Nostalgia & History > SP Roundhouse Elmhurst, California

Attached is a Robert Foster Ebay photo of SP 4156 on the turntable at Elmhurst, CA.
Need help on locating "Elmhurst", please
Wikipedia has a location for an Elmhurst near Sacramento, but it is a long way from the SP yard.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

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SPV atlas shows an Elmhurst between Oakland and San Leandro. Would that be it?

Thanks, Casco,
I notice a Palm Tree in the background.
Any East Bay fellows out there recognize this location?

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

casco17 Wrote:

> SPV atlas shows an Elmhurst between Oakland and
> San Leandro. Would that be it?

There's a place answering to the name Elmhurst there all right, but it's not likely to be the location of the photo. Elmhurst was the junction between the parallel main lines that run "east" through Niles and Newark, plus the Stonehurst Branch, but in terms of facilities, in the cab-forward era there was only a small depot and freight house there. With West Oakland's extensive facilities so close, there was no need for another roundhouse and turntable at Elmhurst.

It's a 120-foot turntable (based on the turntable design), so it's any place on the SP with a 120-foot turntable.

Never was a roundhouse at Elmhurst. This doesn't even look like West Oakland, so it's probably in SoCal.

Would add that the date palm visible near the tender doesn't necessarily signify Southern California. SP planted them near their depots well away from what is considered "palm tree country."

Lovely to check Google or Bing maps for old station sites. If, for example, you check Lathrop CA, you'll likely still see two tall palms where the station once stood -- and it hasn't been standing for what, at least five decades?

Image from 2012, I believe; station palms at lower left unless someone can correct... and please do if needed!

~ BZ

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Elmhurst shows at MP 13.4 on the Niles Sub. Nearest turning was at Fruitvale, MP 9.7

Elmhurst was where the Stonehurst Branch from MP 14.3 ended.

As far as palm trees, they grew anywhere there was water. (Not at Norden of course) Way back the agents had to keep their stations cleaned up and green if possible. Palm trees loved to be near water plugs too.


Nudge