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WP Freight House
Author: Eugene
Date: 02-01-2010 - 09:52
The WP freight house was torn down in the early 2000's. I think about 2002, but I'm not certain.
There was some discussion about preserving it, but the owner was extremely oppossed to the idea. At one point, he told the local preservation council that if ANY move was made to save the building or register it as historic, he would, to quote what one of the council members told me, "burn the f***er to the ground".
I believe he also circulated the rumor that the building only dated from the late 1950's, rather than its true construction date of about 1922.
The freight house ended service for the WP in 1971.
The branch was largely intact until recently. I used to chase the local regularly in the late 80's and early 90's and there was still a good bit of traffic. The loss of the Del Monte cannery in 1999 (located just north of HIghway 280 near downtown San Jose) pretty much sealed the line's fate. There was one other shipper left west of Monterey Road, a furniture company. The stub of the branch that remains connected to the ex-SP Vasona / Permanente Branch was left to serve that industry. I heard they went out of business last year.
The last shipper in the area around 7th street is Smurfitt. The remnants of the WP line have been connected with the former SP Luther branch to serve them. Beyond that, there is 1 industry left in the Plumas District north of Highway 101, although a lot of tracks and possible shippers remain in that area. The UP has made a deal with BART for the right of way and I doubt they will be trying very much to attract any business.
The WP Milpitas Yard still sees traffic, mainly auto unloading. Most of the line north of there to Niles Jct. is gone.
The crossing of the SP branch near 7th Street (the original SP main before the 30s line change) was later referred to as Valbrick. I managed to salvage the crossing stop sign when the tracks were removed.
There was some discussion about preserving it, but the owner was extremely oppossed to the idea. At one point, he told the local preservation council that if ANY move was made to save the building or register it as historic, he would, to quote what one of the council members told me, "burn the f***er to the ground".
I believe he also circulated the rumor that the building only dated from the late 1950's, rather than its true construction date of about 1922.
The freight house ended service for the WP in 1971.
The branch was largely intact until recently. I used to chase the local regularly in the late 80's and early 90's and there was still a good bit of traffic. The loss of the Del Monte cannery in 1999 (located just north of HIghway 280 near downtown San Jose) pretty much sealed the line's fate. There was one other shipper left west of Monterey Road, a furniture company. The stub of the branch that remains connected to the ex-SP Vasona / Permanente Branch was left to serve that industry. I heard they went out of business last year.
The last shipper in the area around 7th street is Smurfitt. The remnants of the WP line have been connected with the former SP Luther branch to serve them. Beyond that, there is 1 industry left in the Plumas District north of Highway 101, although a lot of tracks and possible shippers remain in that area. The UP has made a deal with BART for the right of way and I doubt they will be trying very much to attract any business.
The WP Milpitas Yard still sees traffic, mainly auto unloading. Most of the line north of there to Niles Jct. is gone.
The crossing of the SP branch near 7th Street (the original SP main before the 30s line change) was later referred to as Valbrick. I managed to salvage the crossing stop sign when the tracks were removed.
