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Re: The Old Oakland Central (16th Street) Amtrak Station Area Questions
Author: Dr Zarkoff
Date: 11-17-2011 - 14:40
>Is there still trackage or structures near this station that are still left that are remnants of the Old Key Line or Interurban Train Systems i.e. right of ways, bridges etc that used to operate to it?
No, the only Key System service at 16th St Station was the stub end of the streetcar line on the south side of the station building. The upstairs was for the SP red electrics ("IER", suburban service, in competition with the Key's transbay service). There was also SP streetcar service here too, and the streetcar loop can be seen poking itself up throught the asphalt of the parking lot. The only Key System remnants of note in the area are bits and pieces of some industrial street trackage about a mile away, in the area north of Grand and Adeline Sts, which after about 1934 were switched by the Oakland Terminal Ry (which had been sold to the SP, WP, and Santa Fe to raise cash for the Key System), using electric locomotives leased from the SN.
>Like for example maybe that partially demolished wooden truss railroad bridge that extends partially under Interstate Highway 880 for example? Or was that wooden truss bridge just used by a belt railway?
There were two double track, creosote pile fly-overs just north of 16th St Tower for the SP electrics to connect with the Bridge Railway. The southern one was used by the 7th St and Alameda trains, the north one by the Berkeley trains. The spans over the SP (steam) tracks were steel girders on concrete abutments. After the SP abandoned the electrics, the southern one was converted to an auto overpass for access to the Oakland Army Base. This is the partial one you mention and was torn down c1993 as part of the Grand Ave overpass reconstruction phase of the Cypress St freeway replacement. The northern one was converted for use by the OT to gain access (non-electrified) to the Oakland Army Base and some other industries which located in the area before the war (it was a projected Parr Terminal). I think this might still see occasional use, and OPRMS would have more up to date info on this.
>As I understand it this station was at one time immediately adjacent on the shore of the bay? When did the fill for the railyard and the Port of Oakland get placed where it is now to the immediate west side of this station?
There were 4 main tracks next to 16th St depot, and there are pictures which show uniterrupted water from the seawall right next to MT #1, the furthest away from the depot, to the Great White Fleet when it was anchored in the Bay. This area was filled progressively starting about 1925, and the pace accelerated when the Oakland Army Base was created during WWII.
>What named or type of passenger trains used this station when the Oakland Mole was also in operation and did some of them make stops at it as well?
Just about all pasenger trains from Oakland Pier to Martinez and beyond stopped at 16th St.
>Was the WP 3rd Street Station still in use at that time as well?
Yes, it stopped being used as a passenger station when the (real) CZ ceased operation.
>And just out of curiosity what situation effected the demographics of the City of Oakland to gain such a large disproportional black population unlike most areas of the U.S. or in California and parts of the City such as this West Oakland neighborhood to become a run down ghetto neighborhood?
World War Two.
>Also, was Oakland at one time a more conservative city politically in general than it is today and with a higher income level per resident?
Yes, and so was Berkeley until about 1964.
No, the only Key System service at 16th St Station was the stub end of the streetcar line on the south side of the station building. The upstairs was for the SP red electrics ("IER", suburban service, in competition with the Key's transbay service). There was also SP streetcar service here too, and the streetcar loop can be seen poking itself up throught the asphalt of the parking lot. The only Key System remnants of note in the area are bits and pieces of some industrial street trackage about a mile away, in the area north of Grand and Adeline Sts, which after about 1934 were switched by the Oakland Terminal Ry (which had been sold to the SP, WP, and Santa Fe to raise cash for the Key System), using electric locomotives leased from the SN.
>Like for example maybe that partially demolished wooden truss railroad bridge that extends partially under Interstate Highway 880 for example? Or was that wooden truss bridge just used by a belt railway?
There were two double track, creosote pile fly-overs just north of 16th St Tower for the SP electrics to connect with the Bridge Railway. The southern one was used by the 7th St and Alameda trains, the north one by the Berkeley trains. The spans over the SP (steam) tracks were steel girders on concrete abutments. After the SP abandoned the electrics, the southern one was converted to an auto overpass for access to the Oakland Army Base. This is the partial one you mention and was torn down c1993 as part of the Grand Ave overpass reconstruction phase of the Cypress St freeway replacement. The northern one was converted for use by the OT to gain access (non-electrified) to the Oakland Army Base and some other industries which located in the area before the war (it was a projected Parr Terminal). I think this might still see occasional use, and OPRMS would have more up to date info on this.
>As I understand it this station was at one time immediately adjacent on the shore of the bay? When did the fill for the railyard and the Port of Oakland get placed where it is now to the immediate west side of this station?
There were 4 main tracks next to 16th St depot, and there are pictures which show uniterrupted water from the seawall right next to MT #1, the furthest away from the depot, to the Great White Fleet when it was anchored in the Bay. This area was filled progressively starting about 1925, and the pace accelerated when the Oakland Army Base was created during WWII.
>What named or type of passenger trains used this station when the Oakland Mole was also in operation and did some of them make stops at it as well?
Just about all pasenger trains from Oakland Pier to Martinez and beyond stopped at 16th St.
>Was the WP 3rd Street Station still in use at that time as well?
Yes, it stopped being used as a passenger station when the (real) CZ ceased operation.
>And just out of curiosity what situation effected the demographics of the City of Oakland to gain such a large disproportional black population unlike most areas of the U.S. or in California and parts of the City such as this West Oakland neighborhood to become a run down ghetto neighborhood?
World War Two.
>Also, was Oakland at one time a more conservative city politically in general than it is today and with a higher income level per resident?
Yes, and so was Berkeley until about 1964.
