Fast Electric Train, "The Comet," Crossing Lake Temescal, Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Railway postcard

I usually like to do 'then and now' posts about these old postcards, but this one is tough, because the vantage point of the photographer is now under about 10-20' of earth, and above that earth is a PG&E electric substation that is off-limits. 

Fast Electric Train, "The Comet," Crossing Lake Temescal; O. A. & E. Ry.



Going to Sacramento?
Ride in comfort. Observation Cars. Fast Electric Trains. Block signals all the way. Through trains from San Francisco and Oakland to Marysville, Colusa, Oriville, and Chico.
OAKLAND, ANTIOCH, & EASTERN RAILWAY

I never understood exactly where these trestles were, because I ride the "Landvale Station Trail" bike path on my bicycle, and I don't go over water. The photographer would have been standing on the northern bank of Temescal creek, where it fed the dammed Lake Temescal, facing south, looking at the ridge over which is Contra Costa road. That spot is now within the PG&E substation, where I can't go to take this picture. Here's a rough equivalent:

This view is from google maps, with Satellite 3D view on, rotated to view the lake and southern shore approximately (zoomed out a bit) where the postcard photograph would have been taken. The rails-to-trails bike path is out of view, in front of the viewer. I will try to snap a pic from a bike ride to show it as well.

This is my best attempt at getting a photo from the same approximate location, now. I'm standing south of the PG&E station, about 30' north of the bike path / railroad alignment. That's my wife, waiting for me to take the picture, and I'm looking SSW, roughly the same direction as the original photo. The ground you see, that I'm standing on is all fill over the original Temescal Canyon. What a difference from then to now!


Here are some map views, first a 1912 Map of Oakland and Vicinity, Realty Union georeferenced overlay showing how the railroad trestle once crossed an arm of the lake:



Next, you can see how, in 1915 and 1942 USGS maps, the lake's northern arm is filled in with earth, and the need for a trestle goes away:



I was not able to find much about this change, in the newspapers. Here are some clues:

OVERPASS FOR TUNNEL ASKED OF RAIL BOARDOVERPASS FOR TUNNEL ASKED OF RAIL BOARD Fri, Feb 16, 1934 – Page 21 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Short Cuts to Tunnel ProbedShort Cuts to Tunnel Probed Tue, Jan 1, 1935 – Page 17 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Earth from Caldecott Tunnel bores used to fill Temescal Creek drainageEarth from Caldecott Tunnel bores used to fill Temescal Creek drainage Sun, Feb 3, 1935 – Page 73 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Tunnel 'Hill Route' Endorsed
Montclair to Caldecott road
Temescal LandvaleTunnel 'Hill Route' Endorsed Montclair to Caldecott road Temescal Landvale Wed, Apr 10, 1935 – Page 9 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

LAKE TEMESCAL HIGHWAY URGEDLAKE TEMESCAL HIGHWAY URGED Fri, May 3, 1935 – Page 12 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com


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