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One of the more popular posts on Rails West covered train orders and old school railroading. That post has triggered a great deal of interest in seeing my photos of the depot. In fact, one reader said his mom was in the photos and asked for more. He said she’d be thrilled to see these pictures. If I can make someone’s mom happy, I’m going to do it!
So I am sharing all the photos I took of that depot on that overcast day in May of 1980. I loved that depot. It was very photogenic, and I love capturing the work of dedicated railroaders keeping the freight moving!
A thing of beauty –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Getting ready for a train –©photo by C. E. Hunt
–©photo by C. E. Hunt
Cotton Belt caboose parked near depot to right –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Kind of muddy, love the old cars –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Semaphore! –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Rice mills in distance –©photo by C. E. Hunt
A little messy –©photo by C. E. Hunt
And here is a sequence from when a train came by.
Here it comes! –©photo by C. E. Hunt
I love the sounds and feeling of an approaching train! (especially the old SP)–©photo by C. E. Hunt
Grabbing the orders –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Cool, new GB&W boxcars –©photo by C. E. Hunt
More cool, new boxcars –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Love how interesting freights were back then, railroaders in action working to get both the engine and caboose personnel informed.–©photo by C. E. Hunt
I love that era of railroading! –©photo by C. E. Hunt
I also had to go capture that caboose parked near the depot!
I miss these! More great cars.–©photo by C. E. Hunt
I am so glad I recorded these scenes. I hope I made someone mom’s happy (and all my readers).
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
©B. Smith photo
By B. Smith (all photos by author)
It has occurred to me that I haven’t said anything about how SP operated the branch. I wish now I had paid more attention to this aspect.
SP’s Burbank station on the Coast Route.-–©photo B. Smith
Growing up in Van Nuys I’d hear the train as it passed the Sepulveda Dam Recreational Area (then the Sepulveda Flood Control Area) as we lived two blocks north of where I took the photo of the track by the old barn. For many years corn was grown in the Flood Control Area. But by the time I’d get on my bike and get to where I could see the tracks the train was well out of view. For a time in high school where we waited for the school bus to take us home after school (My family now lived up in the hills over looking the Valley) was across the street from the Encino team track and if the local was running later than normal I would catch it there. The baseball fields where I played little league were located on the old RKO Ranch movie lot denoted on the Encino map and I’d see the train there, although baseball games were on evenings or weekends and the train rarely ran then. One Saturday though the train did come and two girls had walked out on the long bridge spanning the Los Angeles River. Our field was the closest to the bridge. Someone shouted here comes a train and the game stopped as parents rushed to the bridge to warn the girls who just made it off the bridge in time. I don’t remember the train sounding its horn or slowing down. And yes, I too was guilty of walking across that bridge a time or two.
Tail track of the Chatsworth wye, with spur to the only ready-mix concrete plant along the San Fernando Valley Branch still getting rail shipments.-–©photo B. Smith
Site of SP’s Chatsworth station in May,1972. The two story station had stood by the tracks on the far side of the three palm trees. Nearby is where the San Fernando Valley Branch rejoined the Coast Route. It was from this location on September 12, 2008, that a Metrolink commuter train departed, ran a red signal, and collided with a UP freight. View is looking north toward the Santa Susana Mts.-–©photo B. Smith
SP beet train about to enter the first tunnel through the Santa Susana Mts. as it leaves the San Fernando Valley on the Coast Route. May, 1972.-–©photo B. Smith
It was around this curve where the Metrolink/UP freight collided in 2008.-–©photo B. Smith
In an earlier post, I shared B. Smith’s excellent coverage SP action in the San Fernando Valley in the early 1970s. In this post, we will drill down a little further into the nuts and bolts of the line’s operations again in the early 1970s with a few new photos, maps and field notes made by B. Smith as he documented the line in 1972. This will be very useful for people interested in modelling the line and give the rest of us food for thought as to how many lines operated in the 1970s and somewhat beyond.
Here’s an overview map to start (Each of the boxes will have detailed maps and field notes to follow. All the photos were taken July 20, 1972 and copyright B. Smith)–
North Hollywood
Let’s head east to west and visit a little around the North Hollywood area to start.
The San Fernando Valley Branch as it travels up the center of Chandler Blvd. in North Hollywood. Looking east from near Laurel Canyon Blvd.
San Fernando Valley Branch passing under the Hollywood Freeway. Facing west.
Map of North Hollywood area.
B. Smith’s field notes on North Hollywood. (The letters correspond to locations on the maps.)
North Hollywood map area, looking west with Lankershim Blvd in the immediate foreground. Hendricks Builders Supply (G. on the map above) was once the North Hollywood Pacific Electric station. The North Hollywood team track area is just the other side of Lankershim on the right in the open area. Pameco-Aire-Refrigeration is the brick building (darker color) in the center of the picture in the distance.
Car of lumber being unloaded at Blanchard Lumber in North Hollywood, May 20, 1972. Looking east toward Vineland Ave. Pacific Electric cars once ran on a track that was where the photographer is standing.
OK, let’s head west on the branch over to Van Nuys in 1972.
Van Nuys
Looking west across Hazeltine Ave. in the Van Nuys map area as the San Fernando Valley local freight train disappears down the tracks. Modern Materials Inc. is visible to the left of the tracks. Between Modern Material and Hazeltine is the Shell Oil Co.distributor whose spur track is no longer used and blocked with 55 gal oil drums. The Shell Oil Distributor located here about 1926 and received rail shipments until truck shipments took over.
B. Smith’s map of Van Nuys, 1972.
B. Smith’s field notes on Van Nuys, 1972.
UP box car spotted at the Glesby Building Materials Co. spur in the Van Nuys map area. The ready-mix cement company does not receive rail shipments nor was there ever a spur track located to it. The spur track leading off to the right goes to American Forest Products, a major receiver of rail shipments with about 25 cars per month.
Heading further west, we go near the Sepulveda Dam Recreational Area.
San Fernando Valley Branch as it skirts the Sepulveda Dam Recreational Area near the intersection of Victory Blvd. and Havenhurst St.
Now easing a little further west, let’s poke around the Encino area just a bit before heading over to Reseda.
Encino
B. Smith’s 1972 map of Encino.
Reseda (Tarzana)
Map of Reseda area.
Reseda field notes.
Now let’s end this tour at the most western part of the branch around the Canoga Park area.
Canoga Park
Facing south in the Canoga Park map area with Canoga Ice Co. on the left, here since 1927. Today this is a bike path and a dedicated bus route! Pyramid Pipe and Supply, which would have been behind the photographer is still in business, but everything in this photo is gone!
Canoga Park map.
Notes on Canoga Park
Looking north on the Canoga Park map area from near Vanowen Blvd. Conrock and Skyline ready-mix concrete companies are on the right but it’s been 3 years since a load of cement or gravel has been spotted on their spur track.
Wrap up
As we wrap up our visit of SP operations in the San Fernando Valley in 1972, let me leave you with a couple of overview documents.
The best customers of the branch.
Here’s the stats on the number of carloads per customer in 1972.
Again, this is an amazing gold mine for anyone interested in modelling this branch in the early 1970s. The operations were very diverse and interesting. It would make a fascinating layout.
Next post will feature a detailed description of switching around Tarzana on July 12, 1972.
Last post I shared some vignettes where I have done a little modelling to capture poignant rail memories. This post I will share additional photos I took when I was a teenager of other scenes that evoke special memories that I may seek to at least partially evoke through modelling in the future (somehow).
Frito Lay Plant in Houston c. 1978-80
BN Hopper at Frito-Lay on Griggs Road in Houston July 1978. (Love the old tank car too) –©photo by C. E. Hunt
I loved riding by the Frito-Lay plant in the late 1970s. There was almost always a tank car and a covered hopper, and it was frequently switched out. The covered hoppers were almost BN or predecessor roads. CB&Q and a variety of NP cars (green and gray) were common.
NP at Frito-Lay Jan 1979–©photo by C. E. Hunt
Wish I had taken many more photos there!
Cabooses!
Caboose on MP freight near Houston, August 1979. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
I loved when cabooses trailed the train. It was a nice closing to the experience of seeing a freight train. It gave you closure as a rail fan. It was a consolation prize of the train ending and gave the closing a human touch–especially as a kid, when a rail employee would wave to you. It was as though the entire train was saying good bye.
Rock Island caboose in Houston in August of 1979 –©photo by C. E. Hunt
BN caboose in Houston in May of 1980. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Almost mythical, lonesome branch lines
Prescott and Northwestern at Tokio, ARK on the way to the gypsum mine August 1978 –©photo by C. E. Hunt
There were special places across the landscape that had a mythical quality where you dream of seeing trains but never did. One such place was near my Uncle Arnold and Aunt Molly’s farm in Arkansas. Near their farm was a lonesome line that went off to a very small gypsum mine. I did a post on this mine last year. I finally found some of the photos I was looking for for that post, but I never found the picture of the Gypsum mine I took.
Prescott and Northwestern, Prescott, AR, August 1979 –©photo by C. E. Hunt
PNW in Prescott, AR–©photo by C. E. Hunt
PNW Caboose in Prescott, AR, 1979–©photo by C. E. Hunt
For many summers I hoped to catch the little train winding its way through the woods and over the hills to the mine. I only captured it in my imagination.
The Southern Pacific
SP on Griggs Road, August 1978–©photo by C. E. Hunt
I grew up near a Southern Pacific line. The line saw a lot of locals and an occasional long freight, I vividly recall one highlight that took place at night. I remember a Southern (not Southern Pacific) caboose slowly trailing a long freight headed east. I still remember being able to look inside because it was illuminated. Funny how certain memories stick with you. When I would go to bed at night and hear diesel horns from that direction, I would sometimes imagine what kind of train was passing on the line.
Also RS11#2926 on Griggs Road in July of 1978. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
SP switcher servicing-warehouses on Griggs Road in January of 1979. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Those were the days. I have more to share in Part III.
The San Fernando Valley inside of and adjacent to Los Angeles has a rich history. A number of Indian tribes lived there prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1769. Missions dotted the landscape. The Valley became part of United States in the late 1840s. The Southern Pacific arrived in the 1870s. Wheat and other commodities produced in the Valley were important sources of traffic. Overtime, the SP spread across the Valley.
About a hundred years later, my friend B. Smith was on hand to see how things were going.
Unknown date in early 1972 (All captions by B. Smith)
Today’s local. Trains ran daily in 1972.—©photo by B. Smith
The #2617 was the regular as you shall see…
Bakery still using rail, though no covered hoppers this day.–©photo B. Smith
SP’s San Fernando Valley branch had many building supply firms served by sidings and team tracks. All inbound loads, outbound empties.–©photo B. Smith
The old Van Nuys freight station is now leased as as a warehouse when this photo was taken. I believe carpeting was being stored in it for a local business. –©photo B. Smith
A short siding for a building supply firm with a UP box car, with roof walk, spotted for unloading. –©photo B. Smith
A view of the ready mix concrete business that received rail shipments. –©photo B. Smith
July 1972
SP’s San Fernando Valley local that ran from Burbank to Chatsworth. There were a number of lumber and building supply sidings, a bakery, a warehouse that received furniture, and team tracks. –©photo B. Smith
Team track in Reseda. –©photo B. Smith
Team track. –©photo B. Smith
May 1973
Team track in Van Nuys, CA. May 1973 –©photo B. Smith
Sadly, the tracks have been removed, probably in the 1980’s, and the right of way is now an express rapid transit bus line. –©photo B. Smith
I can just see a Rockford Files episode being filmed here the next year when its production began in 1974. I can almost make out Jimbo’s orange-gold Pontiac Firebird Esprit on stakeout in a couple of these photos.
SP freight at Dayton, TX May 1980. Note engineer snagging the orders. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Before automation, train orders were used to determine which train had the right of way at any point along the line. They also passed along important information about unusual speed limits, track work, etc.
One day in May of 1980 as a 17-year old armed with my manual Minolta, I was in Dayton, Texas to capture a train order sequence.
The station from which the employees put out the train orders had seen way better days. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
I noticed a bustle of activity as I heard a train horn in the distance.
A woman came out of the station to put out a train order for the approaching SP freight.–©photo by C. E. Hunt
I was thrilled to be able to capture this moment as the train approached.
Train approaches. Order is in place. Note a second employee getting ready for something else. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
The locomotive crew snatches the orders! Note the second woman approaching the the train order stand again. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Then the process was repeated.
The orders for the caboose are put on the stand. Both station employees are now visible.–©photo by C. E. Hunt
Here comes the caboose!
See the conductor reaching for the orders? –©photo by C. E. Hunt
Big-time, old school, freight railroading using train orders.
Technology has replaced all of this process, but I am glad I was able to capture the “old school” way in 1980.
When I was finally able to pull myself away from the turntable, I set out to explore to rest of the Hardy Street Shops. The diversity of locomotives and cabooses was pretty impressive. Also impressive, looking back, was the access a 16-year old boy had–just me and my hand-me-down Minolta.
NW2 1310 in between assignments. See roundhouse in the distance. –©photo by C.E. Hunt
Sanding tracks, Hardy Street Shops, January 1979. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
The diversity of equipment was staggering.
Alco C628 resting, Hardy Street Shops, January 1979. –©photo by C.E. Hunt
SD-45 #9126 and SW1200 #2268 in for service. –©photo by C. E. Hunt
I had to go peek at the turntable one more time before I left this magical place…
SW1500 #2674 sneaks onto the turntable. Will her twin fit? –©photo by C. E. Hunt
In part III, I will share some of the cabooses I shot there as well as my sneaking up into an Alco S-6 (#1257) just a few months before it would leave the SP in July of 1979.
Rails West 