Around Cape Horn or Melin Cut

The entry of the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern trains into Shepherd Canyon was possible only after the completion of Melin Cut at Cape Horn. The Journal of Electricity, Power and Gas, Vol. 28, No. 10, March 9, 1912 noted that the cut was created by the J.G. White and Co., engineers, of New York and San Francisco, but efforts to find out who Melin was have been unsuccessful. East view, circa 1913.

L35-01-From the family photo collection of Mary Mangini , (Image 1 of 23)

The total time to create the cut is not known, but this 1911 east view would suggest this massive effort and encampment continued into 1912 prior to through train traffic between Alameda and Contra Costa Counties after completion of the tunnel in early 1913.

L35-02-Cook and Cooke Photo, Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRM, 24110sn, (Image 2 of 23)

This close-up of L35-02 speaks for itself. Part of the job also required repositioning the electrical power towers.

L35-03-Cook and Cooke Photo, Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRM, 24110sn, Detail, (Image 3 of 23)

East views from Snake Road, white arrow, through Cape Horn or Melin Cut from 1929, top, and 1960, bottom. The SN right-of-way is indicated by the yellow arrows. Full attribution - Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library and Public Works Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department

L35-05-Oakland History Room and Copyright CALTRANS, 7453-12, Detail, (Image 4 of 23)

This aerial of Sept. 23, 1953 provides the relationship of the section of right-of-way from Snake Road to the initial turn into the canyon. Blasting a path or cut to enter Shepherd Canyon maintained the SN’s elevation gain starting from the ascent from Rockridge. Northeast view.

L35-10-Public Works Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 5 of 23)

For the purposes of image identification, this northeast oriented aerial view from March 10, 1957 shows the shift in position of the catenary poles from the east or uphill side to the west or downhill side of the track after one pole southeast of Snake Road. Note the block signals, three poles south of Snake.

L35-15-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Detail 5398-1, (Image 6 of 23)

SN 661 has just passed through the cut and is making its way west across the Snake Road trestle, the latter indicated by the mile 12 marker. Wartime images of the SN are rare, but three additional ones are in the queue. Southeast view, Sept. 4, 1943.

L35-20-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 7 of 23)

It is now 1952, there is a new war on, and SN 661 is now marked by large numerals and stripes as it retraces the rout from L35-20 in this southeast view. The two houses above on Megellan Drive are still fixtures at this site.

L35-25-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 56011.8sn, (Image 8 of 23)

This site is currently a good place for a picnic or a great view, but on Oct. 4, 1954, riders of a MW 302 excursion had to evacuate the train due to a fire below the train. This event necessitated removal of the motor from this SN favorite. More on this later.

L35-30-Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 9 of 23)

The section south of the trestle at Snake Road was a popular spot for WWII-era images, possibly because there was no one around to prevent this shunned upon practice during wartime. Here SN 660 and companion motor are at the last outward pole before the trestle with a clear view of the block signals that marked the area.

L35-32-Railroad Negative Exchange, Courtesy Charles Smiley, (Image 10 of 23)

Back to WWII, the position of SN 660 may be ascertained as east of the Snake trestle by the position of the catenary wire holders and the undisturbed background foliage and as yet undeveloped lots above. A slice of the block signal too. Southeast view, Nov. 27, 1943.

L35-35-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 11 of 23)

SN 605 has just passed the block signal at the second east side catenary wire pole and is heading for the cut. The pole and block signal positions can be confirmed from L35-15. Northeast view, 1944.

L35-40-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 12 of 23)

Proceeding further east, a northwest view captures the inaugural excursion pairing of SN 1005 and MW 302 from July 6, 1952. Homes have filled the hills across the canyon, but the extension of the Mountain Boulevard Freeway through Montclair to Park Boulevard is still years away.

L35-45-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58887sn , (Image 13 of 23)

A west view of the cut three years after SN abandonment, Apr. 22, 1960.

L35-50-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Detail 7453-11, (Image 14 of 23)

Here SN 1009 and SN 226 emerge from the cut on July 6, 1940. East view.

L35-52-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64879sn, (Image 15 of 23)

These undated west views from the top of the cut show the western and eastern sections, top and bottom, respectively with SN 1015.

L35-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52128sn, top, 52127sn, bottom, (Image 16 of 23)

A complementary east view to L35-55 showing the proliferation of eucolyptus trees above the cut.

L35-60-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 56026sn, (Image 17 of 23)

Same west view with SN 1015 and Moraga parlor car heading to the Montclair central business district, May 17, 1938.

L35-65-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 18 of 23)

Further east, this east view on quick inspection appears to have been taken minutes before L35-65 except that three-car train number seven is now being pulled by SN 1016 and the clock has been moved ahead to 1940.

L35-70-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 19 of 23)

A look back west in this undated image of the massive electrical transmission towers that appear to be precariously perched on the cut, a scene repeated at several points along the canyon.

L35-75-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52062sn, (Image 20 of 23)

It would be remiss to not include at least one image of the poles that were added circa 1950 to insure that the catenary poles did not shift or fall prey to potential slides within the cut. There is no documentation of the latter event ever taking place. West view of SN excursion, circa 1955.

L35-80-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55874sn, (Image 21 of 23)

A final southwest view of the eastern section of the cut. This undated image documents the block signal that serves as an important marker and will be featured in the next image ...

L35-85-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 56025sn , (Image 22 of 23)

Now with an east view, the Comet has just passed the featured block signal in the easternmost section of the cut in 1937, and is about to make the final turn to begin the canyon straight-away to Havens.

L35-90-Wilbur C. Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Arnold Menke, (Image 23 of 23)