Nostalgia & History > Derailment on Sacramento Northern in Shepherd Canyon

The following tidbit comes from longtime Bay Area traction buff 'Tom Buckingham' ...
Occurance:   During WW II.   Lead SN locomotive:  B-W # 660   Location:  Shepherd Canyon--Oakland, CA.
"During WW 2 there was a derailment in Shepherd Canyon. Sacramento Northern's two 1500 Volt Baldwin Westinghouse locomotives were descending from the tunnel headed for the Oakland Army base. A box car loaded with #10 cans of pears derailed. The first locomotive went on to 40th and Shafter. George Hademan stayed in the rear locomotive, and spent the night guarding the rear half of the train. My mother made Georges dinner. "
Cheers.
KRK
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/16 07:46 by KeyRouteKen.

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Cool little story.

In the photo, the motor is on the rear of the train. Where did the caboose go? Maybe it was dragged back uphill and set out in Havens siding?

Best regards,

Rob L.

Look at the cast iron wheels!
G

I hope she got a few cans of those pears for her kindness! ;-)

ExSPCondr Wrote:
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> Look at the cast iron wheels!

> G

How do you know they are cast iron ?

KRK

rob_l Wrote:
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> In the photo, the motor is on the rear of the
> train. Where did the caboose go? Maybe it was
> dragged back uphill and set out in Havens siding?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Rob L.

The Caboose probably went to 40th & Shafter with the lead locomotive,  SN # 660.   In other words, it might have been in the lead because the SN always operated "juice-jacks" at the front and end of a train for braking !!

KRK

Isn't the rib back a sign if cast iron wheels ?

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
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> ExSPCondr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Look at the cast iron wheels!
>
> > G
>
> How do you know they are cast iron ?
>
> KRK

Posted from Android

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
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> rob_l Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> The Caboose probably went to 40th & Shafter with
> the lead locomotive,  SN # 660.   In other
> words, it might have been in the lead because the
> SN always operated "juice-jacks" at the front and
> end of a train for braking !!
>

Do you have any photos of SN freights in the Oakland Hills were the caboose leads the consist of freight cars instead of trailing it?

TIA,

Rob L.

Cast iron wheels had those ribs or flutes on the inside of the wheel, just in from the back of the flange.  Due to their tendency to crack, they were replaced with cast steel wheels, and the cast iron wheels became condemnable on sight, somewhere in the late 50s?
G

I don't know if it has a picture of what you wanted..  but this is a very very cool site on just the Sacramento Northern

"Experience the East Bay Hills during the mid-20th century in a photographic journey following the right-of-way of the Sacramento Northern Railway. Appreciate the physical landscape, landmarks, and the evolution of public works projects to explain the current appearance of the region"

http://www.eastbayhillsproject.org/

Enjoy!