left or southeast signals that this train has just emerged from the tunnel under Broadway just west of Lake Temescal and has almost finished climbing the grade on Aug. 25, 1956.

L4-70-Fred Matthews Photo, Courtesy Anonymous Donor , (Image 15 of 20)

Now standing on Broadway right above the right-of-way on Feb. 2, 1950, SN 661 can be seen making its way west to the underpass with the Landvale Rd. overpass looming overhead in the background.

L4-75-Al Thoman Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 20423sn, (Image 16 of 20)

Now facing toward the west with Lake Temescal in view circa 1940, a two-car passenger train with SN 1014 begins the journey along the lake toward Broadway Terrace.

L4-80-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52061sn , (Image 17 of 20)

Another view toward the northeast of SN 1016 leading a two car train along the lake after its passage from Chabot Canyon.

L4-85-J.G. Graham Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 45631sn , (Image 18 of 20)

A panoramic to summarize the views of the other tunnel seen from a southeast view, June 19, 1956.

L4-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 4975-02, Detail, (Image 19 of 20)

It is highly unlikely that any part of the underpasses for the SN or Chabot Road remain buried between Chabot Canyon and Lake Temescal. It would be much easier to view the similar existing structure at Golden Gate Ave. and dream ....

L4-95-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 20 of 20)