WESTERN PACIFIC · ~~l~p.,~Sfs SN "Bridge Party" ACRAMENTO NORTHERN'S rebuilt through truss spans are supported on ilepoSls Sbridge linking Marysville and concrete piers. The through trusses Yuba City was officially opened to span the main channel, and the con­ Vol. VIII, No.3 OCTOBER, 1956 * Milepost No. 87 traffic with appropriate ceremonies on crete deck construction spans the over­ September 6. In the cab of the "first flow area. The new structure and the train" were Mayor Hobart W. Crook retained through trusses are eight feet of Marysville and Mayor J. F. Hen­ higher than the former bridge, which Department of Public Relations derson of Yuba City, honorary engi­ places the lowest portion of the-struc­ WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD neer and fireman, and SN and WP ture two feet above maximum high­ SACRAMENTO NORTHERN RY. TIDEWATER SOUTHERN RY. P residents R. T. Kearney and F. B. water elevation of last winter. 526 Mission Street Whitman. Other visiting dignitaries, San Francisco 5, California leading citizens of the "Twin Cities," A few of the visitors enjoy refreshments before "bridge party" ceremonies begin. Lee "Flash" Sherwood, Editor the press, and officials of the Sacra­ A. L. Lloyd. Associate Editor mento Northern and Western Pacific viewed the ceremonies, and later en­ joyed an outdoor barbecue on the Marysville station plaza. The new bridge replaces one washed out at the height of last winter's flood when the rampaging Feather River .Q. '* Milepost No. 87: Passing washed away an 865-foot portion of through rich farming area Q few miles from Stockton. the trestle. During the time of recon­ struction, -SN Yuba City traffic was routed via Chico. FEATURES Page Over-all length of the new bridge is SN "Bridge Party" . ______ . __ 3 1,820 feet, composed of 40-foot clear spans of reinforced concrete slabs, sup­ How We're Doing ______ __ _ 6 ported on concrete piles. Two 150-foot Train Schedules Changed _ 7 Promotions and Transfers _______ _ 8 Oakland car department made barbecue "pits" More Authorized Pharmacies 9 from empty 50-gallon drums. Road Foreman The buffet-style barbecue dinner was served N. A. Roberts lights fire with fusees. on tables behind the Marysville station. Putting YOU in U.S.A. ______________ _______ _________ __ _ 10 Moonlight Festival 11 1,550-Mile Labor Day Tour 13 Paul Jenner sez: "Don't Be HALF Safe!"_ 18 Retirement Act Amended __ _______ . ___ 20 Caboosing ______ _ 21 Sports _ 33 Railroad Lines __________ ___ ___ • _____________________________________________________________ ___ ____ _____ ____________________ 36 COVER : Crossing new SN bridge on "first train" were President Whitman; Mayor Crook, Marysville; Mayor Hendelson, Yuba City; SN President R. T. Kearney. 2 MILEPOSTS The piles and deck spans were pre­ cast in P etaluma, Calif., and trans­ ported to the site in raih'oad cars. The piles were driven to form the bridge New bridge is higher and more strongly constructed to withstand future flood damage. Quite a contrast in the picture above, of piers and then capped with a poured­ Note pre-cast concrete girders atop flatcars ready for placement by gantry crane. the flew 1,820-foot bridge, and the picture in-place section of reinforced concrete below which was taken just after last after the spans were placed. A spe­ winter's floods had carried away an 865- Closeup of gantry crane lifting 52-ton pre­ Second-hand rail used for cribbing to raise cially constructed gantry crane, oper­ foot portion of the Feather River trestle. cast concrete girder into place from car. existing steel trusses eight fee. higher. ating on its own track, lifted the 52-ton concrete castings into place. Total cost of the project is about $1 million. OCTOBER, 1956 5 How We·re Doing 'rain Schedules Changed July gross revenues down $222,000, or 5.6% under last year. Decrease in com­ The following arrival and departure times for the California Zephy?' (Trains mercial tonnage was 5%, with an 11.6% decrease in Government traffic. 17 and 18), and the ZephYl·ette (Trains 1 and 2) were placed in effect on • • • September 30: California Zephyr's load averaged 99.45% of capacity for month of July, EASTBOUND compared with 98.8% for the same period last year ; 100.7% of capacity for month Lv. S.F . F erry Lv. Oakland Pier Ar. Salt Lake City of August, compared with 99.1% for August, 1955. ( ... Pacific Standard Time . .. ) (Mountain Std. Time) • • • California Zephyr, #18.... 9: 25 a. m. 9: 55 a. m. 5: 40 a. m. New tunnel (No. 15) at Milepost 250 driven through; more than 98% of Zephyrette, #2 ............... _.. 4: 00 p. m. 4: 30 p. m. 3: 45 p. m. boring work completed; expect to open for traffic on December 1. WESTBOUND • • • Lv. Salt Lake City Ar. Oakland Pier Ar. S.F. Ferry Lining of Tunnel 30 completed August 2; other tunnel-lining jobs proceeding (Mountain Std. Time ) ( ... Pacific Standard Time ... ) on schedule. • • • California Zephyr, #17 ... 10: 15 p. m. 3: 10 p. m. 3: 45 p. m. Remodeling of mechanical department office building at Sacramento Shops Zephyrette, #1 .... :... ......... 8:40a.m. 5:20a. m. 5:55a.m. within 20 % of completion. ••• Reason for the change in schedules is the reduction in Southern Pacific ferry­ boat schedules to permit one ferry to handle the service. The new schedules will Winnemucca rail-welding operations, stopped because of steel strike, re­ make connections with the remaining ferry between Oakland Pier and San sumed in September. • Francisco. Department of Justice announced no further steps would be taken in com­ plaint filed with and dismissed by I.C.C. seeking reparations on Government World War II traffic account allegedly excessive freight charges. Pass Renewals Not Required • • • Western Pacific's pass bureau advises that all Western Pacific annual I.C.C. order received approving new Union Street connection in Oakland; passes-(White, "A," and Meritorious)- will be extended through the construction began October 1. year 1957. Visitors Grateful you have rendered invaluable service Mileposts gets around A Certificate of Appreciation was to our youth and community." Stan Wilson, whose column, "Notes able industrial property which is received by Western Pacific from the on My Cuff," which appears in the served by Tidewater Southern Rail­ Young Men's Christian Association, Turlock Daily Journal, recently com­ road. Another picture shows Bert Sacramento, expressing gratitude for Glee Club Active mented about Western Pacific's in­ Stratton, Carl Nipper, and a prospec­ cooperation shown YMCA members in WP's Glee Club will present a pro­ dustrial program. tive customer flying over an area in a assisting with their Summer Fun Club gram for the Women's Traffic Club at The column begins: "Our friend helicopter, just as Stratton has flown Program. their annual "Bosses' Night" dinner to Justus F. Craemer, senior member of over Turlock on several occasions During the past summer many be held on October 18 at Fort Mason the California Utilities Commission, when he had a prospect with him." young men of the organization visited Officers' Club in the Presidio of San sent us a copy of the magazine 'West­ The columnist continues further the shops and were escorted to the Francisco. ern Pacific Mileposts,' which contains about the feature article which ap­ various interesting points where vari­ The Glee Club recently gave another an aerial photo of Turlock as well as peared in the July issue of MILEPOSTS, ous operations were explained. repeat performance at Letterman Gen­ some information of interest to those and in closing said: "Western Pacific In a letter which accOJ,;npanied the eral Hospital and have been asked to who want to see more industry come is well aware of the anticipated growth Certificate, General Secretary Paul C. soon give a program for patients in the to this city. of the western states, and is ready for Steward wrote: "Through your efforts, Hospital's psychiatric ward. "The picture of Turlock shows avail- it." 6 MILEPOSTS OCTOBER, 1956 7 Promotions a .nd Transfers More Authorized Pharmacies Effective September 16, the follow­ C. A. Gerstner, to Sacramento as for filling Western Pacific ing promotions and transfers are an­ assistant to division engineer. Medical Department prescriptions nounced: B. J . P ress, assistant to estimating L. D. Michelson, to Oakland as engineer, promoted to estimating engi­ In the August 1956 issue, MILEPOSTS reports that substantial savings were terminal trainmaster, a newly created neer, San Francisco. listed authorized pharmacies where achieved during July and August position. E. N. P erry, junior engineer, pro­ western division employees may have under the new program on the west­ V. H. Edwards, to Stockton as termi­ moted to assistant to estimating engi­ prescriptions filled. Arrangements ern division, as a result of both more nal trainmaster, replacing L. D. Mi­ neer, San Francisco. have been concluded with the follow­ favorable pricing and strict enforce­ chelson. ing pharmacies on the eastern division ment of the drug inclusions. Em­ L. W. Breiner, to Oroville as train­ * * * who will fill prescriptions authorized ployees are advised that if the Medical master, replacing R. C. Madsen. The transportation department an­ by W P staff doctor~ for employees Department rejects payment on items R. B. Redus, to Keddie as train­ nounces that E. D. Brown has been eligible for the drug benefits. Charges that should not. have been charged to master, replacing R. A. Henderson. appointed car service inspector, San will not be accepted from any other its account (see Medical Department R. A. Henderson, to Milpitas-San Francisco, succeeding J. B. Dillon, Jr., drug stores between Portola and Salt Rules 16 and 23) , the pharmacy will Jose as trainmaster, replacing R.