JS Wrote:
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> Does anybody know when the
> line was converted to single track?

I'm having a little trouble tracking down the date that single tracking began, but as I recall it was in the 1985-86 period, although the unused track remained in place for several years before it was finally removed.

> And also, John
> Signor's excellent book on the SP's Western
> Division shows UP gaining trackage rights on SP's
> line on First st in the mid 90's.

UP initially built (or more likely, paid SP to build, since it was prior to the merger) a short connecting track in SP's East Oakland yard that took off from the yard lead immediately south of the 5th Avenue crossing and met up with the UP (old WP) main track directly behind SP's East Oakland yard office. My somewhat fuzzy recollection is that it was used for about a year, maybe a little longer, then UP made a track realignment at traditional Melrose. Trains to and from the Oakland Sub then used the ex-SP industrial track between High Street and traditional Melrose, allowing UP to abandon the portion of the Oakland Sub between traditional Melrose and the new connection behind the East Oakland yard office. (I'm referring to the location on the old WP as "traditional Melrose," since UP now refers to it as CP F010 and calls the junction of the Oakland Sub with the Niles Sub just north of the High Street crossing Melrose, although it wasn't called that on the SP.)

As an aside, a stubbed off portion of this connecting track at East Oakland is now used by the Melrose Local to tie up their locomotive.

> Obviously this
> became a moot point as of Sep 1996, but before
> this did UP use this SP trackage and just route
> some of their freights on 3rd st. or did it all go
> via the ex WP?

Still checking on the exact date that the new connection at East Oakland was opened.