The most significant railroad serving the San Francisco Bay area was Southern Pacific. Trains operating south via the Coast Line used the Third Street Station in San Francisco. While all other SP trains required ferry connections from San Francisco, and originated at Oakland Pier. Until 1941, SP subsidiary Northwestern Pacific operated trains from Sausalito, also requiring a ferry connection. West Oakland was the junction, where trains from Oakland Pier either diverged northeast via the Martinez Subdivision, or southeast via the Niles Subdivision. Most trains used the Martinez Subdivision, stopping at Sixteenth Street Station, and continuing towards Sacramento, and further east to Ogden UT or north to Portland. The Mococo Line east of Martinez connected with SP's San Joaquin Division. A few trains instead used the Niles Subdivision, stopping at First Street Station, and continuing to San Jose. These were shuttle trains connecting with Coast Line main line trains. Under Amtrak, Oakland evolved to become an intermediate point between Sacramento and San Jose, with a wye track at West Oakland becoming the new main route connecting the Martinez Subdivision with the Niles Subdivision. Also using the ferries and Oakland Pier were Western Pacific trains operating east to Salt Lake City. And also serving Oakland and using a separate station was Santa Fe, with its main line extending east to Stockton and south to Bakersfield.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
Oakland Pier (4 miles E) - transfer point between SP and WP ferries and trains.
West Oakland (5 miles E) - junction of SP Martinez Subdivision, Niles Subdivision.
Oakland Sixteenth Street Station (6 miles NE).
Magnolia Tower (6 miles SE) - junction of SP Niles Subdivision, WP.
Oakland First Street Station (7 miles SE).
Oakland Western Pacific Station (7 miles SE).
Martinez (35 miles NE) - junction of SP Martinez Subdivision, Mococo Line.