Big Chico Creek and the Depot Area

This update will examine the area from the Esplanade and Memorial Way to the depot at Main St. and 1st St. Don MacInnes was aboard Birney 62 on the last day of service, Dec. 13, 1947, here shown in a southeast view, the location affirmed by the last two letters of the street sign. Th insert to the right indicates the proximity to a natural park and Hooker Oak.

L259-05-Bill Eames Photo, MacInnes Coll, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 169069sn, (Image 1 of 43)

Dudley Thickens visited Chico in 1933, and aside from the SN, he must have been impressed by the swimming holes at Bidwell Park, left, and the Hooker Oak, right, said at the time to be the world’s largest Valley Oak, although we now know it was actually two trees fused together. The creation of Bidwell Park was made possible by Annie Bidwell’s sale of land for one dollar to the city in 1905.

L259-10-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 113763cv, r, 1113767, (Image 2 of 43)

After exploring the park, across the street can be found the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, and seen here, the California State University, Chico, called Chico Normal School when this west view was taken circa 1910. John and Annie Bidwell’s contribution to these Chico landmarks has already been covered in the first update in this series.

L259-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 109480sn, (Image 3 of 43)

The Bidwells also had a lot to do with the first station, or depot as it is referred to by most historians, seen in this circa 1910 east view. Kent Stephens noted in “Sacramento Northern Chico Depots” from the WP Headlight, Issue 31, Page 4-7, 2007, that the Northern Electric, NE, purchased the 80 by 145 foot barn built for Rancho Chico from Annie Bidwell in 1909 for five thousand dollars.

L259-20- Northern Electric Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 109488sn, (Image 4 of 43)

After the NE renovated the building, the major changes that occurred involved the trackage around it. The first map from 1907 is shown here, from which a detail follows.

L259-25-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 26581sn, (Image 5 of 43)

The track details pre-date the circa 1910 image shown previously in that aside from the main line, the depot was served only by a single siding aligned parallel to Main St., red arrow. As covered in the first update in this series, the Southern Pacific, SP, spur from the west dominated the commercial activity here, with the exception of a short NE siding along the Sperry Flour Co. mill, turquoise arrow.

L259-30-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 26581sn, Detail, (Image 6 of 43)

This map from Apr. 1911 echos the image shown in L259-20; the green arrow points to track to the south of the depot parallel to the creek to allow trains to remain off Main St., the blue arrow marks the wye structure to allow trains to be turned around, and the red arrow points to the siding along the Main St.-side of the depot. The SP spur is still present.

L259-35-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60344, (Image 7 of 43)

By 1913, the map now shows a pair of sidings to the north or left of the creek, yellow arrow, a siding along the north side of the depot parallel to the creek, orange arrow, and the single track to the south of the wye splitting into two tracks down Main St. between 1st and 2nd Sts., green arrow.

L259-40-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 16184sn , (Image 8 of 43)

By 1919, the track arrangement around the depot reached the final configuration for the first depot. When the second depot replaced the first one at the same spot, only the track on the west flank, red arrow, would be removed. Read on …

L259-45-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 6, (Image 9 of 43)

The next discussion centers on details from this northwesterly facing aerial view of downtown Chico. The date assigned to this image is 1927, the best guess based on the collection of autos seen parked along Broadway.

L259-50-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54225sn, (Image 10 of 43)

At odds is this annotated detail showing the original depot. Kent Stephens in his article dated the demolition of the structure to 1920. The resolution of this disparity in dates is settled by the next image …

L259-55-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54225sn, detail, (Image 11 of 43)

… showing the first depot just before it was razed with a 1930 Model A parked in front. Note the NE emblem, with the words Sacramento Northern Railroad, the name of the NE from 1918 until the merger completed in 1928 by the Western Pacific to incorporate the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad…

L259-60-Sapppers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 72622sn, (Image 12 of 43)

The earliest image of the second depot is dated ca. 1930, but this north view from June 28, 1938 strikes the right balance versus the others. Kent Stephens notes the address was 152 East 1st St. to reflect the street facing the main entrance portal.

L259-65-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 109553sn, (Image 13 of 43)

Next to systematically examine all portions of the SN operations, starting with the two sidings north of Big Chico Creek. This northwest view from Dec. 22, 1959 shows the western-most siding ending short of Memorial Way. The survival of the second eastern-most siding at this time has not been documented.

L259-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 7196-1 copy, (Image 14 of 43)

Both Bob Townley, left image from Nov. 11, 1947, and Robert McVay, center image from 1947, documented the two-track siding to Northern Star Mills. The right image is from a 1940 Polk’s Guide. A succinct history of the company can be found at https://northernstarmillschico.com/new-page. Refs: Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 143622sn on the left, 119464sn center; Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, right

L259-75-Multiple Acknowledgements, (Image 15 of 43)

The Sperry Flour Co. mill was built in the 1870s on the site of John Bidwell’s mill, right across from the Bidwell mansion. The left image from 1907 reflects the SP’s early servicing of the mill via its spur, while the right image from an SN excursion with SN 1005 from Apr. 14, 1962 confirms the building stood until at east that date. Ref: Left, Randy Taylor Photo, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, sc28330; Right, Bob Ford Photo, Moreau Coll. Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117802sn

L259-80-Muliple Acknowledgements, (Image 16 of 43)

This list of freight customers circa 1957 from WP Circular no. 167-E allows some cross-checking against images of the firms along the depot in the 1940s. Note that the SN also serviced Northern Star Mill’s manufacturing facility at W. 16th St. and Chestnut St.

L259-85-Courtesy Bruce Eldridge, (Image 17 of 43)

This northwest view from Nov. 9, 1947 shows excursion Birney 60 alongside in service Birney 62 at the Big Chico Creek crossing. As seen in L259-75, the Sperry Flour Mill was now occupied by Herman C. Fisher Co. The track arrangement across the creek was dictated by the access to the freight yard to the north of the depot. More to follow …

L259-90-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 163757sn, (Image 18 of 43)

Two southeast views from 1947 at Big Chico Creek with Birney 60 on excursion, left, and Birney 61 during regular service, right, provide details on the road’s concrete bridge and the wooden one for the railway. Ref: Gordon Zahorik Photo, left

L259-95-Moreau Coll., Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 109554sn, l, 127513sn, r, (Image 19 of 43)

The southeast view during the Farewell Excursion of May, 25, 1941 confirms that no tracks remained along the western side of the depot, left. The undated north view on the right shows the previous track to be truncated. Note the truck by one of the loading platforms. Ref: Wilbur C. Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Arnold Menke, left; Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 110141sn, right

L259-100-Muliple Acknowledgements, (Image 20 of 43)

This east view of the south side of the depot from Oct. 27, 1940 stands out with the cab and Richardson Springs bus providing additional transportation offerings of the depot in addition to SN 101 and the two trailers. There is no inkling looking at this image that SN passenger service between Sacramento and Chico would end four days later.

L259-105-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 107343sn , (Image 21 of 43)

The next item to tackle is the function of the wye arrangement of the track leading from the south side of the depot. These two images from the Farewell Excursion of May, 25, 1941 can only be explained by the use of the wye to turn the long train around, in this case, to put SN 1010 in the lead versus the parlor car Bidwell. Ref: Addison Laflin Photo, 173924sn, left; Dudley Thickens Photo, 109552s, right

L259-110-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 22 of 43)

Leave it to the guy in the hat to guide this process, his name unknown. This artificially concocted sequence was made possible by Jerry G. Graham’s east view of SN 131 and trailer in 1940, left, and two images by Louis Bradas, Jr., SN 220 and SN 127 on Sept. 8, 1940, center, and SN 127 and 223 from Oct. 20, 1940, right. Note the Greyhound sign, as passenger service for the SN was winding down. Refs: BAERA nos. 4364sn, 68869sn, and 68866sn, left to right

L259-115-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 23 of 43)

This east view begins a review of the south side of the depot. No images have been found with freights on this track, but the SN only had small freight customers here. The date is Oct. 20, 1940, and the guy with the hat has just finished assisting the train seen in the center image of the triplet shown previously. Webb and Young is the featured business in this image.

L259-120-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60256sn, (Image 24 of 43)

Starting from the west or Main St. side circa 1940, left to right, the ornate entry portal, the baggage storage area, and the Railway Express Agency office, the latter very common at railway stations between 1918 and 1975. Note the inclusion of the Western Pacific and Tidewater Southern above the doorway of the portal, neither of which came to Chico, but could be connected to heading south.

L259-125-Sappers Coll. Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 107350sn , (Image 25 of 43)

The north side of E. 1st. had several structures added between the period this east view was taken during an excursion trip on Aug. 16, 1942, and those events in late 1947. The west face of Chico Seed and Feed Co. will become obscured as a result of the addition of three structures. This will become apparent in the next series of images.

L259-127-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 113782sn, (Image 26 of 43)

Images from 1947 excursions, starting with this northeast view of Birney 60 on Nov. 9, 1947, now show the baggage storage area as the freight office for the SN. Webb and Young is now selling furniture and more. The insert shows the businesses along this stretch in 1948, indicating the building adjacent to Railway Express was Chico Granite and Marble Works. Ref: Polk's Chico and Oroville City Directory, 1948, F869 C46 A18, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, right

L259-130-Robert P. Townley Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 143369sn, l, (Image 27 of 43)

Birney 60 in gold-green colors sits along Warrick Glass in 1947, and from here you can appreciate the remainder of the businesses on E. 1st St.

L259-135-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 163433sn, (Image 28 of 43)

The website http://www.jmaw.org/zellerbach-jewish-san-francisco/ for this SN customer states “the unique products created by the Zellerback Company included folded paper towels that exposed a clean paper towel once one was withdrawn, the window envelope, and the cardboard egg carton.” Birney 60 in 1947 along Sherwin-Williams, a Cleveland, Ohio company going back to 1866.

L259-140-Al Thoman Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 35936sn, (Image 29 of 43)

Birney 60 faces east on Nov. 9, 1947 in this panorama showing the array of businesses from a west direction, allowing for a clear view of SN customer, Chico Seed and Feed Co.

L259-145-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 173993sn, (Image 30 of 43)

Next, freights, freights and more freights. The north, left, and east, right, views with SN 420 circa 1940 provide clues in the background as to their exact location. Ref: Sappers Collection, left; Moreau Collection, right

L259-150-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 128478sn, l, 128479sn, r, (Image 31 of 43)

The two isolated boxcars on the track along the creek mark the location of the SN freight yard. This west view aerial was taken circa 1958 when electric service in Chico had been removed for about a decade. Appreciation to Craig Sundstrom for pointing out the round building in the lower right, the remains of the amusement-related Rotunda, was razed in 1962. The review to follow will only focus on electric traction as no yard images with diesels were found, but a highly recommended read is “Chico in the Early Diesel Days”, a personal memoir by Allen Wood at https://www.wplives.org/sn/d_wood.html

L259-155-Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, sc4016, Detail, (Image 32 of 43)

The track entering the yard from the creek bridge fed a track along the east side of the depot or along the left side of the building seen in the left image, circa 1940. The right image circa 1947 shows a freight led by SN 404 along this track in an east view.

L259-160-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 107305sn, l, 162895, r , (Image 33 of 43)

The same train was also photographed on the track that split again to send two paths to the far east end of the yard, left image. At some point during the sequence of switching to the different location, the freight is seen emerging on the creek trestle in this northwest view circa 1947.

L259-165-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106467sn, l, 107302sn,, (Image 34 of 43)

There are a couple of images showing freights sitting on the grassy median where the Esplanade began, as seen in this southeast view from June 27, 1945, the train awaiting further action in the yard.

L259-170-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 114629sn, (Image 35 of 43)

EK Muller’s two views of a SN 441-led freight from Feb. 8, 1947 shows the length of the yard, left, and its proximity to the creek and Sperry Flour Co. mill structure, right.

L259-175-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 36 of 43)

During two excursions, Walt Vielbaum captured Birney 66 in a southeast view from Oct. 20, 1946, left, and Birney 60 in an east view from Nov. 9, 1947, right, both showing deep features into the yard.

L259-180-Walt Vielbaum Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 133683sn, l, 132909sn, (Image 37 of 43)

Don MacInnes witnessed a line of boxcars and caboose left just north of the Esplanade and Memorial Way, while the rest of train was switching at the Main St and 1st St. yard on Nov. 1, 1951, northwest view, left, north view, right. By this time, diesel traction was serving the airport, presumably leading to larger loads that required this maneuver to keep the yard functional.

L259-185-Don MacInnes Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 169064sn, l, 169065sn,, (Image 38 of 43)

Once interurban passenger service ceased, the depot continued to function as a Greyhound station. Birney 66 and a Greyhound bus grace this north view during an excursion trip on Oct. 20, 1946.

L259-190-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives , (Image 39 of 43)

The depot still stood as evidenced by this southeast view during an excursion trip on Apr. 14, 1962, with SN 1005 posing in front of the old mill and diesel SN 143 standing by to supply the traction on this track sans overhead wires.

L259-195-Bob Ford Photo, Moreau Coll., Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 117801sn, (Image 40 of 43)

Finally, the depot in a northeast view after abandonment, Sept. 1963, its last day on the 30th. Kent Stephens noted the desire of the city to use the depot land for commercial properties that would increase tax revenue, and the SN obliged by having a smaller structure built at 2100 Fair St., on the east side of the Mulberry Shops and Yard.

L259-200-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 110145sn, (Image 41 of 43)

Unlike the first depot that was razed, the second depot building was moved in 1964 in sections to just south of Chico near Highway 99, where it sits in 2021, although in a reduced form relative to what had been. But, it still retains many features of the building as shown.

L259-205-Courtesy Google Maps, top left, Stuart Swielder, all others, (Image 42 of 43)

Much appreciation to Chico resident Allen Wood for a personal tour of key sites around the depot. Next time, a trip down Main St. as Sacramento-bound SN 101 and two trailers await the journey. All aboard!

L259-210-Graham Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 174863sn, (Image 43 of 43)