NWP's EUREKA "BALLOON TRACK"
2005 SATELLITE PHOTO
The Balloon
Track about 1952
This 1889 Sanborn map shows the area more or less in its
natural state. The Eel River & Eureka Railroad tracks are on
a man-made berm between the bay and the "tide prairie"
west of Bucksport Road (now Summer Street from 5th to Washington
Street) and truncated Broadway.
Depot and "Balloon" area in 1902
Noe & Georgeson "Bird's
Eye View" Map, from Library of Congress Collection
In the early 20th Century, the area later
occupied by the "balloon" track area was marshy
tideland, yet to be filled in. Only the ballasted right-of-way in
the right foreground was usable at the time.
Note that even Broadway, now
U.S. 101, came north only as far as Washington Street. Summer
Street was still a major thoroughfare from town toward Bucksport,
Loleta and points south.
Close-Up of 1902 Station View
The Eel River & Eureka Railroad station and yard lies between
First Street and the extension of Second Street, with the
intersection of Second & A Streets at the upper left corner
of the picture. In the left foreground is the railroad's wharf,
with the large general warehouse and behind it the smaller fruit
and wool warehouses.
Below are 1900 map diagrams of the same area
and the floorplan of the depot...
By the 1920s, businesses such as Baker & Stanton and Mercer-Fraser and had moved into their long-time "homes" on Second west of A Street, across from NWP's Depot. The "balloon" area, however was yet to be completely filled in, though the right-of-way was widening to allow for more yard and lead tracks.
Just south of Fortuna was the "Alton & Pacific"...in later years
MORE AERIAL PICS OF CALIFORNIA RAIL LANDMARKS