1916 Map of Midway

About this map

The small settlement of Midway sits at the base of the Altamont Pass hills, marking a critical transition point for California's early 20th-century transportation network. This survey, conducted in 1912, shows the convergence of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads as they navigate the shifting elevations of the Diablo Range. The presence of Bm 351 at the rail stop underscores the importance of precise surveying for steam-era engineering in this corridor. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the flatlands into the winding drainages of Patterson Run and the area near Mountainhouse. The boundary between Alameda Co and San Joaquin Co cuts through these hills, illustrating how the natural topography dictated the political divisions between the East Bay and the Central Valley during this period of expansion.