The Many Faces of Pittsburg – East 8th Extension

Critical to the survival of the SN freight operation south of Sacramento was the extension east of the original terminus at the depot, seen here set off by a curve behind the latter on Mar. 5, 1976, east view.

L222-02-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 1 of 21)

The state of industrialization has been covered in the History Section under “Charles Hooper's Empire from the Air.” Included in a 1928 map of the area was this list of the biggest industries included within and east of the Pittsburg city line ranked by payroll.

L222-05-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 41000, (Image 2 of 21)

The two leading industries were served by the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific, but the Western Pacific was eager to gain access as well. According to Demoro’s “Sacramento Northern”, the Western Pacific, WP, gained control of the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad, SF-S, on August 1, 1927, although the ICC approval did not come until Oct. 26, 1928.

L222-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 40998, (Image 3 of 21)

To gain access, the WP would need to extend the SF-S track from the depot across Harbor St., and then negotiate with the Santa Fe over trackage rights and rail crossings.

L222-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 40998, Detail, (Image 4 of 21)

Recall that the area to be extended through was densely covered with trees as shown in this west view circa late 1920s. The struggle to gain access to this land and negotiate beyond this with the Santa Fe will be covered in a future presentation in the History Section. For now, the physical layout of the new extension will be explored. Ref: API 578_41_BOX 71 thru 74

L222-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 5 of 21)

The new extension opened on Apr. 1, 1930, and this east view from 1931 or after shows the cleared-out right-of-way from the depot area, red arrow. Although a single track in design, a siding, green arrow, was also included next to the only surviving stand of trees. Ref: API 628_3_BOX 95

L222-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 6 of 21)

Pittsburg’s industrial center peak of productivity was during the WWII-Vietnam War era. Note that comparing 1939 to 2018, a large section to the north of the extension, enclosed within the turquoise box, was empty. This, however, does not reflect what went on during the peak years.

L222-30-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 7 of 21)

This north-oriented aerial from 1965 shows the area to the north of the extension fully engaged in commercial activity. Ref: RG 77 NRHS Acc Number 077-99-01 Box 13, Folder 1, 1965

L222-35-Courtesy The National Archives of San Francisco, (Image 8 of 21)

This northeast view from Oct. 1967 provides a starting point to review the area from the ground. Appreciation to railroad historian Jeff Asay for supplying the photograph.

L222-40-Western Pacific Photo, Courtesy Jeff Asay, (Image 9 of 21)

A detail of the northeast view from Oct. 1967 shows many things, but two items for the next discussion. First, the land to the north of the East 8th St. extension was occupied by Johns Manville, and by this date there are no associated structures along the siding.

L222-45-Western Pacific Photo, Courtesy Jeff Asay, Detail, (Image 10 of 21)

This west view from Harbor St. looking down East 8th St. in 2016 begins a photographic walk through the extension taken by E.K. Muller in the spring of 1957.

L222-50-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 11 of 21)

This west view of East 8th St. from 1957 shows the switch track to the siding, which ran to the north of a shed. The Contra Costa Mattress Co. was not listed in the 1957 Western Pacific, WP, Circular No. 167-E, and the prior function of this structure has not been uncovered. The minimal view of the south side of East 8th St. is all that was found for that side lining the extension.

L222-55-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 96939sn, (Image 12 of 21)

The aerials shown earlier in this presentation show no shed in 1939 and 1965. This northeast view from Mar. 3, 1946 does show it. This image was labelled “Mr. Hughes” ... could it be you-know-who?! In any event, the function of the spur during this interval is not known.

L222-60-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 69197sn, (Image 13 of 21)

Further west, this west view shows the catenary pole wire holders for the siding and mainline, and the facility used by Johns Manville on the north side.

L222-65-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 96938sn, (Image 14 of 21)

Continuing west, this 1957 northeast view shows the homes along the north side of East 8th St., the Johns Manville water tower indeed confirming that the catenary poles had flipped to the south side of the track once the siding was cleared.

L222-70-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 96940sn, (Image 15 of 21)

The bus depot sign means that SN 660 heading this steel train sits just east of the SN depot, northwest view, 1957.

L222-75-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 90531sn, (Image 16 of 21)

Although electric trains were still carting steel in 1957, bombs or other materials entering Pittsburg via Stockton and the Santa Fe on the “SN Detour” were delivered by diesel F-3’s such as WP 920-D. This image also shows the end of the siding and termination of its overhead wire along the left edge, and the back of homes on the east side of East St. West view, circa Jan. 31, 1957.

L222-80-E.K. Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 79002sn, (Image 17 of 21)

The SN’s F-3 contingent, here 301D and presumably 302D, also brought steel shipments and military-related materials via Stockton, undated west view.

L222-85-Louis L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161831sn, (Image 18 of 21)

The same SN F-3 diesel pair with a load filling the extension heading west in an undated east view.

L222-90-Tom Gray Photo, Courtesy Tom Gray, (Image 19 of 21)

The rise up the extension from USS-Columbia Steel can be appreciated as WP 3001 and 3532 on SN Detour reach the crest with a bomb train heading to Port Chicago, east view, May 1983.

L222-95-Ted Benson Photo, Courtesy Ted Benson, (Image 20 of 21)

Back to the SN Depot, an east view from Railroad Ave. on Mar. 27, 1976 shows the western-most homes along the north side of the extension.

L222-100-Wilbur C. Whittaker Photo, Courtesy Arnold Menke and Garth Groff, (Image 21 of 21)