Bueger’s Crossing and the New Freeway

A six-car passenger train with the parlor car Moraga heads full speed east to the Las Trampas Creek crossing and to what Dudley Thickens called “Bueger’s Crossing”. A train with as many as six-cars was unusual on the south-end of the SN, and required a second engaged passenger motor. Northeast view, Feb. 21, 1937.

L99-05-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59993sn, (Image 1 of 22)

We will eventually end with this north view high above the new S. Main St. interchange of I-680, north view, Jan., 12, 1960. Between this spot and the Walnut Creek “Y” interchange, this road passed over the SN right-of-way, presumably over or next to Bueger’s Crossing. Note the SP San Ramon Branch entering bottom right, today the Iron Horse Trail.

L99-10-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 7226-5, Detail , (Image 2 of 22)

There was no public knowledge of a freeway to be built across the crossing in 1939, but CALTRANS-generated aerials from 1952 were evaluating this path. Las Trampas Creek crossing, black arrow, Alpine Rd. grade crossing, white arrow, the central position and orientation of I-680, orange-outlined arrow. The blue arrow marks Mt. Diablo Blvd. Ref: Left, USDA AAA Western Division 1939-7-25-BUU-280-61.

L99-15-Courtesy CCC Historical Society and Copyright California Department of Transportation 2481-2 , (Image 3 of 22)

The existence of Bueger’s Crossing is traced to Dudley Thickens’ descriptions of his image negatives, although there is some ambiguity as to whether the crossing was to the east or west of the Las Trampas Creek crossing. Most of his notations suggest it was to the east, today filled by I-680. Ref: Left, USDA AAA Western Division 1939-7-25-BUU-280-61.

L99-20-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, (Image 4 of 22)

To follow are six images from 1937-1938 alternating to show northeast and northwest views of trains on the SN right-of-way. First, note in this northeast view, Nov. 31, 1937, a water tower with wind mill and the barn to the left of the three-car train, and a single structure on the hill to the right of it.

L99-25-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71496sn, (Image 5 of 22)

Now in a northwest view, the water tower with wind mill and the barn from L99-25 are just above the Walnut Creek-bound, two-car train, while the structure on the hill in L99-25 is now joined by others to the right of the train. Note the block signal adjacent to the train. This image was indicated by Thickens as "Nearing Bueger's Crossing", Jan. 23, 1938.

L99-30-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71498sn, (Image 6 of 22)

Back to a northeast view, this time on Feb. 14, 1937, similar to L29-25 except that now the additional structures noted in L99-30 come into view at the far right of the image.

L99-35-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71494sn, (Image 7 of 22)

A corrugated structure now appears to the southeast of the four-car train as it heads to Oakland. Northwest View, Jan., 30, 1938.

L99-40-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71500sn, (Image 8 of 22)

This five-car train with the parlor car Moraga trailing heads further east in this northeast view from Jan. 31, 1937 that includes more structures on the hill as the train closes in on the Alpine Rd. grade crossing.

L99-45-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71525sn, (Image 9 of 22)

The final view from this set recorded seconds later relative to L99-45 shows the crossbuck at the Alpine Rd. grade crossing at the far right of the image, and the steepness of the road that is preserved today. Northeast view, Jan. 31, 1937.

L99-50-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71529sn, (Image 10 of 22)

The southeast flank of the SN remained filled with orchards as seen in this northeast view circa 1949-50 BAERA excursion with MW 302 and parlor car Salt Lake and Utah 751.

L99-55-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71845sn, (Image 11 of 22)

A winter scene circa 1951-52 provides a rare view of the hillside along the southeast flank as the freight crosses the Las Trampas Creek.

L99-60-Reginald McGovern Photo, Courtesy Reginald McGovern, (Image 12 of 22)

An east view from Apr. 4, 1953 shows two homes added to the southeast flank of the right-of-way relative to L99-60. These homes line up almost exactly centered under the path of the planned freeway.

L99-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3299-3, Detail , (Image 13 of 22)

A north view from above the Broadway Shopping Center shows the SN Las Trampas crossing, red arrow, and Alpine Rd. grade crossing, green arrow, in late 1955-early 1956 with no apparent signs of freeway construction. Ref: brk00013332_24a #48, BANC PIC 1993.004 CC-C19-84.

L99-70-Clyde Sunderland Photo, Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 14 of 22)

A complementary southwest view to L99-70 late 1955-early 1956 with greater emphasis on the homes to the southeast of the right-of-way. Ref: brk00013330_24a #41, BANC PIC 1993.004 CC-C19-91.

L99-75-Clyde Sunderland Photo, Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 15 of 22)

Now ahead to Feb. 13, 1958 and a southeast view up to S. Main St. as the freeway construction is in full swing. This is approximately one year after the SN abandoned the south end west of Lafayette and de-electrified parts to the east, hence the absence of catenary poles and wires. The route was still active and the crossbuck remained at Alpine Rd.

L99-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-5, Detail , (Image 16 of 22)

A complementary northwest view from Feb. 13, 1958 relative to L99-80 from the Lilac Dr.-S. Main Street intersection along bottom edge.

L99-82-Copyright California Departent of Transportation, 5845-3, Detail, (Image 17 of 22)

By Jan. 29, 1959, the SN had abandoned the right-of-way west of Walnut Creek at Mt. Diablo Blvd. This southeast view shows construction over the empty SN right-of-way, planning ahead for the construction of Olympic Blvd. in its place. Note the SN steel overpass at Las Trampas Creek has been removed, and the details of the S. Main St. freeway ramps are taking shape, top right corner.

L99-85-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 6396-5, Detail , (Image 18 of 22)

Close to opening day, I-680 from a southeast view, Jan. 14, 1960.

L99-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 7241-2, Detail , (Image 19 of 22)

A complementary north view to L99-90, Jan. 14, 1960. The empty SN right-of way and Las Trampas Creek can be found on the right edge, center in the image.

L99-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 7241-1, Detail , (Image 20 of 22)

A final look east on Jan. 12, 1960 showing Las Trampas Creek and Newell Ave. heading below the freeway toward the Broadway Shopping Center.

L99-100-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 7226-8, (Image 21 of 22)

Once the freeway was complete, attention would turn to completing Olympic Blvd. to the west, here shown from I-680 toward the large oak tree by the creek, Apr. 29, 1963.

L99-105-Courtesy Planning and Engineering Divisions, City of Walnut Creek , (Image 22 of 22)