This is interesting...what is it?

[train_guy]

I came across this on google maps,looking for urban areas in Concord California.Can anyone identify what the conrete structures are used for?Also there are numerous Silver painted box cars,and from what i can see there is no markings on the boxcars.

[Ralph]

Hi Don,

I did some searching of Concord CA and found information about Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station in the area. Apparently its now closed (?) My guess is the boxcars were loaded with ordinance and kept apart from each other in concrete bunkers in case of accidental detonation.

Ralph

[steinjr]

I think those technically would be called revetments (i.e retaining walls to contain explosions).

And there was a good reason for those revetments - they had a huge explosion there in 1944 that killed several hundred people. It would have been even bigger if the not yet unloaded cars hadn't been kept in revetments. More info here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pl-us...t-chgo.htm


Smile,
Stein

[Green_Elite_Cab]

It probably is the naval weapons station. There is a big one known as "Earle NWP" here in New Jersey, and though they don't quite have the same reventment set up, they definitely do have a huge private fleet of box cars, and at one time, several baldwin switchers.

[train_guy]

Wow,I had a feeling it was something Military related.Thanks for the info guys.

[Mike Kieran]

They look like old silver reefers (insulation and reflection). Good choice for storing combustible materials. I know that the Department of Defense (DODX) ships rocket fuel in non ventilated mechanical refrigerator cars.

[Steamtrains]

All of the above info seems to be correct....I think they're just waiting for somebody to letter/weather them...

[cn nutbar]

I thought the first picture was Doctor Wayne's work bench

[Sumpter250]

[Tom]

It is Concord Naval Weapons Station. Those boxcars were all recently trucked out to another site and scrapped. They had to be trucked as none met interchange requirements and most had plain bearings.

[Dave Harris sctchbld]

Is that accident the one where after it happened,the sevice men loading ships eventually refused to work because of inadequte training and poor saftey procedures and being rushed too much?
As I recall the men, most if not all black navy men being used as loaders ,were all court marshaled and sent to prison for munity.
I think that just in the last few years the navy pardoned and restored the sevice records of the men involved that are still living.