The Decline of The Railroad

The Rebuilt (and more modest) Tamalpais Tavern, 1925.

The company was still profitable and was able to keep up service during the early part of the 1920's. However, the line's days were numbered.

At first, automobiles were able to make it up to the summit only by straddling the rails. Then a car was able to make it up to the summit independent of the rails, and much press was made about it, giving publicity to the Railroad.

Cars near the Tavern (look at the circle space). . .	and near the Muir Woods Inn.

By 1923, roads made it possible to drive up to both the Muir Woods and the Tamalpais Tavern. When the Tamalpais tavern was rebuilt after the fire of 1923, parking was provided across the rails from the Tavern. This drained money from the company, since it was the railroad that made the money.

Abandonment talks were initiated in 1925 with the idea of turning the rail line into a toll road, but they were discontinued when the company decided there was too much to do before the next tourist season. The railroad soldered on as business slowed down during the latter part of the 1920's, and it was clear to all that the company was looking for ways to get out of the railroad business.

Their chance came up on July 2, 1929. A big fire burned up the side of Mt. Tamalpais and burned so completely that the crossties were burned up. The tracks were rebuilt, but the damage was done -- the company, financially drained and suffering from the beginnings of The Great Depression, officially ceased operations in the Summer of 1930.

A picture of the Bow Knot while the rails were being torn up.
Notice that there are no rails on the left side of the turn.