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Re: Alameda Belt Line-Any Freight Remaining?
Author: Ken Shattock (aka 'KRK')
Date: 07-13-2009 - 19:52
The original Fruitvale Bridge was a swing-span. The autos and SP-IER Red Trains shared the same span. In 1951, a new RR bridge was built which separated the autos and trains.
Here is some more info:
The Fruitvale Bridge is a small drawbridge that crosses the Oakland Estuary. It links the cities of Oakland and Alameda. Because the Port of Oakland no longer uses their facilities south of Jack London Square, the drawbridge is rarely opened.
Immediately adjacent to the road bridge is an out-of service rail bridge. The bridge originally served the SP interurban trains from San Francisco. The right-of-way still exists and is currently connected to the mainline through the East Bay, however, the tracks have been severed and the drawbridge remains up at all times. Tracks still exist in Alameda on Blanding Ave. and Clement St. The bridge and tracks are now owned by UP.
[www.flickr.com]
The Fruitvale Bridge is a drawbridge that crosses the Oakland Estuary. It connects the cities of Oakland and Alameda. It once served as a link in the East Bay Electric Lines on their Horseshoe Line interurban train service from the Alameda Pier to Oakland Pier. Service on the line was terminated 1939. Due to the fact that the Port of Oakland no longer uses their facilities south of Jack London Square, the drawbridge is only occasionally opened for larger recreational craft.
The Fruitvale Avenue Railroad Bridge was built in 1951 by the United States Army Corp of Engineers at a cost of $946,757 to build. The bridge is maintained and operated by the Alameda County Department of Public Works. The bridge is regulated by the United States Coast Guard. It is a vertical lift draw bridge with two support towers for the counterweights, machinery rooms, and span. The towers are 185 feet tall with the machinery rooms at the top. The bridge width is 25 feet 6 inches and the span length is 200 feet. During the Loma Preita Earthquake in October 1989 the bridges main supporting bolts in the foundation were visibly stretched. Repairs to the mounting bolts were performed.
Note: My late grandfather, Vic Shattock, told me that in 1949 he took me to see the old IER powerhouse at the Fruitvale Bridge being torn down.. I was very little at the time and can't remember the occasion...
In 1954 and again in 1956, the Southern Pacific ran a steam powered excursion all over the Eastbay to commemerate the service once provided by both the IER and the old SP steam locals.
We operated across the Fruitvale Bridge and down the old double track mainline on Lincoln Avenue. It was a fun time.
KRK
Here is some more info:
The Fruitvale Bridge is a small drawbridge that crosses the Oakland Estuary. It links the cities of Oakland and Alameda. Because the Port of Oakland no longer uses their facilities south of Jack London Square, the drawbridge is rarely opened.
Immediately adjacent to the road bridge is an out-of service rail bridge. The bridge originally served the SP interurban trains from San Francisco. The right-of-way still exists and is currently connected to the mainline through the East Bay, however, the tracks have been severed and the drawbridge remains up at all times. Tracks still exist in Alameda on Blanding Ave. and Clement St. The bridge and tracks are now owned by UP.
[www.flickr.com]
The Fruitvale Bridge is a drawbridge that crosses the Oakland Estuary. It connects the cities of Oakland and Alameda. It once served as a link in the East Bay Electric Lines on their Horseshoe Line interurban train service from the Alameda Pier to Oakland Pier. Service on the line was terminated 1939. Due to the fact that the Port of Oakland no longer uses their facilities south of Jack London Square, the drawbridge is only occasionally opened for larger recreational craft.
The Fruitvale Avenue Railroad Bridge was built in 1951 by the United States Army Corp of Engineers at a cost of $946,757 to build. The bridge is maintained and operated by the Alameda County Department of Public Works. The bridge is regulated by the United States Coast Guard. It is a vertical lift draw bridge with two support towers for the counterweights, machinery rooms, and span. The towers are 185 feet tall with the machinery rooms at the top. The bridge width is 25 feet 6 inches and the span length is 200 feet. During the Loma Preita Earthquake in October 1989 the bridges main supporting bolts in the foundation were visibly stretched. Repairs to the mounting bolts were performed.
Note: My late grandfather, Vic Shattock, told me that in 1949 he took me to see the old IER powerhouse at the Fruitvale Bridge being torn down.. I was very little at the time and can't remember the occasion...
In 1954 and again in 1956, the Southern Pacific ran a steam powered excursion all over the Eastbay to commemerate the service once provided by both the IER and the old SP steam locals.
We operated across the Fruitvale Bridge and down the old double track mainline on Lincoln Avenue. It was a fun time.
KRK
