Wye San Anselmo

In May 1964, railroad photographer-author-enthusiast Ted Wurm set himself at the base of Red Hill in San Anselmo and took this southwest view looking down Sir Francis Dr. Blvd. It captures the theater, the San Francisco Theological Seminary, and Mount Tamalpais. Construction on the southern lanes for Sir Francis Drake Blvd. is in progress. But why did Ted take the picture?

L194-05-Ted Wurm Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 76876nwp, (Image 1 of 49)

In his later years, Ted is seen doing what he did best, recording railroad history. So why did Ted take the picture in San Anselmo? Why San Anselmo? In the sprit of Bud Abbott responding to Lou Costello, the answer is, yes, of course, wye San Anselmo. Continue on ...

L194-10-Courtesy John Bosko, John Bosko Collection, (Image 2 of 49)

Next to consult a 1935 Marin Map and Trail Route produced by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad (NWP.) Ref: G4363 M2 1935 D4

L194-15-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, (Image 3 of 49)

L194-20-Next to find San Anselmo and the intersection of interest. Ref: G4363 M2 1935 D4

L194-20-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, (Image 4 of 49)

The map shows rail lines from the west, east, and south converging at San Anselmo. Ref: G4363 M2 1935 D4

L194-25-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, (Image 5 of 49)

The convergence of rail lines is seen even better in this NWP timetable map from Nov 20, 1938.

L194-30-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 6 of 49)

John Harder volunteered this north view of a NWP train from San Rafael train passing by San Anselmo Tower 4 in 1939. Pictured is an electric train using a third rail like a modern subway. The big deal at this spot was the railway “wye” or “Y”, that is, the configuration of the track to accommodate a three-way convergence. The train in the picture is on the eastern arm of the wye.

L194-35-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 7 of 49)

North before-and-after views, the previous 1939 photo and one from 2017. Not a clue remains of the historic importance of this spot related to rail travel in Marin. Next to recreate what has been lost.

L194-40-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder and Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 8 of 49)

Waldemar Sievers also took this north view of a train approaching from the western arm of the wye, originating from Manor just to the west of Fairfax. Tower 4 is seen in front of the NWP substation.

L194-45-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 9 of 49)

And a south view from 1940 down the stem of the wye reveals a station, so compact that the interlocking signal is built right through its roof.

L194-50-Ralph Demorro Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 10 of 49)

A south view from 1927 toward the station also shows the passenger platform and shelter across the tracks to the west.

L194-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64070nwp, (Image 11 of 49)

Turning around to the north, a steel train awaits passengers for the trip to Sausalito in 1939.

L194-60-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 12 of 49)

The same north view in 1927 sans train shows the wye structure to the north. Next a walk north for further inspection.

L194-65-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives 64069nwp , (Image 13 of 49)

A close-up view of the last iteration of the wye seen in a north view on Mar. 30, 1938 is presented. Note the double-track arrangement. Tower 4 was added in 1912 to insure proper train movements through the crossing tracks.

L194-70-Wilbur C. Whittaker Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives , (Image 14 of 49)

In the 19th century, the precursor of the NWP was the North Coast Pacific Railroad, a narrow gauge, steam-powered line. The wye had a simple single-track arrangement, and this southwest view from 1887 showing two trains lined up in opposite directions supports that San Anselmo was indeed a railroad hub.

L194-75-Courtesy San Anselmo Historical Museum, 0016, (Image 15 of 49)

In the 20th century, with the introduction of standard-gauge, electric-powered interurban cars, the wye took on a hybrid appearance to accommodate both rail gauges. The south view, left, and north view, right, are from circa 1910. Ref: Right, Record id 23480, Item no. 14.111.0058; Left, Record id 23473, Item no. 14.111.0055.

L194-80-Ray J. Roix Collection, Courtesy Northwest Pacific Railroad Historical Society, (Image 16 of 49)

The narrow gauge aspect of the wye was removed by 1920, and this south view from Tower 4 shows the penultimate wye configuration with only a single track coming in from the left or east from San Rafael.

L194-85-Courtesy Fred Codoni, (Image 17 of 49)

Wooden cars 307, 318 and 370 head into the San Anselmo station from San Rafael using the northern-most track for entry on Nov. 3, 1938, northeast view.

L194-90-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 8508nwp , (Image 18 of 49)

Vestibule steel motor 378 leads a two-car train into San Anselmo from Manor using the southern-most track of the western section of the wye in Nov. 1940.

L194-95-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 8608nwp , (Image 19 of 49)

Ted Wurm caught this three-car steel train en route to Manor by the San Anselmo substation on Nov. 6, 1938.

L194-100-Ted Wurm Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 20189nwp , (Image 20 of 49)

All electric trains used the wye independent of their final destination. Although through track did run above the wye making it possible to avoid it between trips from San Rafael to Manor and vice versa, this track was not supported by a third rail as seen in this east view.

L194-105-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 21 of 49)

Dependency on the wye meant that a switch track had to be inserted, red arrow, to allow for positioning trains in the right direction. Fred Codoni, co-author with Paul Trimble of “Northwestern Pacific Railroad”, describes here how this was done within the penultimate wye design. Making the wye completely double-track made the process even easier.

L194-110-Text by Fred Codoni, Drawing by Allen Tacy Coll., NWPRRHS , (Image 22 of 49)

The double-track wye allowed trains from San Rafael and Manor to be hooked together for the trip to Sausalito without the need of the switch track. South view, Jan. 1941.

L194-115-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64192nwp , (Image 23 of 49)

A southeast view of a one-car train en route to Manor passes the last key element of the San Anselmo station area, the electrical substation that converted AC power to DC power for the third rail operation. Note the sign for Knoles Sheet Metal Works in the background. For a closer look, continue ...

L194-120-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 18366nwp , (Image 24 of 49)

A better look at the signs at Knoles in this east view of locomotives 23 and 109 double-heading an excursion train out of San Anselmo as part of the Feb. 23, 1941 NWP Farewell Excursion sponsored by Pacific Division of the Railroadians of America.

L194-125-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 71755nwp , (Image 25 of 49)

Images taken by railway enthusiasts captured many features of the commercial district of San Anselmo, and a 360-degree survey of the area will commence with this northwest view of a two-car wooden train in 1940. The lack of leaves on the trees to the west of the district allows for the documentation of a Richfield service station on Center Blvd.

L194-130-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 26 of 49)

Panning this north image from 1939 to the right of Tower 4 reveals several businesses starting with the Gilmore service station, Marin Oil and Burner Co., a Texaco service station, and Meagor’s Pharmacy. As noted in the book “San Anselmo” by Judy Coy and the San Anselmo Historical Society, the still standing Spanish Colonial Revival-style building that had once housed Marin Oil and Burner was built in 1924 for the Durham Garage, designed by local architect Samuel Heiman.

L194-135-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 27 of 49)

Schlosser Coal Co., and the Tamalpais Theater marquee share the spotlight with a single steel train just in from Manor in this northeast view from June 1, 1936.

L194-140-Fred Matthews Photo, Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 10, (Image 28 of 49)

A one-car steel train sits on the San Rafael leg of wye in Sept. 1940. More details of the corner with Meagor’s Pharmacy featuring other signs of commerce can be appreciated in this northeast view.

L194-145-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 18381nwp , (Image 29 of 49)

It must be 1939 based on the marquee of the Tamalpais advertising Victor McLaglen and Jon Hall in South of Paco Paco in this northeast view of a two-car train set for San Rafael.

L194-150-Victor DuBrutz Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81920nwp, (Image 30 of 49)

If you missed the last flick, there is always Errol Flynn in Sea Wolf at the Tamalpais based on this Nov 1940 southeast view of a one-car steel train departing for Manor. Moving south down the east side of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. reveals Hanley’s Cleaners.

L194-155-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 18318 nwp, (Image 31 of 49)

The rest of the east side of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. between Red Hill Ave. and Bank St. wasn’t always at the right angle for railway enthusiasts, but this southeast image circa 1940 does the trick. Note the Dodge sign below “Marin County ...”, Rolph Winters Radio, Wholesale Paper and Supply, and Pierce’s, in addition to a clear view of the NWP baggage room.

L194-160-Courtesy San Anselmo Historical Society, 2053, (Image 32 of 49)

A northeast view of the station on Mar. 3, 1936 also documents Frank Howard Allen Real Estate on the southeast corner with Bank St.

L194-165-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 8768nwp , (Image 33 of 49)

Real estate offices were certainly the rage on the block heading south from Bank St. This southeast view of the station on Nov. 3, 1940 lines them up, starting with Marin Real Estate, Jones Real Estate, and Lang Realty.

L194-170-Louis Bradas, Jr. Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 67038nwp, (Image 34 of 49)

Add Thomas D. Minto Real Estate to the list, and then Associated Main St. Garage in this northeast view form Nov. 1940 of NWP 312 leading a six-car train setting out to San Francisco.

L194-175-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 20179 nwp, (Image 35 of 49)

Henry’s Meat, a coffee shop, and Leach Real Estate brings us to the end of the commercial section north of the creek as a steel train that arrived from Manor awaits further activity in this northeast view from May 7, 1940.

L194-180-Roy Covert Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 20159nwp , (Image 36 of 49)

A two-car wooden train approaches San Anselmo Station from the south. This southwest view from Sept. 1940 also shows a 76 service station and Safeway store south of the creek.

L194-185-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 18316 nwp , (Image 37 of 49)

The key switch allowing for the movement of trains between Manor and San Rafael can be seen under this five-car wooden train with NWP 370 at the rear. The train will need to move a few car lengths south to allow the switch to redirect the train north through the wye with 370 now the lead car en route to San Rafael. Note the American Trust Company building at the corner of Tunstead Ave., occupied in 2019 by Wells Fargo.

L194-190-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 64199nwp, (Image 38 of 49)

Now back to where it all started, Ted Wurm’s southwest view of the wye from May 1964. Since we can no longer ask him, we can only speculate on why he went from his home in Oakland to take this image.

L194-195-Ted Wurm Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 76876nwp, (Image 39 of 49)

An oblique east view down Red Hill Ave. on Nov. 23, 1966 shows the area of the wye along the lower edge.

L194-200-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 13344-4 , (Image 40 of 49)

A detail from the previous east view down Red Hill Ave. on Nov. 23, 1966 shows the digging is complete and nothing had been added that would have motivated Ted to visit the site to capture its early stages in 1964.

L194-205-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 13344-4 Detail, (Image 41 of 49)

An oblique west view down Red Hill Ave., its Oct. 3, 1963, a few months before Ted’s visit.

L194-210-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10077-11 , (Image 42 of 49)

A detail from a west view down Red Hill Ave. from Oct. 3, 1963 shows Sir Francis Drake reduced to its railway days configuration. The last sign of the NWP’s former presence is seen by the land on which the station had been located before it was destroyed on May 1, 1963 according to Barry Spitz’s “San Anselmo: A Pictorial History”.

L194-215-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 10077-11 Detail, (Image 43 of 49)

The theater marquee seen in this north view announces “Young Lions”, a WWII drama starring Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin, released in 1958. The substation is still present, but buses have been the rule for almost two decades.

L194-220-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 44 of 49)

A south view down Sir Francis Drake Blvd. sometime in the spring of 1941 after the NWP had run its last train on Mar. 1, 1941, a sad day for all railfans and San Anselmo commuters.

L194-225-Courtesy San Anselmo Historical Museum, 2060, (Image 45 of 49)

A detail of a south view down Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in the spring of 1941, and the eastern or San Rafael-related portion of the wye has been removed to allow buses to access to the station area.

L194-230-Courtesy San Anselmo Historical Museum, 2060 Detail, (Image 46 of 49)

Back in time to 1930, a southwest view shows the intact, double-track wye. A good memory for any railfan.

L194-235-Courtesy San Anselmo Historical Museum, 2023, (Image 47 of 49)

We will never know what Ted Wurm was thinking, far left, but maybe he is holding up a clue to his friends. Seated next to him on the couch, left to right, Jim Boynton and Bob Hanft, in the back row, left to right, Bert Ward, Guy Dunscomb, and Richter, and up front, left to right, Marvin Maynard and George Henderson ca. 1940.

L194-240-Bill Pennington Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 138425, (Image 48 of 49)

Ted Wurm took this west view down Red Hill Ave. of the Feb. 23, 1941 excursion train featuring NWP 29 & 109 and wooden cars 370, 303, 329, 304, 327, 330, 312. Appreciation to and acknowledgement of John Harder, Judy Coy, Fred Codoni, Angelo Figone, Richard Tourney, John Bosko and Gus Campagna for their many contributions to this update.

L194-245-Ted Wurm Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 75969nwp , (Image 49 of 49)