MT. Tam Railroad-Gravity Car

I drove around this area and on Mt Tamalpais, but I am not sure I did or you can,

reach the top by car.  I have read that none of that railline or structures survive. I believe the line used a fleet of early railbuses, which I would prefer over anything

pure gravity.  The Reo looks like it is driving down on the ties and is not on flanged

wheels.  Interesting how it got up there if gravity cars are coming down.

Much of the right of way was in State and National parks, and is still these used a trails. There were foundations for water tanks, and for some reason a fair amount of coal spilled in the woods.  The inn at the top of the mountain burned, maybe twice. I think in Mill Valley the Mt. Tam train shared a station with the NWP electric trains.  That is still there.  I do not know anything about rail buses.  They had two Shays and quit a few of the gravity cars.  One of the Shays went to Pacific Lunpce Company and is still on display somewhere on the north coast.  Maybe Scotia. One of the gravity cars is in a shelter in a park in Mill Valley. 

It was quite an operation. The Shays would push a train of gravity cars up the hill, then go down for more.  The gravity cars left the top on a regular schedule. There were sidings and down bound gravity cars would meet up coming Shay powered train. I believe there may have been grades as steep as 8%. 

A trip to the top of Mt.Tam was an all day effort.  In San Francisco a family would have to take the streetcar the the ferry building at the foot of Market Street.  Then a ferry ride to Saussalito. There change to one of the NWP electric trains to Mill Valley. At Mill Valley the family would change to one the Shay powered trains for a ride up the mountain in one of the gravity cars. Then reverse the whole process to get home.  A combination of competition from autos, the Great Depression and fires in the inn did the operation in.