Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railway

The Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railway operated in Marin County, California from January 1896 to July 1929.cite book|last=Wurm|first=Theodore|coauthors=Graves, Al|title=The Crookedest Railroad in the World: California's Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railroad|publisher=Trans-Anglo Books|date=1983|isbn=0870460633] cite web|url=http://www.cityofmillvalley.org/Index.aspx?page=653|title=City of Mill Valley : Mount Tamalpais|last=Nayer|first=Alan|publisher=City of Mill Valley|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-28] It ran through Mill Valley, at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, and through the Muir Woods as it pulled itself to a tavern at 2,436feet above sea level.cite book|last=Demoro|first=Harre W|coauthors=Sappers, Vernon J.|title=Rails to San Francisco Bay|publisher=Quadrant Press|date=1992|edition=1st ed.|isbn=0915276518 |language=English] The line ran a total of 10 miles, including the Muir Woods branch which was built later. The line was forced out of business by the great fire of 1929, greater usage of automobiles, and the great depression.__TOC__

History

Corporation formed

The first official title of the line was the "Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway". The company held its first gathering on the first of February, 1896. During the meeting, officers wereelected and financial and business plans conceived.

The original plan for operating a railroad up Mt. Tamalpais was thought of by Louis L. Janes (later the company's secretary), who was already an employee for
Tamalpais Land & Water Company. The project was presented to Sidney B. Cushing, president of the
San Rafael Gas and Electric Co. and the railroad.

The possible efficiency of running a load up a steep slope (the steepest section was 7% grade) without using a cog railway system or other expensive machinery was recognized by Augustus D. Avery, a surveyor with the Tamalpais Land & Water Co. and appointed surveyor for the line. Avery was instructed to find the easiest route possible. After several weekson the mountain, using only an ordinary
hand level and his eyesight, Avery found a route in which the grade would not exceed 7%.

After the route was laid out, the California Construction Company was hired to build the line from downtown Mill Valley to the Mt. Tamalpais' summit "...in consideration of their subscription for 200 shares of stock...".

California Construction Company was also awarded full payment,plus 12.5% for profit.

Construction begins

Construction began on Wednesday, February 5, 1896. Original planning called for an electric trolley line with a powerhouse in Mill Valley, running over the summit to Bolinas Beach, but later disputes resulted in the line using geared steam locomotives such as shays and heislers.

By the 23rd of February, 200 men were hard at work, clearing away brush and laying down track. there were two teams at the base and summit, and, as planned, they would meet at a due dateConstruction at higher elevations was assisted with picks and shovels.

Leaving downtown Mill Valley, the track was to go up Corte Madera Canyon in anortheasterly route, bridging the creek four times the first mile, then coming back on the southeastern face. Here it would cross the ridge and make a swerve top the north and stop a few hundred yards short of the summit.

References