Steam & Excursion > 110 Years Ago This Was Definately The Ride To Take To The Top!

There were only an handful of railroads built in the U.S. that were passenger only with no thought of freight customers. Here we see one of those unique railroads.

In this view taken in February 1907 we are on board a train on the Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railway headed for the Tamalpais Tavern at the terminus of the rail line some 8 miles from the starting point in Mill Valley, California. Shay #5 is the power on this train and we see her crew has her working hard as she pulls here train loaded with passengers around the many curves that the line was famous for. She will have gained over 2,000 feet in elevation in the short 8-mile trip by the time she reaches the Tavern.

Shay #5 was not even 1 year old in this photo as she was turned out by Lima in June 1906. After the MT&MW line shut down she was sold in 1930 for service in the Philippines.

The passengers are dressed in their finest on this trip because that is how things were back in these times. It was quite a treat to say you had ridden "The Crookedest Railroad In The World" as the line was known.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/17 03:33 by LoggerHogger.

---

If I'm remembering Wurm & Graves' book on this line correctly, we would be looking in the direction of travel as #5 shoves the passenger car up the mountain. For most of its existence, the railroad placed the locomotive on the downhill end of trains in both directions of travel. Passengers descending from the summit back to Mill Valley could either ride a regular locomotive-hauled train or coast down the grade in a four-wheeled, unpowered Gravity Car. A Gravity Man controlled the water-cooled brakes on these cars to keep the downhill speed reasonable. Gravity Cars were deadheaded back up the mountain coupled to the downhill end of the locomotive on regular trains. The photographer and the passengers between him and the engine appear to be riding in such Gravity Cars.

A replica Gravity Car is on display on the mountain today: http://www.friendsofmttam.org/railroad/gravity-car-barn

Another was on display in Mill Valley, but was taken down in 2016 for rehabilitation: http://www.enjoymillvalley.com/-blog/city-to-remove-gravity-car-from-depot-plaza-for-major-repairs


See also:

https://mommawheelie.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/tam-wp-inn-before.jpg
http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40004359656228579/filePointer/40004359656228813/fodoid/40004359656228790/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/SHORPY-193-01.jpg
http://www.mendorailhistory.org/1_railroads/nwp/mount-tam.htm
https://www.nps.gov/muwo/learn/historyculture/upload/MtTamMUWOrrIDP.pdf

The Shay powered Cass Scenic RR is a equal to the MT&MW line today. They do not have a gravity car but the draw of steam power and excitement of the Shay steam engine and steep grades is a attraction that keeps bringing customers back year after year. If you had never ridden the trains at Cass, you have a new adventure to enjoy if you visit.
Thanks Martin and hope you find and post more Shay photos from your collection.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/17 04:49 by PlyWoody.

Let's not forget the Mt. Washington Cog Railroad... Passengers only, I think...

Great post! Yes Cass is by far my favorite ride! Will be going back there this summer.

Pike's Peak?

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pike's Peak?
No, Mount Tamalpias in Marin County, California.

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Another was on display in Mill Valley, but was
> taken down in 2016 for rehabilitation:
> http://www.enjoymillvalley.com/-blog/city-to-remov
> e-gravity-car-from-depot-plaza-for-major-repairs
>

I've been wondering what happened to the gravity car, I pass it (or used to pass it) on my trips to the bank and grocery store. Rehab? It looked pretty good to me, I hope it does in fact come back. If I remember correctly the replica was built by the local Boy Scouts.

JBWX

Here's a shot of the replica gravity car up on Mount Tamalpais, taken in Feb. 2016.

---