The Origin of South Broadway

This update will review the Southern Pacific, SP, Walnut Creek right-of-way indicated by the broken green line, from Newell Ave., north or right, heading to the city border at Rudgear Rd., off this map to the left or south, in this west view from Aug. 8, 1966. The original location of the SP Walnut Creek Station is marked by the blue arrow.

L240-05-Herrington-Olson Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 133236cv, (Image 1 of 45)

The Iron Horse Trail, IHT, in this interval follows the right-of-way, except that it is marginalized to the west side of S. Broadway along a narrow corridor, and is forced to make a right angle at Newell Ave., green arrow, as well as at the underpass of Highway 680.

L240-10-Courtesy Google Earth, Annotated, (Image 2 of 45)

To appreciate the change that occurred with the creation of S. Broadway, these six easterly views circa 1970s from homes south of Las Lomas High School indicate that the railroad was set on a fairly high berm through this area. The track and berm were removed to first create the San Roman Creek bypass in the early 1990s, and covered over from Rudgear Rd., to Newell Ave. with the road.

L240-15-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 3 of 45)

This west-oriented aerial from 2021 shows black arrows indicating where the San Ramon Creek bypass enters the former railroad right-of-way. The upper left insert shows a representative view of the IHT in this section, while the bottom right insert shows the vents for the bypass in the road bed, and one of the the two pedestrian overpasses to enter the trail, also located by the white arrows on the larger figure.

L240-20-Courtesy Google and Google Earth, (Image 4 of 45)

This west-oriented vertical aerial from 1939 covers the SP Walnut Creek Station, right or north border, and until the grade crossing of Danville Blvd., left or south border. Note San Ramon Creek is in two parts, orange arrows, while Sans Crainte Creek, turquoise arrow, joins the eastern part, prior to the SP bridge, yellow arrow. Ref: c5750_280-60, BUU-280-60, 7/25/1939

L240-25-Courtesy U.C. Santa Barbara Library, Special Research Collections, Detail , (Image 5 of 45)

The post WWII transformation of the area is evident in this west-oriented aerial from Mar. 3, 1952, with the construction of Las Lomas HS progressing to accept its first class in that year.

L240-30-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 2481-2-4 Panorama , (Image 6 of 45)

This north view of the high school from the 1950s shows the railroad right-of-way in a deep cut at the north end of the school, progressing to an elevated berm at the grade crossing that provided access to the school from the houses east of the school.

L240-35-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 7 of 45)

Now ahead to 1968, this collage created by joining multiple high resolution segments of the area shows the completed Highway 680 and partially channelized creek following the railroad’s path.

L240-40-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 8 of 45)

Highway 680’s impact to the area and the railroad is exemplified in this north view from Feb. 13, 1958, showing early stages of the highway grading process along S. Main St. taken north of the city’s southern border.

L240-45-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-1 , (Image 9 of 45)

This detail from the previous north view from Feb. 13, 1958 shows the railroad bridge crossing San Roman Creek with Murwood Elementary to the east. Acknowledgement to Andy Smith for knowing the function of the tell-tales, the structures to the north and south of the bridge that warned brakemen on the top of cars that an obstacle was approaching. Interesting the structures survived to 1958, as they were only needed prior to the application of air brakes.

L240-50-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-1, Detail , (Image 10 of 45)

Las Lomas HS is shown in a detail from the previous north view from Feb. 13, 1958. The bottom left corner shows part of the channelized section of San Ramon Creek.

L240-55-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-1, Detail , (Image 11 of 45)

A second detail from the north view from Feb. 13, 1958 follows the SP tracks starting at Newell Ave. along the lower edge and heading north past the bridge over Walnut Creek to the Walnut Creek northern border.

L240-60-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-1, Detail, (Image 12 of 45)

As a complement to the previous aerial, a south view from Feb. 13, 1958.

L240-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-2 , (Image 13 of 45)

In this detail of the south view from Feb. 13, 1958, Sans Crainte Creek can be seen wrapping around Murwood school and joining San Ramon Creek just south of the railroad bridge. Going further south along the railroad right-of-way, there is a small overpass, then a larger trestle just short of Danville Blvd. over the western arm of San Ramon Creek.

L240-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5845-2, Detail , (Image 14 of 45)

Ahead to Apr. 25, 1962, the highway has redirected the path of S. Main St., and is approaching the railroad grade crossing of the same road, the name changing to Danville Blvd., in this north view.

L240-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-5, (Image 15 of 45)

This detail from the north view of Apr. 25, 1962 shows the western arm of the creek at the trestle by the Danville Blvd. grade crossing now leading to a culvert, and the smaller overpass to the right or northeast. Note the foundations of houses located along the east side of the tracks where homes had stood in the 1958 aerial, their removal related to the highway construction.

L240-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-5, Detail, (Image 16 of 45)

A complementary south view from Apr. 25, 1962 is provided here.

L240-85-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837, (Image 17 of 45)

A detail of the south view from Apr. 25, 1962 showing the trestle, small overpass, and the foundations of the former houses.

L240-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 8837-1, Detail, (Image 18 of 45)

Presented are two slightly different north aerial views from Feb. 21, 1964 showing that the highway overpass lanes over the railroad right-of-way were in place.

L240-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10413-1 and 10463-1, (Image 19 of 45)

As part of the highway construction, elimination of the exposed western arm of the creek can be seen in the lower left corner. The trestle was no longer needed, and filled in as shown. North aerial view, Feb. 21, 1964.

L240-100-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10463-1, (Image 20 of 45)

Ahead to Feb. 11, 1965, this south view shows the completed Rudgear Rd. highway overpasses with the track work and creek culverting complete.

L240-105-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 11404-3, (Image 21 of 45)

A detail of the area from the previous south view, Feb. 11, 1965.

L240-110-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 11404-3, Detail, (Image 22 of 45)

Next a series of four images from Mar. 3, 1978 of the bridge over San Ramon Creek at milepost 49.22. Southwest views, left, of this bridge have Las Trampas Ridge in the background, and those from the mid-1960s onward, the highway overpass. The right image shows the understructure.

L240-115-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, C-19 and C-20, (Image 23 of 45)

Together, these two southwest views from Mar. 3, 1978 provide a panoramic appreciation of the level of development that had occurred around this juncture

L240-120-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, C-17 and C-18, (Image 24 of 45)

Compare the previous scenes with this southwest view from the May 4, 1947 Cal-Neva excursion. No highway as expected, but the ridge marks the spot, as does the milepost marker.

L240-125-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 54876sp, (Image 25 of 45)

A review of the right-of-way will commence ending in time with this northwest view of the Newell Ave. grade crossing area on Apr. 25, 1980. The tracks have been removed, except at the grade crossing and for a short distance in either direction. However, this does not do justice to the actual path, as it had already been straightened south of the intersection.

L240-130-Herrington-Olson Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 135611BARTD, (Image 26 of 45)

From the mid-1950s until realignment in 1972, two tracks crossed the Newell Ave. intersection as shown here in a west-oriented aerial composite from 1968. Assigning the siding east of the mainline to Hughes Co. or some other industry is still under review.

L240-135-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, Panels 28 and 29 , (Image 27 of 45)

The curve in the track from this ground-level northeast view from the late 1970s allowed the realigned track to meet up with the position of the original right-of-way south of Newell Ave. This is why the path on the Iron Horse Trail is interrupted at Newell Ave., such that crossing the intersection at two right angles is necessary.

L240-140-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 28 of 45)

Before getting to Las Lomas HS, the track would require a gentle reverse curve, captured here in a south view during Dan Engstrom’s ride on the Concord-Danville Local in Feb. 1978.

L240-145-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 29 of 45)

This south view from the late 1970s shows where the curve has shifted to the left or east, the HS’s athletic field light towers closer in view.

L240-150-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 30 of 45)

This northeast view from the late 1970s shows the curve straightening out across from the HS baseball field.

L240-155-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 31 of 45)

The last location assignment is supported by a step back into the baseball field in the late 1970s for a panoramic northeast view of the railroad’s east flank.

L240-160-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 32 of 45)

Moving south, entering a long straight away in the late 1970s, a view to the south, left, and north, right, the fence around the baseball field serves as an important marker for what comes next.

L240-165-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 33 of 45)

The long straight away and apartments on the western flank past the baseball field fence come into better view as Dan Engstrom continues his ride back to Concord in Feb. 1978, south view.

L240-170-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 34 of 45)

Past the long straight away and now turning north in the late 1970s, paths were provided along the berm to move auto traffic in and out.

L240-175-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek , (Image 35 of 45)

In rapid succession, Dan Engstrom documented the last curve before the creek crossing in these two south views in Feb. 1978.

L240-180-Dan Engstrom Photos, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 36 of 45)

The same spot in late 1979, more toward the southwest and in living color.

L240-185-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek , (Image 37 of 45)

By 1968, the area around the bridge crossing of San Ramon Creek was highly developed as seen in this west-oriented aerial.

L240-190-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 38 of 45)

A south view of the bridge as Dan Engstrom continues his ride back to Concord in Feb. 1978.

L240-195-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 39 of 45)

Earlier that day, Dan had ridden over the bridge with a train carrying lumber to be deposited in Danville. South view, Feb. 1978.

L240-200-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 40 of 45)

Wayne Monger was there during the last month of operation, here Sept. 7, 1978, to catch SP 2596 with more lumber for Danville, north view.

L240-205-Wayne Monger Photos, Courtesy Wayne Monger, (Image 41 of 45)

This south view was taken more than two years earlier by Wayne, Feb. 7 1976, as 2682 and boxcars approach the highway overpass. Note the drainage tubes that had since replaced the small overpass, no longer needed among the surrounding sea of concrete.

L240-210-Wayne Monger Photo, Courtesy Wayne Monger, (Image 42 of 45)

Each photographer got the south border Walnut Creek image, here a southwest view by Dan in Feb. 1978 …

L240-215-Dan Engstrom Photo, Courtesy Dan Engstrom, (Image 43 of 45)

… and Wayne chasing the same train with SP 2596 on Sept. 7, 1978.

L240-220-Wayne Monger Photo, Courtesy Wayne Monger, (Image 44 of 45)

Once across Danville Blvd., presented in this west-oriented aerial from 1968, the tour has entered Alamo, the next place to visit at a future date. Appreciation and acknowledgment to Andy Smith and Walnut Creek Planning for the photos and other key documentation, and to Dan Engstrom and Wayne Monger for the images.

L240-225-Courtesy Planning Division, City of Walnut Creek, (Image 45 of 45)