Coyotes, Palms and the Western Trestle

On leaving the SN West Pittsburg wye, the area to the east up until the Pittsburg Power Plant has remained wild and untamed.

L202-05-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 1 of 24)

This east view of a two-car train composed of SN 1023 and SN 1014 was taken on June 22, 1941 as passenger service was about to be abandoned by the SN. The presence of grazing sheep and the lack of trees is much like the ranch lands to the west had been.

L202-10-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 68438sn, (Image 2 of 24)

Even after the power plant was built in 1954, the area remained the same except for the tall electrical towers heading north-south. East view circa 1956-1957 during one of the last SN excursions.

L202-15-Dave Gumz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 148864sn, (Image 3 of 24)

Setting out from the wye and heading east on the right-of-way in 2016 presented itself with a different composition of flora that would compromise an easy stroll through the wetlands.

L202-20-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 4 of 24)

Further east would lead to sighting of one adult coyote from a distance, and this young pup that emerged from the tall grasses. On the subject of tall, a variety of palms and palmettos were encountered, Steve Lane posed to provide a sense of height of this particular tree.

L202-25-Steve Lane Photo, Center, Stuart Swiedler Photos, l and r, (Image 5 of 24)

Two west views as the walk progressed east, A and B, highlighted the more recent invading species, the origins of which and affinity for the rails have not been deciphered. Near the overhead power lines looking east, C, or west, D, an area that was impassable thanks in part to blackberry bushes. This forced the walk to be detoured on boardwalks through the grasses and creeks.

L202-30-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 6 of 24)

Heading east and approaching the no longer used oil storage tanks, once through a dense collection of trees, A, the first trestle of note came into view, B. Once over the structures, west views reveal the north-facing side of the crossing, C, and south-facing supports, D.

L202-35-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 7 of 24)

One could only imagine reviewing what has been shown so far from a low flying plane, or perhaps from the power plant cooling towers built by Pacific, Gas and Electric in 1973 for contained cooling. West view, 2016. Go to the next image to make it so ...

L202-40-Stuart Swielder Photo , (Image 8 of 24)

A panoramic south view taken from the cooling tower derived from several photos shows the line of trees along the right-of-way starting with the tree marked by the orange arrow to the right or west. The purple arrow shows part of the series of boardwalks through the area, to the south of which or above is the area of track impassable by foot.

L202-45-Stuart Swielder Photos, (Image 9 of 24)

Now back in time to George Russell’s flight over the area circa 1930. This southwest is provided to summarize what has already been discussed in the previous two landmark presentations. Ref: API 578_13_BOX 71 thru 74.

L202-50-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 10 of 24)

Heading further east, but keeping a southwest view, the county road is seen dipping under the two major transcontinental railroads and returning to a eastward direction just prior to the cluster of trees and a ranch. The creek at the right edge can be seen passing under the SN right-of-way with no trestle required. Ref: API 578_9_BOX 73.

L202-55-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 11 of 24)

Now to north views circa 1930. Ref: API 578_24_BOX 72

L202-60-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 12 of 24)

A detail of the previous north view circa 1930 shows the same ranch and tree cluster toward the left or west side of the image. The road dipping under the train tracks can be appreciated, as well as SN trains at the West Pittsburg wye toward the upper left. Ref: API 578_24_BOX 72

L202-65-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 13 of 24)

Moving further east, this north view circa 1930 shows a large creek emptying into Suisun Bay. Ref:API 578_22_BOX 72

L202-70-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 14 of 24)

Moving further east, this north view circa 1930 shows the relation of this creek to the west border of the city of Pittsburg. Ref: API 578_28_BOX 72

L202-75-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 15 of 24)

This detail of the previous image of a north view circa 1930 marks with an orange arrow a SN trestle crossing this creek. Ref: API 578_28_BOX 72

L202-80-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 16 of 24)

Paul Smith’s east view from a train at this trestle is shown here in the left panel. A detail from the same image in the right panel shows this same trestle in the foreground, labelled Trestle 1 for discussion purposes, as well as evidence for a second trestle to the east, as well as some freshly placed ballast at the Pittsburg border.

L202-85-Paul Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 138446sn, (Image 17 of 24)

A detail from a cracked glass plate negative on the left circa 1930 provides an east view of the second trestle and the fresh ballast. The right image of a detail from another east view from Jan. 20, 1951 shows the two trestle discussed, as well as the creek winding its way across the SN right-of-way. Refs: George Russell Photo, Detail, API 628_3_BOX 95, left; R.L. Copeland Photo, Detail, 7275, right.

L202-90-Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, l, and the Contra Costa County Historical S, (Image 18 of 24)

Next, three views of the western-most trestle, Trestle 1. This northwest view is the only image found of a train on the trestle from the passenger train era, July 14, 1938, in this case with the train heading to Pittsburg.

L202-95-Wilbur C. Whittaker photos, Courtesy Arnold Menke and Garth Groff , (Image 19 of 24)

This northeast view of MW 302 from the Sept. 12, 1948 BAERA-sponsored excursion is a reminder that trestles on the Pittsburg branch did not receive mile markers as customary for all trestles on the SN mainline from San Francisco to Chico.

L202-100-Victor DuBrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 77405sn, (Image 20 of 24)

One additional view of the same scene from Sept. 12, 1948 adds some additional details of the city in the distance. Finally, this trestle appears different than the one found in the same spot today. No additional information has been found.

L202-105-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray Photo , (Image 21 of 24)

This comparison of north-oriented aerials from 1939 and 2018 is proof that the next trestle, Trestle 2, would be at today’s Pittsburg western city border if it still existed. The views also prove that there is no longer any evidence from the air of the eastern arm of the creek leading to this since removed trestle.

L202-110-Courtesy Google, (Image 22 of 24)

Back on the right-of way in 2016, on leaving Trestle 1, a northwest view of a city water pumping facility, A, and then three consecutive east views of overhead power plant pipes, B, a cattle guard, C, and the last set of trees as the city border is approached, D.

L202-115-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 23 of 24)

Finally, and east view of the end of track. The fate of Trestle 2, the origin of fresh ballast, the power plant, all for next time. This presentation was made possible by the generosity of NRG, Inc. to allow this area to be investigated. Particular thanks to NRG employees Larry Ray for supervision along the right-of-way and Greg Ho for the trip to the cooling tower, and to Steve Lane for sharing the opportunity.

L202-120-Stuart Swielder Photo, (Image 24 of 24)