Double Crossing Las Juntas Way

A northeast view by flyover of the BART test track on Mar. 3, 1969 shows that the SN’s relationship to Las Juntas Way by crossing it twice has been maintained by the new railway. The next image is an annotated version.

L124-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-24, Detail , (Image 1 of 18)

An annotated version of L-124-05, northeast view by flyover of the BART test track on Mar. 3, 1969. The Las Juntas Swim Club at 1250 Las Juntas Way was turned into a parking lot after 2002, but views on historicaerials.com show the lot surface was removed by 2010.

L124-06-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-24, Detail, (Image 2 of 18)

Contrast the previous image with this northeast view of the area in disarray during extension of the test track south of the berm, Apr. 12, 1965.

L124-10-SF BARTD Photo, Collection of Harre Demoro, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 3 of 18)

Here, a three-decade comparison with the area of interest for this update denoted by the yellow line. Full Ref.: USDA AAA Western Division, BUU 280-64 from Jul 25, 1939; Full Ref. USDA AAA Western Division, 3-169, GS-VBZJ, 1968; 1958 aerial courtesy CCC Planning Department

L124-15-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, (Image 4 of 18)

An east view of the test track from Mar. 3, 1969, with the two Las Juntas Way crossings at either end of the image.

L124-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 15606-26, Detail, (Image 5 of 18)

Now back in time twelve years to Mar. 10, 1957, the same east view highlighting that the SN utilized two grade crossings at Las Juntas Way.

L124-25-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5397-4, Detail , (Image 6 of 18)

The land to the north of the right-of-way is up for sale in this circa 1940 northeast view of SN 1017 picking up a passenger heading toward Oakland.

L124-30-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 9618sn, (Image 7 of 18)

Now looking directly down the right-of-way, this northeast view circa 1948 shows MW 302 on the SP interchange track posing for eager rail fans on excursion. The orchards surrounding the right-of-way have long vanished.

L124-35-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 96342sn , (Image 8 of 18)

A north view from the same excursion circa 1948 with MW 302 provided here to highlight the surrounding open space to the north.

L124-40-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 96430sn, (Image 9 of 18)

Just a reminder that all SN trains approaching the crossing had to stop to acknowledge the seniority of its SP neighbor, northeast view, circa 1952.

L124-45-Norman Smith photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55561.8sn, (Image 10 of 18)

We could speculate that that the car parked on Las Juntas Way belonged to Louis Bradas, Jr., or to someone who gave him a lift to catch SN 661 with freight at the crossing in Sept. of 1946, northeast view.

L124-50-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 67936sn, (Image 11 of 18)

Now ahead to 1950, the same northeast view, but now with SN 654 hauling a big load that included lumber. This image highlights the path into the orchard.

L124-55-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray , (Image 12 of 18)

SN 143 is captured in this north view during one of several trips between Walnut Creek and Pittsburg on the Apr. 12, 1964 End-of-an-Era excursion extravaganza with a Central Coast parlor car and SP passenger cars in tow. No doubt the passengers are tempted by the sign along Las Juntas Way at the right edge of the image denoting the Las Juntas Swim Club.

L124-60-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71860sn, (Image 13 of 18)

Just a few months later in 1964, all that remains of the SN at this spot are rails embedded in Las Juntas Way as the construction of the test track is in full swing, northeast view.

L124-65-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 14 of 18)

John Harder took a few steps past the crossing to the northeast to document the preparation of the ground for placement of the pillars that would support the railway above the SP crossing.

L124-70-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 15 of 18)

Here, progress of the placement of the BART test track pillars is seen in this north view from Apr. of 1965.

L124-75-Louis L Stein, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 16 of 18)

Having crossed the SP and the first part of Las Juntas Way, SN 653 and freight will soon approach the second crossing of Las Juntas Way, southwest view, circa 1950.

L124-80-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 82030sn, (Image 17 of 18)

The red block signal is either signaling a stop or indicates a train has passed in this southwest view showing both grade crossings of Las Juntas Way on May 31, 1951.

L124-85-BL Stone Photo, Courtesy Krambles-Peterson Archives, (Image 18 of 18)