California Electric Trilogy DVD |
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California Electric Trilogy DVD Steamboy (Revere MA US) on 2020-12-20 18:14:04.
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In this 20-25 year old program from 1998 that was made in Co-Operation with both the Pacific Locomotive & the Bay Area Electric Railroad Associations Inc, it starts with the San Francisco Key System which includes a look at the Bay Bridge Transit Terminal building, as well as a look at the photo of the area. Inside the Terminal, there are 6 tracks on the upper level. Outside the depot, an articulated set is switching at the south end of the terminal. Meanwhile, a 3 unit set heads for Berkley as it leaves the depot carrying 600 volts of power, followed by a single one as it also leaves the station, as well as a close up look at one of the pick-up shoes on car 167. Next, there is some onboard footage from mostly the rear of the train, but there is also a cab ride as well. Already on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, we're racing with a single trolley, but we're are stopping at Yerba Buena Island Depot to pick up some more passengers, then we are underway once again as we make a meet with both an opposite bound train, & a bus. The buses & other Automobiles go right over us while heading for the other side. Leaving the bridge behind, the train passes the sub-station that supplied power for the third rail. Afterwards, a look at Bridge yard is included which features a workshop, Track switching from third rail to overhead cantenary for eastbound trains, & even some electric freight only locomotives being stored. Back in the cab, the Key System not only goes under highway bridges, but also for the Southern Pacific Mainline as it heads for Oakland. A brief history of the Key System is included as it was formed in 1903 as the San Francisco Oakland & San Jose Railway. The logo was changed to Key System in 1912. Next, a look at the map of the Key System was included. According to the route of the Key System, there are 5 branches in Oakland. The A Branch is for 12th & Oak near Lake Merritt, The B Branch goes to the Underhills in Oakland, The C Branch goes to Oakland Ave in Piedmont where along the way it interchanges with the Sacramento Northern which we'll see later, The E Branch goes to Claremont, & the F Branch goes to Berkley. Once again, we're back in the cab as our train heads for the A Branch while passing by Tower 2 as evidenced by a ground level shot. Near the Main shops, there are Breakdown Cranes near tower 2 waiting for the call for service, then we see a trolley turning at the Louise & pomplar streets. At the Junction for the B Line at Pomplar & 22nd Streets, Note the Wig Wag Crossing Signal on the Northeast corner of the screen. Next, we're at Pomplar & 12th streets, as we are next to the wheat plant that was operated by the Oakland Terminal where 2 boxcars are waiting for their locomotive. In Downtown Oakland, car 156 is crossing at 12th & Broadway. Arriving at the Dead End of 12th & Oak Streets, the Train crawls to a Stop at The State of California Department of Employment. Prior to 1950, the A Branch was extended 5 1/2 miles to Pavenscourt. Returning to the Pomplar & 12th Street Junction, we're now focused on the B Branch as it Leaves the Same tracks from the A Branch. Away from the A Branch, the B Branch of the Key system ran on 22nd street across Broadway with a Bowling alley on the right side of the screen, then it followed Grand Ave. Along the North End of Lake Merritt & continued to a trestle while heading for Underhills Road. Next, car 157 switched directions as it departs the Dead End destination. From here, we moved to the C Branch beginning with a shot from Yerba Buena Ave near tower 2. At the Piedmont transfer station, the train comes to a stop after running on 40th street, Then we moved to the Pleasant Valley Station as another train comes to a stop. The Oakland Ave. Station is the Dead End for the C Branch as car 167 arrives on time before switching directions. On the Return Trip, the train leaves the 40th Street tunnel as it enters Broadway. Next, we see another one at the Intersection of Yerba Buena Ave. & Adellite Street near tower 3, followed by another train crossing the San Pablo Ave where this Branch as well as the E & F Branches crossed. Before we Get to the E Branch, there was the Proposed D Branch to Montclair, but it never went into full service. The tracks are Owned by the Sacramento Northern which we'll see momentarily. Returning to Tower 3, the E & F lines Split away from each other. At the E Branch's Dead end of Domingo Ave, there is an adjacent Tennis Court & Claremont Hotel in the background at Berkley. On the return trip, the train leaves the hotel & enters Claremont Ave, then it Turns to 55th street where a Wig Wag Signal is Activated. Afterwards, we're at the 46th & Linden Streets depot as the E & F Lines Diverge where the F branch heads for Berkley. Back at tower 3, the E Line train is entering the Junction. Moving onto the Last Branch of the Key System known as the F Branch, there are buses taking people to a football game as they're lined up at Shattock Ave. Until 1941, the Tracks north of University Ave, were owned by Southern Pacific. Returning to the cab ride segment once again, the train leaves the North bay tunnel, then we come to a stop at Thousand Oaks station which is not only the Dead End Terminal for the F branch, but there is a swinging gas station sign located across the street. On the return trip, the train is leaving the tunnel as it enters Shattock Ave. In Downtown Berkley, Look Carefully for the abandoned tracks of the SP interurban railway. Once again, we're back at tower 3 as this train heads for San Francisco. Note the Workman Waving a Red Flag. At the Oakland Army Base Depot, the A Line Train Passes by the station as it was adjacent to the Bridge Yard & Toll Collection Plaza. By the Mid-1950s, the A Branch was sadly shortened due to passengers traveling on buses, airplanes, & their own automobiles, as evidenced by these 2 scenes of the streetcars waiting for work and/or gone for scrap. In the Going away shot, look carefully for the Pantograph Deactivating as it transforms into third rail only before heading for the bridge. Soon, we're back in the cab as we make a meet with an opposite bound train to Oakland as well as paralleling the road, then we loop around the elevated structure as we're back at the Main Depot with a few more scenes from the platform as well as inside the Main station. As Mentioned earlier, the ridership on the key system was declined as evidenced by Rails being ripped up after it went out of business in April of 1958. Here we see the rails being removed at 12th street near broadway in Downtown Oakland, as well as scrap being loaded onto Gondolas. While there are to many cars to be stored at bridge yard, most of them have since been scrapped while others have since been on display at the Western Railway Museum, & the Orange Empire Railway Museum. The main terminal was converted from Railway tracks to pavements for buses. As we bid farewell to the Key System. The Key System is the Longest segment is this Program. |