The Double Track, Shelter and Rube Goldberg Contraption

After the grade crossing at Foye Drive, eastern-bound SN trains approached the Lafayette Station area, a double-track section with a freight shelter, passenger shelter and a utility shed on the left or east of the track. The structure to the right allowed for manual adjustment of the catenary wire. Southeast view, Apr. 21, 1940.

L51-05-Bob Burrows Photo, WC Whittaker Collection, Courtesy Arnold Menke, (Image 1 of 24)

The double track section seen in this undated, pre-1940s northwest view from a SN parlor car reveals the same freight shelter, passenger shelter and utility shed. Further to the east of the by-pass track is a contraption that will be explored in detail. The origin of Victoria Avenue off Moraga Blvd. is also seen. See annotated version next.

L51-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59246.2sn, (Image 2 of 24)

From L51-10, the freight shelter, passenger shelter and utility shed are denoted by the red, white, and blue arrows, respectively. The yellow arrow marks the contraption. The origin of Victoria Ave. off Moraga Blvd. is at the black arrow.

L51-11-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 59246.2sn, (Image 3 of 24)

The Lafayette Station area is compared in aerials from 1939 to 1958. The yellow arrow is just below the SN track and the passenger shelter, present in 1939, but gone with many of the other structures by 1958. Refs. left, USDA AAA Western Division Laboratories BUU-280-102, Jul. 25, 1939; right, CCC Planning Department 1958, CCCHS 13534. Both details.

L51-15-Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District and Contra Costa County Historical Society, Deta, (Image 4 of 24)

Two oblique aerial views from 1946, left, and undated 1940s, right, provide all that can be found showing more details of the structures in the double-track section on the eastern Lafayette loop. The orange dot marks the SN-Foye Drive grade crossing, while the green and yellow dots are corresponding sections of Moraga Blvd., the latter at the origin of Victoria Ave.

L51-20-Contra Costa County Historical Society, Detail 7348, Left, 7349, Right, (Image 5 of 24)

This north view from the Sept 12, 1948 excursion reveals the Lafayette Station shelter. This structure survived the end of passenger service and persisted until the 1950s. The freight shed is present, but obscured by MW 302 in this view.

L51-25-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 6 of 24)

Same north view from Sept 12, 1948, but here the backs of homes and palm trees along Moraga Blvd are seen, hence the basis for the original name of the latter, Palm Drive. The mile 24 marker is on the pole just to the left of the rear edge of MW 302. When the portion east of this was abandoned on Mar 1, 1957, the track was noted to remain 410 feet west of the west switch at mile 23.9.

L51-30-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 63127sn, (Image 7 of 24)

Another north view from further southeast, the freight shed now comes into view in the background.

L51-35-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 63120sn, (Image 8 of 24)

This profile of MW 302 and 301 from a northeast view was also taken during the same inspection from May 13, 1947. Further to the north, the passenger shelter is visible and, again, the utility shed is along the right border.

L51-40-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 63123sn, (Image 9 of 24)

Proceeding further southeast, a northeast view captures the mystery contraption next to yet a third set of tracks getting closer to and along Moraga Blvd. SN 670, circa 1952. Compare to the next image.

L51-45-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 55606sn, (Image 10 of 24)

Along with an unexplained fire, the mystery contraption is captured during a photo opportunity during a 1945 inspection with MW 300 and either MW 301 or MW 302.

L51-50-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57124sn, (Image 11 of 24)

Former Lafayette resident Cliff Baumer explains:"A hopper car would be spotted over an underground holding bin or pit. The contents of the hopper would be dropped into the pit. The appropriate conveyor would be activated to raise the material into the appropriate above ground bin. This way the material would be kept separated. A truck would then drive either next to or under the above ground bin and the material would be discharged into them. Details L51-45, left, and L51-50, right.

L51-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, Detail 55606sn and 57124sn, (Image 12 of 24)

This ad from an undated, unnamed newspaper indicates the presence of Lafayette Building Materials Company at this site for over 26 years. The mystery contraption was involved in loading building materials. Contra Costa County yellow pages indicated the presence of this company from at least 1946-1958; books from 1959 and 1960, and before 1945 were not available, and the business was not listed in the 1961 edition.

L51-60-Courtesy Lafayette Historical Society, (Image 13 of 24)

Here in action, SN 670 has separated from SN 605 and the mainline freight and pushes the two hopper cars to the gravel loader. Southeast view, circa 1950.

L51-65-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81422sn, (Image 14 of 24)

Having completed its task, SN 670 heads back to rejoin the mainline freight. Southeast view, circa 1950.

L51-70-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81421sn, (Image 15 of 24)

Two freight motors on the spur, either to pick up loaded hoppers or for need of the repair pit seen just below SN 603. Southeast view, circa 1950.

L51-75-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81424sn, (Image 16 of 24)

A northwest scene in 1957 just after abandonment of the SN section west of Lafayette prior to removal of the catenary wires.

L51-80-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81413sn, (Image 17 of 24)

The gravel loader and surroundings, west view 1957. Note homes on Moraga Blvd. seen to the right of the loader.

L51-85-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81414sn, (Image 18 of 24)

A close-up of the gravel loader and homes on Moraga Blvd. West view, 1957.

L51-90-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81415sn, (Image 19 of 24)

A southeast view, 1957, showing the track arrangement for the spur and two-track mainline. Note the proximity of the home on Moraga Blvd. seen on the left edge of the image.

L51-95-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81411sn, (Image 20 of 24)

A similar southeast view, 1957, here highlighting homes and associated structures along the south border of the right-of-way.

L51-100-EK Muller Photo, Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81412sn, (Image 21 of 24)

Later on Sept 10, 1957, an excursion is in progress between Lafayette and Concord with the diesel SN 202 and WP 653 parlor car involving acquisition by a private company of property in Concord from the SN. The track west of Lafayette had been removed, as had the catenary throughout the system west of Sacramento. The sign spells out Lafayette.

L51-105-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64037sn, (Image 22 of 24)

Back to circa 1952, and the rear of the same train in L51-45 has passed and is approaching the end of the double track section. The pattern of the trees in the hills in this image matches those from 1957 in L51-105 and preceding images. These matching tree patterns in the hills will play a large role in image identification and placement heading east.

L51-110-Norman Smith Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 55606.4sn, (Image 23 of 24)

SN 661 enters back onto the mainline, northwest view, circa 1950.

L51-115-Robert P. Townley Photo, Courtesy Robert P. Townley, (Image 24 of 24)