Switching at McAvoy with Dave Stanley

Unlike Nichols, seen in the distance in this west view from Mar. 24, 2016, McAvoy avoided heavy industry during the SN era.

L176-05-Steven Lane Photo, Courtesy Steven Lane, (Image 1 of 27)

Oliver McAvoy was a farmer, born in Nova Scotia, and lived initially at Black Diamond in 1873 and Bay Point in 1876. Appreciation to Dean McLeod for this information. West view from McAvoy Rd. grade crossing, Feb. 26, 1974.

L176-10-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 129894sn, (Image 2 of 27)

Based on the previous update, the pattern of trees in the upper left quadrant of this north view circa 1920s marks where the precursor of the Port Chicago Highway merged with the precursor to McAvoy Rd. Ref: API 578_23_BOX 72095.

L176-15-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 3 of 27)

This detail from L176-15, a north view circa 1920s, shows that the area was comprised solely of ranches. Ref: API 578_23_BOX 72095

L176-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 4 of 27)

The area remained unchanged through 1939 relative to the previous aerial with the exception of the small buildings to the south of the SN track, black arrow. In the 21st century, there is the McAvoy Yacht Harbor to the north of the tracks, and to the south, the Shore Acres development and several small businesses.

L176-25-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 5 of 27)

There were no major passenger or freight structures for the three railroads circa 1940. This west view of SN 1014 and trailer shows a small loading platform in the foreground similar to the one at Nichols. The small shelter in the background may have served a role in passenger service, although no photos showing passengers or details of the structure could be found.

L176-30-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 97910sn, (Image 6 of 27)

This southwest view of SN 1010 and trailer show the facilities of the General Petroleum Corp. circa 1941, corresponding to the buildings indicated by the black arrow in L176-25. Based on reviewing telephone directories, General Petroleum Corp. had moved to 308 10th Street in Pittsburg by 1955.

L176-35-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 93701sn , (Image 7 of 27)

By the time this west view photo was taken of a Union Pacific, UP, freight train on Apr. 10, 1990, the structure along the SN track appeared to have a maritime-related function.

L176-40-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 8 of 27)

Getting all the details sorted of the limited industrial or more extensive maritime history of the area has been unsuccessful, but this west view from Jan. 20, 1951 provides an intermediate account of the structures present during the freight-only SN era. Note the presence of four tracks at the McAvoy Rd. grade crossing, two derived from the SN.

L176-45-R.L. Copeland Photo, Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 7275 Detail, (Image 9 of 27)

This northeast view a year later while Shore Acres was being assembled, June 13, 1952, provides more details to check against what has survived into the 21st century.

L176-50-R.L. Copeland Photo, Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 1997 Detail, (Image 10 of 27)

A north view from 2016 at McAvoy Rd. across the four sets of tracks at the grade crossing.

L176-55-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 11 of 27)

Further to the east, the Harris Yacht Harbor seen in the aerials from the 1950s is still present.

L176-60-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 12 of 27)

An east view just north of the Harris building shows nothing but the large NRG, ex-Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power plant between here and Pittsburg.

L176-65-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 13 of 27)

E.K. Muller took several images of SN motors switching freight at the grade crossing, here a north view of SN 653 from Feb. 14, 1957. The second track from the south provided transfer of freight from the SN to the Southern Pacific, SP. Note the sign for the yacht club.

L176-70-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 90536sn, (Image 14 of 27)

This north-oriented aerial from 2016 shows two lines of freight occupying what had been the path of transfer between the SN and SP. Now all under control of the UP, this image documents that this section is still used as a place where freight is stored or awaits pick up.

L176-75-Courtesy Bing Maps, (Image 15 of 27)

Next a trip back in time starting with this west view from the grade crossing at McAvoy Rd in 2016 of the former SN track.

L176-80-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 16 of 27)

The military presence at Port Chicago translated to switching activity at McAvoy. Western Pacific, WP, no. 3532 and no. 3001 are seen returning from Port Chicago in this west view from May 1983. The UP paint scheme of WP 3532 support the date relative to the WP merger with the UP in 1982.

L176-85-Ted Benson Photo, Courtesy Ted Benson , (Image 17 of 27)

Prior to steel and bomb traffic along this corridor, George Emanuels notes in “Ygancio Valley 1834-1970” that McAvoy was the point of transfer of fruit from companies using the Meinert packing sheds along the SN. No images of refrigerated box cars at McAvoy have been found to support this information. West view of SN 652 from Feb. 14 1957.

L176-90-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 90534sn, (Image 18 of 27)

SN 652 had company on Feb. 14, 1957, seen here with SN 653 along side on the transfer track in this northwest view.

L176-95-E. K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 90533sn, (Image 19 of 27)

One last view from E.K. Muller’s sequence, SN 653 has picked up its load from the SP as SN 652 takes a breather. Northeast view from Feb. 14 1957.

L176-100-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 90535sn, (Image 20 of 27)

SN 653 holds up car traffic in this 1950s east view of SN 653 approaching the grade crossing at McAvoy Rd. Freight sits on the transfer track awaiting a future freight movement.

L176-105-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 21 of 27)

McAvoy Rd. also provided good views of passing Santa Fe trains. The SF Chief is seen passing only six days after its inaugural run. MW 302 sits on the transfer track away from traffic in this northeast view during a privately-sponsored excursion on June 12, 1954.

L176-110-Victor DuBrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 80175sn, (Image 22 of 27)

Railroad photographer and author Dave Stanley is seen here in his previous life at the McAvoy crossing with UP 760 and 880 on Apr. 10, 1990 in this northeast view. A line of boxcars like this usually meant munitions were being transported to Port Chicago or Clyde. Empty or full, that is the question that cannot be answered by this photo alone.

L176-115-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 23 of 27)

A south view of the same scene on Apr. 10, 1990, a rare look down McAvoy Rd. at the intersection with the Port Chicago Highway.

L176-120-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 24 of 27)

A repeat of L176-40 is placed here because it was also taken on Apr. 10. 1990. This west view shows the freight in the previous images passing additional cars on the transfer track.

L176-125-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 25 of 27)

Another west view from McAvoy Rd. from 2016 showing the placement of switch tracks that facilitated the shuffling of cars in this area.

L176-130-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 26 of 27)

Finished at McAvoy and turning to the east, the journey east will reveal other industrial opportunities, old and new. Appreciation to Dave Stanley for his comments.

L176-135-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 27 of 27)