Nostalgia & History > That 70s show in Emeryville

Emeryville, California used to look like this. The signal bridge marked the start of a 60 mph speed limit for eastbound trains on this double track railroad. Westbound trains would sit at the 65th St. wait light for hours, it seemed, before entering the yard. Old iron in the form of drill tracks and industrial spurs are everywhere.

The scene today is much different starting with new names like RV 007, multiple main tracks, fancy UP signal bridges, lots of through traffic including passenger trains. The drill tracks are either gone or rust away. Emeryville, once known for card rooms and factories, is now a city of condos and traffic jams.

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Hey STASH... Why don't you send out a combination of photos that show
the immense amount of RAIL activity that existed in Emeryville "almost" at the same time !!

For example: Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Key System, Sacramento Northern, IER Red Trains, Richmond Shipyard Railway, Oakland Terminal Railway, etc..
You could post ONE shot of EACH to let viewers see how 1940--1943 was the year of Emeryville rail activity.

By the way, since your buddy "John Harder: has such great photos, let's see if he can come up with a photo of the Key System line that once ran to Alber's Mill across the street from Oakland Pier (Mole)..
THAT will give him a challenge !!

Cheers.

"Key Route Ken"...

stash Wrote:

>
> The scene today is much different starting with
> new names like RV 007, multiple main tracks, fancy
> UP signal bridges, lots of through traffic
> including passenger trains. The drill tracks are
> either gone or rust away. Emeryville, once known
> for card rooms and factories, is now a city of
> condos and traffic jams.
>
>
It truly is amazing to see this transformation, and to think how far removed we are from this era.
I think the Ryerson steel building is an Andronico's food market, now. No more factories or factory workers--just yuppies doing computer work or whatever they do besides drinking lattes and riding hi-tech bikes while basking in their own glory.
In many ways, railfans document much more than locos and trains. They document the changing industrial landscape and the railroads response to it.
From steam to diesel, diesel to RCO diesel... What's next? Only time will tell.

"I think the Ryerson steel building is an Andronico's food market, now."

That big black Ryerson Steel bldg was on the compass-south side of 65th St, wasn't it? If so, it's long gone-- apartments/condos there now, just built in the last few months.