Part 3 – Demystifying Elkton

Description, far left: Looking southwest from the branching of San Jose Ave. to Circular Ave. and Monterey Blvd. towards City College of San Francisco. In Mar. 31, 1953, this section of the former South Pacific, SP, San Bruno Branch was still undeveloped following the abandonment by the SP in 1949. The three panels to the right, left to right, divide this section heading north to south, respectively. The green arrow points to the only disruption of the path at Santa Rosa Ave., and the orange arrow to a mound of dirt to mark the new northern terminus of the branch across from Nantucket Ave.

L281-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-16, (Image 1 of 32)

The left panel from Harrison Ryker’s 1938 aerial rotated 29 degrees clockwise details the San Jose Ave. branch point, orange box, to Nantucket Ave., red arrow. The yellow arrow shows that the SP had an overpass at Santa Rosa Ave., accounting for the gap seen in the last image. The right panel is not rotated and is an enlargement of the arena boxed in orange on the left. The double-track of the two Market Street Railway, MSRy, streetcars destined for Monterey Blvd., the no. 10, and San Jose Ave., the no. 9, respectively, split coming off Diamond St., red arrow, with the latter crossing the SP’s single track.

L281-10-David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries, (Image 2 of 32)

Documenting the SP line at this spot while the entire original route was in service was possible courtesy MSRy railfans. MSRy car no. 919 on the no. 9 line has just completed passing over the SP track in this northeast view ca. 1940. The Pellegrinos didn’t list their restaurant in directories, but lived at 2939 Diamond St. To the right of no. 919 in the distance are Ray Oil Burner Co., over which is Junipero Serra Elementary School just below Holly Park in Bernal Heights.

L281-15-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 3 of 32)

MSRy cars nos. 800 and 807 on the no. 10 line pose at the crossing on Feb. 19, 1942, each seemingly heading in the same direction in this northeast view. Finding an image of a SP train at this junction, with or without streetcars, however, was unsuccessful.

L281-20-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 138432msry, (Image 4 of 32)

This undated southwest view shows San Jose Ave. to the left, and Monterey Ave. to the right, with a streetcar approaching. The house next to the streetcar is where Circular Ave. begins. To date this photo, Joe Holle was listed as a “bike doctor” who also did auto repairs at 20th St. and Folsom St. until 1916, a Ford Agent through 1919, a Ford Dealer in 1920, an Authorized Dealer of Gray Cars and Trucks in 1925, and not listed in 1930, all according to the Crocker Langely Directories.

L281-25-Courtesy John Harder, (Image 5 of 32)

Next to the SP right-of-way in 1942, beginning with this northeast view across Hearst St. and Circular Ave., the latter is seen as the road descending to this spot. The houses to the left along Circular Ave. will be addressed in a moment, but everything on the right or south will be removed for the new highway, all north of San Jose Ave., the latter evident by the utility poles starting at the right border. Credit: Robert H. McFarland Photo, Robert H. McFarland Collection via David Gallagher

L281-30-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 193919sp, (Image 6 of 32)

The top left is the previous image from 1942 featuring the back of the two bill boards, green box, and trees, orange box, matching the aerial from 1953 as marked, right. The center top image from 2022 shows how Circular Ave. still descends toward Hearst St. The street-side facades of the houses on the north side of Circular Ave. in 1942 do not match what is seen in 2022, bottom left, but the pattern of the top of the houses matches the 1953 aerial, turquoise double arrow. Note this lot was empty in 1938. Credit: Robert H. McFarland Photo, Robert H. McFarland Collection via David Gallagher, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 193919sp; Google Maps; Google Earth; Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-16

L281-35-Multiple Attributions, (Image 7 of 32)

This image from 1942 is a southwest view of the right-of-way from Circular Ave. and Flood Ave.-Baden St. At this point, the track has been elevated on a berm as Circular Ave. continues its descent. The inclusion of City College in the distance adds greatly to verifying the location of the scene. Credit: Robert H. McFarland Photo, Robert H. McFarland Collection via David Gallagher

L281-40-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 193905sp , (Image 8 of 32)

For further confirmation of the previous image’s location, two houses in the colored boxes, left, are matched with their presence in the 1953 aerial, right. The insert in the left panel marks the presence of the overpass of Santa Rosa Ave. Credit: Left, Robert H. McFarland Photo, Robert H. McFarland Collection via David Gallagher, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 193919sp; Right, Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-16

L281-45-Multiple Attributions, (Image 9 of 32)

A close-up image from the street of the SP berm could not be found, leading to examination of images from streetcar routes along San Jose Ave. and Monterey Blvd. for possible sightings. Arthur Lloyd’s south view of MSRy car no. 802 on the no. 10 line from the north side of Monterey Blvd. across from the Lower Detroit Steps from Mar. 11, 1942, left, shows the berm, enlarged in the right panel, as it headed southwest.

L281-50-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 138437msry, (Image 10 of 32)

The disappearance of the berm is illustrated in this final right-of-way scene from 1942, a southwest view of Circular Ave. and Paulding St., one block to the southwest of Nantucket Ave. Circular Ave. has now climbed above the tracks on the north side. The confirmation of house locations follows. Credit: Robert H. McFarland Photo, Robert H. McFarland Collection via David Gallagher

L281-55 -Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 193904sp, (Image 11 of 32)

Houses are boxed on the left, and matched with their presence in the 1953 aerial, right, further confirming the previous image’s location. The red circle surrounds the relay box on the telephone pole. Credit: Left, Robert H. McFarland Photo, Robert H. McFarland Collection via David Gallagher, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 193919sp; Right, Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-16

L281-60-Multiple Attributions, (Image 12 of 32)

Description: Looking southwest from Ocean Ave. and Circular Ave. along San Jose Ave. towards Junipero Serra Blvd. Back to Mar. 31, 1953, this view begins the branch line’s entry back onto city streets.

L281-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-15, (Image 13 of 32)

The bottom or eastern section of the previous aerial displays up to the crossing of Ocean Ave. City College is on the right, or north, and Balboa Park to the left, or south. A close-up view of the tracks that entered onto paved Circular Ave. follows.

L281-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-15, (Image 14 of 32)

These details from the previous southwest view heading to Ocean Ave., left to right, show that there were two tracks converging to a single track at Ocean Ave. in 1953. The presence of other outlines of track reflect historical links to other businesses as shown next.

L281-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-15, (Image 15 of 32)

San Francisco, Sanborn Map Company, 1915 Vol 9, left, and Sanborn Map Company, 1915 - Mar 1950 Vol 9, right, show that there was a lumber yard serviced by a short spur before the area got developed with houses ca. 1940.

L281-80-Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection, (Image 16 of 32)

A closer look at the arrangement of Balboa Mill and Lumber Co. from the San Francisco, Sanborn Map Company, 1915 Vol 9, left, shows it is still present in the 1938 Ryker aerial, right. Credit: left, Library of Congress; right, David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries

L281-85-Multiple Attributions, (Image 17 of 32)

Tom Gray captured SP 2669 in a northeast view setting cars on the siding just northeast of the Ocean Ave. crossing. The image reinforces the use of the parallel track as a place to keep freight car extras given the lack of space once south across Ocean Ave.

L281-90-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 147613sp, (Image 18 of 32)

John Plytnick was on hand on July 21, 1956 for the Northern California Railroad Club “A Day in San Francisco, A Railfan Tour of the SP Switching Limits” to snap a color version of SP 2345 and passenger cars. Note the presence of the streetcar tracks on Ocean Ave.

L281-95-John Plytnick Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 83568sp, (Image 19 of 32)

The crossing of Ocean Ave. was double-trouble for the SP, having to contend with both the MSRy, seen here in a northeast view with car no. 1584 on the no. 12 line on Dec. 2, 1939, and the San Francisco Municipal Railway, Muni, K line. The crossing was a non-issue by 1953, as the no. 12 line would be eliminated in 1945, and the K had been cut back in 1952 to Phelan Loop at Phelan Ave. near City College. The track across the SP was used only by Muni as a connection to-and-from the main facility. Look back at L281-65, start right-center at the Phelan Loop, and you will see all that history is documented from the air.

L281-100-Silleman Bros Photo, Holmes Bros Coll, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 135694msry, (Image 20 of 32)

Now for the main course of this update, the Elkton stop and major freight customers, particularly the Muni shops and yards.

L281-105-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-15, (Image 21 of 32)

San Francisco, Sanborn Map Company, 1915 Vol 9, left, and Sanborn Map Company, 1915 - Mar 1950 Vol 9, right, provide the major SP customers in the area in the first half of the 20th century. Next to examine Moore, Bodie Gravel Co.

L281-110-Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection, (Image 22 of 32)

Page 963 from both the San Francisco, Sanborn Map Company, 1915 Vol 9, left, and Sanborn Map Company, 1915 - Mar 1950 Vol 9, right, highlight the expansion of the San Francisco Glass Co. to the west side of Geneva Ave., as well as housing to the north of the SP tracks.

L281-115-Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection, (Image 23 of 32)

The Elkton area from Ocean Ave., right, until the passage of the tracks under San Jose Ave., left. is seen in this detail from the Harrison Ryker aerial from 1938. The red arrow marks a complex structure at the location of Moore, Bodie Gravel Co., and the yellow arrow to a spur servicing the building noted as Contractors Storage in the previous 1950 map.

L281-120-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 24 of 32)

Walt Sievers took photos in the area centering on the complex structure, beginning with this northeast view from San Jose Ave. as it began its rise above the SP tracks. The large gravel-loading structure at Moore, Bodie Gravel Co. can be seen behind the light fixture, with Mt. Davidson, Miraloma, and Diamond Heights, left to right, as a back drop. The photo is from the 1930s, very likely from 1938 as will be seen next.

L281-125-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 25 of 32)

This northeast view by Sievers in 1938 shows SP 2650 and freight in front of the gravel loader, with a rail car ready to receive some product on the siding. This structure was cleared out by 1953. Directory searches did not yield any mention of Moore, Brodie Gravel and the ownership of this conveyor system remains unresolved.

L281-130-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 26 of 32)

Muni was probably the branch line’s most important and only customer left in Elkton when Roy Proffer recorded his northeast view on Aug. 12, 1957 at the interchange of the SP’s delivery of trolleybus no. 1103, at least two other cars, and some unexpected passengers. This was the latest dated image found of freight activity on the branch line north of Daly City. The cluster of trees at the interchange track mark this area as seen in the previous aerial.

L281-135-Roy Proffer Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 49871muni, (Image 27 of 32)

This view of SP 2669 and freight from June 1948, right, was annotated as “near Ocean Ave.” An attempt with the available aerials or maps to pinpoint the exact location of this scene was unsuccessful, but the match of the Miraloma hillside with the previous view from 1957, left, establishes the Elkton location, and that the view is to the northeast. As expected, the density of hillside structures had increased between the decade in time separating the two images.

L281-140-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 49871muni, l, 165070sp, r, (Image 28 of 32)

Description, left: Looking southwest from Onondaga Ave. southwest of Ocean Ave., along Alemany towards the Pacific Ocean. Description, right: Looking southwest from Niagara Ave. along San Jose Ave. showing Alemany Blvd. crossing San Jose Ave.

L281-145-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-5, l, 3326-14, r, (Image 29 of 32)

A detail from the previous right aerial shows the tracks crossing under San Jose Ave. where the next update will begin. Although it has not been established that the San Francisco Glass Co. was not a SP customer at this time, this image shows many trucks servicing the building to the north of the railroad.

L281-150-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-14, (Image 30 of 32)

Although the SP right-of-way was not converted directly to one for BART, a comparison of their relative locations is shown here. The red line represents the SP route in 1938 superimposed on a 2002 aerial, from the BART Glen Park Station, green dot at the right edge, to the BART Balboa Station, blue dot at the left edge. The turquoise line marks the placement of the portion of BART underground from Glen Park to just west of Baden St., where BART becomes visible from the air. The conclusion from this exercise is that the SP and BART routes converge next to one another at Balboa Park on the south edge of Highway 280, and then slightly diverge to Balboa Park Station.

L281-155-Courtesy Google Earth, Modified by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 31 of 32)

The same analysis was followed between Ocean Ave., right edge, and the underpass of San Jose Ave., left edge. The two right-of-ways remain separate but closely parallel. Appreciation to Grant Ute for help with MSRy images at the Muni interchange.

L281-160-Courtesy Google Earth, Modified by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 32 of 32)