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Re: HERCULES POWER PLANT CALIF ..INDUSTRIAL TRACKAGE ?
Author: Juppo
Date: 07-03-2011 - 16:55
Glen Icanberry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I lived in Pinole from Nov 1967 until March of
> 1969. I went on a hike with Boy Scout Troop 383
> from Pinole, where we saw the narrow gauge track
> but no trains. Our hike began at the Methodist
> Church off Pablo Ave, a small group of scouts,
> about six to ten, and two adult leaders, walked
> west along San Pablo Ave to Crestview Drive. Then
> we turned north on the dirt and gravel road that
> was a continuation of Crestview Drive, crossed the
> Santa Fe near the west switch at Gateley. We
> continued north to the SP at Wilson Point. We then
> hiked along San Pablo Bay, to Rodeo. Our
> scoutmaster worked for Hercules Powder Company,
> and with his key to get onto the property, we were
> able to hike across the plant's reservation back
> to San Pablo Ave., near the former Santa Fe
> station of Herpoco. We then hiked west along San
> Pablo Ave, past the Santa Fe Pinole Depot, then
> back to the Methodist Church.
>
> While along San Pablo Bay, we saw the narrow gauge
> track that went over a bridge, above the SP and
> out onto a wharf. While crossing the Hercules
> Powder Plant's Reservation, in the Refugio Valley,
> we were treated to looking at some of the empty
> bunkers where Hercules materials had been stored.
> Also looked inside some bunkers that were for
> people to take refuge, in case of a massive
> explosion and chain reaction at the Hercules
> Plant. I remember seeing some of the old yellow
> and black civil defense signs on the bunkers. I
> don't know if the railroad was intact, or even in
> operation, but we saw lots of narrow gauge track,
> all of it rusty, on the ball of the rail. Did
> not see any rolling stock or locomotives, but I
> have assumed, later that any rolling stock or
> locomotives would have been kept inside the main
> plant, where we did not go. As a Tenderfoot Scout
> of only eleven years old I was not observant
> enough to know if the track was 36" or 30" but
> that would seem about right. I did however look
> for some of the tiny spikes but found none. It
> was likely spring of 1968, when we made this hike,
> as I do recall lots of green grass, and forests of
> eucalyptus trees on the Hercules Powder
> Reservation. We did see some SP and Santa Fe
> trains enroute. I would certainly like to see
> photos of the Hercules Powder Co. Railroad.
Words can't describe how jealous I am of you for walking the same path I walked as a Boy Scout in Pinole Troop 86 but nearly 30 years after you.
I guess I'm lucky to have seen the SP, Santa Fe, and the Hercules Powder Plant with some narrow gauge track even if it was scant remains. There is NOTHING left of any of the depots, tunnels, bridges, narrow gauge or the plant except a few foundations, a couple boarded up buildings and a pile of foundations and bricks at what used to be called Hercules Point, site of the power plant for Hercules Powder Co. Some piers from the wharf remain.
Some years ago, around 2004, I broke into the boarded up hulk of the brick Administration building for the Hercules Powder Company now owned by the city I believe. Aside from a rather impressive banister, the building's interior is in sad shape, with no plans for restoration. I did stumble across a phone directory for the Hercules Powder Co. from 1964, all yellowed but otherwise in good shape. The phone numbers where strange and foreign to someone born in 1984, but it contained numbers for the SP, Santa Fe, cities of Pinole and Hercules and a directory for the plant. I let my friend keep the directory (he's not a train buff) because I wanted what I found next. Amidst the rubble and random sheets of paper, I found a map of the narrow gauge track within the plant, befitting of a model railroaders master plan. I kept the paper and filed it away in a protective plastic sleeve in my file cabinet.
I have never seen the map published and it is not in the Arcadia book. Unless someone has a closely guarded secret, I am probably the only person with a proper map of the narrow gauge.
I am a member of the Pinole Historical Society and after talking to many people, I believe this to be the only map. It is dated 1962 and shows the "SPRR" in relation to the Plant's spurs and narrow gauge track.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I lived in Pinole from Nov 1967 until March of
> 1969. I went on a hike with Boy Scout Troop 383
> from Pinole, where we saw the narrow gauge track
> but no trains. Our hike began at the Methodist
> Church off Pablo Ave, a small group of scouts,
> about six to ten, and two adult leaders, walked
> west along San Pablo Ave to Crestview Drive. Then
> we turned north on the dirt and gravel road that
> was a continuation of Crestview Drive, crossed the
> Santa Fe near the west switch at Gateley. We
> continued north to the SP at Wilson Point. We then
> hiked along San Pablo Bay, to Rodeo. Our
> scoutmaster worked for Hercules Powder Company,
> and with his key to get onto the property, we were
> able to hike across the plant's reservation back
> to San Pablo Ave., near the former Santa Fe
> station of Herpoco. We then hiked west along San
> Pablo Ave, past the Santa Fe Pinole Depot, then
> back to the Methodist Church.
>
> While along San Pablo Bay, we saw the narrow gauge
> track that went over a bridge, above the SP and
> out onto a wharf. While crossing the Hercules
> Powder Plant's Reservation, in the Refugio Valley,
> we were treated to looking at some of the empty
> bunkers where Hercules materials had been stored.
> Also looked inside some bunkers that were for
> people to take refuge, in case of a massive
> explosion and chain reaction at the Hercules
> Plant. I remember seeing some of the old yellow
> and black civil defense signs on the bunkers. I
> don't know if the railroad was intact, or even in
> operation, but we saw lots of narrow gauge track,
> all of it rusty, on the ball of the rail. Did
> not see any rolling stock or locomotives, but I
> have assumed, later that any rolling stock or
> locomotives would have been kept inside the main
> plant, where we did not go. As a Tenderfoot Scout
> of only eleven years old I was not observant
> enough to know if the track was 36" or 30" but
> that would seem about right. I did however look
> for some of the tiny spikes but found none. It
> was likely spring of 1968, when we made this hike,
> as I do recall lots of green grass, and forests of
> eucalyptus trees on the Hercules Powder
> Reservation. We did see some SP and Santa Fe
> trains enroute. I would certainly like to see
> photos of the Hercules Powder Co. Railroad.
Words can't describe how jealous I am of you for walking the same path I walked as a Boy Scout in Pinole Troop 86 but nearly 30 years after you.
I guess I'm lucky to have seen the SP, Santa Fe, and the Hercules Powder Plant with some narrow gauge track even if it was scant remains. There is NOTHING left of any of the depots, tunnels, bridges, narrow gauge or the plant except a few foundations, a couple boarded up buildings and a pile of foundations and bricks at what used to be called Hercules Point, site of the power plant for Hercules Powder Co. Some piers from the wharf remain.
Some years ago, around 2004, I broke into the boarded up hulk of the brick Administration building for the Hercules Powder Company now owned by the city I believe. Aside from a rather impressive banister, the building's interior is in sad shape, with no plans for restoration. I did stumble across a phone directory for the Hercules Powder Co. from 1964, all yellowed but otherwise in good shape. The phone numbers where strange and foreign to someone born in 1984, but it contained numbers for the SP, Santa Fe, cities of Pinole and Hercules and a directory for the plant. I let my friend keep the directory (he's not a train buff) because I wanted what I found next. Amidst the rubble and random sheets of paper, I found a map of the narrow gauge track within the plant, befitting of a model railroaders master plan. I kept the paper and filed it away in a protective plastic sleeve in my file cabinet.
I have never seen the map published and it is not in the Arcadia book. Unless someone has a closely guarded secret, I am probably the only person with a proper map of the narrow gauge.
I am a member of the Pinole Historical Society and after talking to many people, I believe this to be the only map. It is dated 1962 and shows the "SPRR" in relation to the Plant's spurs and narrow gauge track.
