SP Index

Some Tim Zukas Western Division Photographs

Several years back, Tim's contributions started the ball rolling with Wx4's Historical Maps & Timetables pages. What we did not until recently is how fine a photographer he is. Below is a sample, with more to come. The photos all date circa 1972.

(click on the images for larger renditions)

SP#13 / AMK #14 on the double track below Lick (south San Jose; taken from Capitol Expressway overhead)), one mile north of the wreck location seen in the above "Questions" section. During the intervening 15 years between the two shots, these fields also were overcome by suburbia.

This photo is of a rarely photographed spot - at Hanlon siding (unoccupied track in foreground) near 16th Avenue, geographically south of East Oakland Yard. Hanlon's name dated to the 1860's pre-CP San Francisco & Alameda Railroad. Here we see SP#12 / AMK #11 gliding past without incident. Such was not the case for me on a Pool 4 freight train later in the decade.

At full resolution, Train Master #3035 really leaps out at you, yes? Location: the curve at 7th and King Streets, just out of Third & Townsend depot.

Tim's spectacular night shot of "The Homestead" yard in West Oakland shows the place before most of the tracks were removed in favor of container loading and storage.

Looking the other way at King Street curve, we see morning Fleet Train #133 easing past a collection of typical Peninsula power, which apparently is headed to or from Bayshore Roundhouse. The 1905 Baker & Hamilton looms, as always, in the background. The odd light (Colonial Yellow) building behind the train is the engineer's quarters and engine crew calling office, both moved from Mission Bay Roundhouse in 1960.

This is where trainmen and enginemen went to work in Oakland, the former Interurban Electric building at Bay Street. The upper stories functioned as the yard office. That's AMK #11 winding by, and the diesel shop is just out of the photo at left.

AMK #14 / SP #13 sits at Chorro Siding, a little ways uphill from San Luis Obispo, waiting for #11 / #12 in the background. Chorro was a frequent meeting point, even tough the scheduled meet was south of SLO.

We wonder who was the owner of this big Mercury, whose occupants appear ready to climb aboard once the switchmen have cut away. Note that officials are strewn all the way down Oakland's 16th Street station platform towards the former Interurban Electric overhead, and that the Amtrak rear brakeman (an SP employee back then) seems to be pointedly ignoring the kerfuffle that naturally occurs any time a big shot comes down to the tracks to take a ride. Also note that the only guy in the photo performing actual work, the switchman with the lantern, is well supervised.