Main St., Part 2 – Lots of Curves You Bet … at the Junction

This update will examine the section of Main St. from 6th St. to a place known in Chico lore as the Junction. Before diving into that, the existence of the spur on W. 9th St. needs to be detailed, presented here as before-and-after west views of W. 9th St. between Cherry and Orange Sts., with SN 442 and freight from Dec. 1946, left, and 2018 showing no traces remaining, right.

L261-05-Moreau Coll., Al Haij Photo, Courtesy BAERA, W.R.M. Archives, 83195sn, and Stuart Swiedler, (Image 1 of 39)

The previously presented update on the Esplanade already showed that Al Haij was in Chico following SN 442 in Dec. 1946. This second image is the only one found of a freight on the main spur track on W. 9th St. Note the second track in the foreground curving to the north, and the hump in the road heading west.

L261-10-Moreau Coll., Al Haij Photo, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 83195sn, (Image 2 of 39)

Viewed from the south side of 9th St., the curved track had to have crossed over the driveway and through what is now enclosed by the fence. Note the dense cluster of trees. Northwest view, 2018.

L261-15-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 3 of 39)

In the previously presented update on the route to Chico Airport, it was mentioned in an image proposed to be from that location, that photographer Fred Fellow had been in the area based on a second image he took on 9th St. of SN 420 with a WWII light shield in place. That image is shown here, a northwest view of SN 420 and freight on the SN-Southern Pacific, SP, interchange track returning to the 9th St. spur. Another one-of-a-kind image.

L261-20-Fred Fellow Photo, Robert P. Townley Coll., Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 143722s, (Image 4 of 39)

The Northern Electric’s, NE, franchise on W. 5th St. that extended to Hamilton City in Glenn County was to expire in 1912. Chico and businesses along 5th St. were not in favor of renewing this agreement, but the NE was provided an alternative route in 1911 using tracks left by Diamond Match and the SP on 9th St. accessing the recently closed Sierra Lumber Co. plant off of Humboldt Ave. This would allow the NE to continue servicing Union Oil. This arrangement also included the interchange track, something that was lacking on the 5th St. line.

L261-25-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58345sn, (Image 5 of 39)

The same information provided in the map from 1912 has been transposed to this more northerly oriented aerial from 1937 to document that the changes made in 1911 continued past the abandonment of the spur’s extension to Hamilton City. The remainder of the this section will only address as far east as the general area of the Union Oil operations. Ref: USDA Aerial, Panel AAX-86-61, Sept. 12, 1937

L261-30-Courtesy Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, sc24014, (Image 6 of 39)

Working west to east, the first section to explore in depth will be the section between Union Oil and the point at Oak St. where the the tracks veered off 9th St., highlighted in yellow on the 1937 aerial. Ref: USDA Aerial, Panel AAX-86-61, Sept. 12, 1937

L261-35-Courtesy Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, sc24014, (Image 7 of 39)

This aerial from 2018 is provided to ascertain the detectable remains of the route in this section, and to differentiate the placement of structures at Chambers Oil Co. versus those at Union Oil prior to 1947.

L261-40-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 8 of 39)

This southwest view in the left panel was taken across from the truck entrance to Chamber Oil Co. in 2018 where W. 5th St., Chico River Rd. and Miller Ave. meet. Entering the driveway, and turning left where the cab of the oil truck sits in this image such that the large storage tanks are to the right or south, and 5th St is to the left or north, reveals the now overgrown right-of-way of the SN and the siding, right panel.

L261-45-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 9 of 39)

Diagrammatic representations of this section are shown in the map from 1912, and the design for the siding track in blue from 1913.

L261-50-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58345sn and 36946sn , (Image 10 of 39)

An early west view of Union Oil in the NE era shows the only image found at this spot with a freight motor on the siding. If it weren’t for the Birney excursions between 1940 and 1947, the discussion of the entire W. 9th St. spur would end with this image.

L261-55-American Photo Co. Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 110150sn, (Image 11 of 39)

Starting in June 1940, this east view with Birney 60 also shows oil distributer Schwein Oil Co. at 1321 W. 7th St., seen more clearly in the right insert. Reviewing several Polk’s directories indicates that Caslyn Schwein had been an oil salesman for Associated Oil Co., and had run a service station at 820 Oroville Ave. prior to this business along the spur. In addition, he had also served as a city councilman.

L261-60-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 107322sn, (Image 12 of 39)

Also from June 1940, this northeast view down W. 5th St. shows the poorly maintained track in the grade crossing, appreciating that the SN had no customers beyond this point in 1940. The ad on Birney 68 unequivocally dates the image to late Oct. 1940 or earlier, unless, of course, the attendees had brought there own material from an earlier time period for show.

L261-65-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 107328sn , (Image 13 of 39)

A similar northeast view shows Birney 66 and Birney 70 toward the end of 1947, indicating the spur was still navigable from Main St. The school zone sign in this and the previous image refer to the Rosedale School, the original structure on Pomona Ave. from 1914-1953. A very concise history may be found at http://rosedale.chicousd.org/About-UsSobre-Nosotros/History/

L261-70-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 129776sn, (Image 14 of 39)

It has not been established where the track ended as it extended past the grade crossing along Chico River Rd. Images such as the two shown here with similar tree line backgrounds were noted as the end of the line, but once past Union Oil, the original track was straight along the road. The catenary wire holders, yellow arrows, show a curve here. Ref: Right, M.T. McDonald Photo, Ted Wurm Coll.

L261-75-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 32696sn, r, 162595sn, l, (Image 15 of 39)

This east view from of an excursion with Birney 60 on Aug. 16, 1942 may have been further east relative to the last two images. The only curve of this degree on the spur was west of Oak St., suggesting that all these images were taken east of Union Oil, but that still needs to be proven.

L261-80-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 70741sn, (Image 16 of 39)

On the subject of the large curve, the next section from the 1912 map heading east shows where that curve began, with the insert from 2018 showing what this area looks like viewed to the northwest.

L261-85-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58345sn, and Google Maps, (Image 17 of 39)

Disregard the designation on Birney 60 indicating the destination as McKinley Park from a 1942 excursion. Addison Laflin included the sign from Walnut St. indicating that this northeast view was taken one block east of the Oak St-W. 9th St. divergence point. The hump in the distance also indicates the presence of the SP mainline grade crossing, coming up next.

L261-90-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 173978sn, (Image 18 of 39)

Addison Laflin was at it again, but it is now Oct. 20, 1946, as Birney 60 and Birney 66 take turns single file over the SP crossing in this north view.

L261-95-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 173979sn, (Image 19 of 39)

Following up on the last scene, Laflin raced to the grade crossing on Oct. 20, 1946 to catch Birney 60 waiting in line at the crossing. The inclusion of the Orange St. sign along the left lower edge provides confirmation of the location. This northeast image captures the abrupt change from a tree-lined street to one with industrial markings, such as the large shed as a structure lining the SP mainline.

L261-100-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 173980sn, (Image 20 of 39)

In the late 1930s, the SP crossing was seen as one of at least two areas where automobile road safety was in question. There are no images of the crossing until the 1940s, so the actual condition of the roadway cannot be accessed. After several years of haggling, the SP repaired the crossing with the SN paying a portion. More on auto traffic safety when the Little Chico Creek crossing is discussed next time.

L261-105-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 39679sn, (Image 21 of 39)

The last view of W. 9th St., northeast from Oct. 27, 1940, shows Birney 60 and two critical markings. The first is at the far end of the street showing the intersection with Main St., and the second is the overhead X halfway down this section marking the location for the switch track to the SP interchange track. More on the interchange next.

L261-110-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 117434sn, (Image 22 of 39)

Back to the 1912 map to review the area of the interchange between W. 6th and W. 7th Sts., corresponding to where the interchange joined the SP mainline. A south view from 6th St. from 2018 shows no evidence of any interchange existing at that spot.

L261-115-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58345sn, and Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 23 of 39)

No images were found showing the joining of the interchange with the SP mainline, but Arthur Lloyd took two northeast images during the Aug. 16, 1942 excursion with Birney 60 of the two-track interchange tracks between 7th and 8th Sts. The enlargement in the left panel of the left side of the images shows the W. 7th St. street sign clearly.

L261-120-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 115158sn, (Image 24 of 39)

The central panel is from the same Aug. 16, 1942 excursion with Birney 60, but aimed more easterly. The enlarged edges help identify a key building seen in the far left panel, using an ad from the Polk’s Chico and Oroville City Directory 1945 for the positive identification. This may represent the building still standing at 603 Orange St., somewhat altered, and, if that is true, it would be the only one remaining on that street from 1942 between 9th and 6th Sts. Ref: Polk’s ad Courtesy the Meriam Library, California State University, Chico

L261-125-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 115159sn , (Image 25 of 39)

Viewing comparative aerials from 1937 and 1952 indicates that when the interchange was removed sometime after 1947, the area between Orange St. and the SP mainline was filled in with warehouses. Ref: left, USDA AAX-86-61, Sept. 12, 1937, Courtesy Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, sc24014; right, USDA AAX-5K-180, June 30, 1952, Courtesy Map Collection, Shields Library, University of California, Davis

L261-130-Multiple Acknowledgements, (Image 26 of 39)

The SN applied for abandonment of the W. 9th St. spur in late 1945. The interchange within Diamond Match with the SP limited the impact of the loss of the SP connection, but the mystery that remains was why Union Oil was still listed as a SN customer in 1957 at the same address when there was no way for freights to get there. More information needed here.

L261-135-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 37063, (Image 27 of 39)

Now that the W. 9th St. spur has been covered, back to Main St. Last time, the update ended showing buildings up to 6th St. As if Arthur Lloyd had not done well enough with his interchange images, this southeast view of Birney 61 on excursion is a rare view of the 6th -7th Sts. interval, the date being June 27, 1945.

L261-140-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 114635sn, (Image 28 of 39)

This aerial east view ca. 1950 is a great introduction to the area called the Junction. The Junction is where Main St. and Broadway St. intersected the Humboldt and Oroville Aves. An annotated version follows. Highly recommended is this link with some additional historical information about this area. https://www.downtownchico.com/sopo-the-junction.htm

L261-145-John Nopel Collection, Meriam Library, California Sate University, Chico, sc50106, Detail , (Image 29 of 39)

An annotated version of the previous aerial view is provided to aid in placing the images that follow. The position and direction of movement of Birney 60 in L261-140 is shown by the red arrow.

L261-146-John Nopel Collection, Meriam Library, California Sate University, Chico, sc50106, Detail , (Image 30 of 39)

The SN parlor car Bidwell on the rear of a three-car train has just past the 8th St. intersection in this north view with Richardson Furniture co., the Richardson Building, and Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store ca. 1940.

L261-150-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 163760sn, (Image 31 of 39)

SN 101, SN 200, and the Bidwell navigate the end of the two-track portion of Main St. between 8th and 9th Sts. to pick up a few passengers on its way to Sacramento on the last day of Sunday interurban passenger service between these two points, Oct. 27, 1940. Just to the south of the Safeway, the branch point in the track that provided access to the W. 9th St. spur is visible.

L261-155-Ted Wurm Photo, Moreau Coll., Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 110736sn, (Image 32 of 39)

The northeast corner of E. 9th St. featured the Denver Hotel or Denver Rooms from 1925 in this southeast view with Birney 60 from 1947. Edward Booth et al.’s “Chico” notes that Pullins Cyclery was opened at this location in 1918 before it moved a short distance down the street in the 1960s, to no. 801 where it resides in 2022.

L261-160-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 171707sn, (Image 33 of 39)

SN 1009 and trailer rumble over the southern portion of the W. 9th St. wye spur takeoff by the intersection with Humboldt Ave., the latter the fastest way out of town to the east in this northwest view circa 1940. The X marks the spot the spur crossed oncoming traffic.

L261-165-Moreau Coll., Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 163435sn, (Image 34 of 39)

The tour would not be complete without showing the switch track take-off for the southern arm of the W. 9th St. wye, shown here with Birney 60 on Oct. 27, 1940. In the distance is Wakefield Auto Glass Co., the last Main St. address, no. 1023, on the east side of the street. Beyond that is Little Chico Creek where the road name changes to Park Ave., the start for the next update.

L261-170-Roy Covert Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 45190sn, (Image 35 of 39)

Before leaving this section of Chico, a few additional images from the diesel freight era. Gary G. Allen’s northwest view of SN 712, right, ca. 1980 is paired with Ted Wurm’s image shown in L261-155 to contrast daylight passenger service versus the post 1950 evening freight era.

L261-175-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 36 of 39)

Two southeast views from Wayne Monger at the Junction with Western Pacific, WP, 707 circa 1980 are presented here. This GP-7 diesel would be donated to the Feather River Rail Society in 1985 where it still serves in its 1960s silver and orange colors.

L261-180-Wayne Monger Photos, Courtesy Wayne Monger, (Image 37 of 39)

Tom Messer caught SN 712 and freight on a summer evening circa 1980 as it passed the E. 9th St. intersection with the decorative trim of the building that housed the Denver Hotel in view.

L261-185-Tom Messer Photo, Courtesy Tom Messer, (Image 38 of 39)

Two views allowing for a panoramic northwest view of the Junction on May 21, 1959 show a decent surface for Main St. with the exception of the SN track. More on this in the next update.

L261-190-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 6920-1 and -2, (Image 39 of 39)