If one wants to operate trains in circles, modeling the San Ramon Branch of the Southern Pacific in the early twentieth century is a good prototype. The branch served central Contra Costa County, CA from 1891 until the 1970s. Originally, it ran from Avon south (on the Mococo Line between Martinez and Tracy) through the farming communities such as Concord and Walnut Creek to San Ramon. In 1909 it was extended 11 miles to Radum on the SP/CP transcontinental which passed through Tracy, Altamont Pass, through Livermore, and down Niles Canyon to join SP’s East Bay line. Thus, there was a circle of track from Oakland to Avon to Radum to Niles and returning to Oakland that at one time was used as a circle route.
During the 'teens the branch was served by four passenger trains, perhaps all mixed freight/passengers. Trains would leave Oakland, travel east to Avon, run on the San Ramon branch south to Radum, then turn east to Livermore, then return west through Radum onto Niles and returning to Oakland. I’m unaware of trains taking the opposite route, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
The valley produced lots of hay, grain, nuts, and fruits, as well as providing milk and cream to the San Francisco area. There weren’t any large industries on the branch, although the once-world-largest cement plant at Cowell (Cowell is now part of Concord) was served by a several mile-long spur coming off the Mococo Line, closely paralleling the San Ramon Branch. Also, the Mococo smelter was located between Martinez and Avon. One modeling possibility would be to represent Oakland, Niles, and Martinez as double-ended staging tracks, then modeling the San Ramon Branch and the line to Pleasanton, and hopefully including the Cowell plant and Mococo smelter. The eastern portion of the Mococo Line and the line east of Livermore could also b
Very true, and a interesting prototype. I used to live in the San Ramon Valley 5 years ago, and the former right of way in that area is now a bike path. The Danville train station is now a museum, and has some interesting photos of the erea back in the early part of the century. My understanding is the railroad lasted up unto the 60s-70s. The book you mention of is really good too.
I lived in Tracy when I worked at the Defense Depot Tracy (DDTC) just outside of town on South Chrisman Road. I know exactly where you are talking about. It is an interesting prototype and probabl;y not the only one in the country.
The prototype still runs in circles, if you know where to look…
Both Tokyo and Osaka have rail lines that run in a circle - although the actual shape in Tokyo is more like the cross-section of a flattened football. EMU trains with rapid transit style doors and seating run roundy-round in both directions on as little as 3 minute headway during rush hours. In Tokyo, various freight and long-distance passenger routes share right-of-way (but not tracks) with parts of the route, so there are as many as eight main tracks between a few of the stations. That doesn’t include two segments of Shinkansen on parallel rights-of-way.
The first time I rode Tokyo’s Yamate-sen, half a century ago, there were still 2-6-0s and 2-8-0s smoking up the newly-installed freight main catenary. That was the first weight in the balance that eventually tipped me away from the NYC and toward Japanese prototype.
The one I’m thinking of is the London Underground’s Circle Line. Rode it once from Bakerloo to Bakerloo just for a giggle. Took a while, though. When you’re going around in circles, you waste a lot of time.