Vallemar Station Closing -- July 16, 2026

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921, but Pacifica's Vallemar Station has housed many restaurants since then. The latest incarnation, since 1995, Ash's Vallemar Station, closed over the weekend. The food was often good, especially the fried chicken. In later days the service was spotty. I will miss the Ocean Shore photos and the dioramas.

I took the photo on 13-April-2013.

vallemarstation.com

vallemarstation.com

Several proposed closing dates came and went. 

2014 San Francisco History Expo -- March 2, 2014

Today we attended the fourth annual San Francisco History Expo at the Old Mint. There was a good crowd. There were some new exhibitors this year, including the Odd Fellows.  Here is a photo of people lined up, waiting to get in when the expo opened at 11am. 

The Friends of the Cable Car Museum were kind enough to share some of their space with the group restoring Ocean Shore Railroad car 1409.  Here are Paul Slavin and Scott Lindner, who is leading the restoration. 

The Friends of the Cable Car Museum were in a new position, as were many other groups.  I had a nice chat with Mike Phipps and Dom Holmgren, who will talk on Sunday about the Ocean Shore Railroad.  The Friends' web site has been down for over a week, but they are working on it.  Jose Godoy of the Friends designed the button especially for the Expo. 

The Market Street Railway/San Francisco Railway Museum had a nice table.  I had a good chat with young volunteers Dominic and Julian. 

They had an additional room open at the north end. 

Train Station #60 -- June 7, 2013

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921, but Pacifica's Vallemar Station has housed many restaurants since then. The current eatery is a sports bar with good food. It has a nice selection of railroad photos.  I took the photo on 13-April-2013. 

Devil's Slide Bypass Tunnels Open -- March 25, 2013

The Ocean Shore Railroad was killed off by, among other things, Devil's Slide, a scenic stretch of coastline which keeps slipping down towards the ocean. The state took over the land to build Highway One. Highway One has fallen in many times during or shortly after the rainy season, often being closed for several months. This is very bad for the local economy. My dad was involved in drilling and studying the area in the 1950s.

 Today a bunch of politicians will cut the ribbon on the Devil's Slide bypass, only 16 years after the voters approved the project.  Better late than never.

This sign stood at the site office of one of the contractors, on the otherwise unused Oddstad School property. I took the photo on 10-October-2007. 

Other things that killed the Ocean Shore include the 1906 Earthquake and Fire and the automobile.  

Train Station #56 -- February 8, 2013

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921, but Pacifica's Vallemar Station has housed many restaurants since then. The current eatery is a sports bar with good food. It has a nice selection of railroad photos.  In the lobby and the bar are two models built by Armando and Danilo Vargas, representing Ocean Shore scenes.  This one shows a San Francisco-bound train arriving at Vallemar Station. 

Train Station #48 -- July 6, 2012

The ill-fated Ocean Shore Railroad went out of business in 1921, killed by the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, Devil's Slide, and the automobile.  Things still looked promising in 1909 when this image of their proposed San Francisco depot appeared in the 28-April-1909 San Francisco Call. High speed electric cars would leave here for the coastside and Santa Cruz.  They had to make do with a much more modest terminal on Mission Street and a trip to Santa Cruz that involved a train pulled by an electric locomotive to the southern edge of San Francisco, then steam locomotives to Tunitas Glen.  Passengers could transfer to a Stanley Steamer coach which would carry them to Davenport, where they could board another steam train for Santa Cruz.  . 

Ocean Shore Railroad Car 1409 Fundraiser -- November 13, 2011

Today the Moose Lodge in Pacifica hosted a Pacifica Historical Society fundraiser for the restoration of the only surviving piece of Ocean Shore Railroad rolling stock, coach 1409. Rob Wullenjon performed a song he had written about the railroad and the car. Then historian John Schmale, who found the car, spoke and presented a series of photos from his collection. They covered a ride from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. I understood the line's route out of San Francisco and through Westlake much better. The views of what is now Pacifica and the area sound of Devil's Slide were wonderful.

 I had to run right after he finished, so I didn't get to hear the questions or talk to people after. There was a good crowd.

 The image is from the 04-April-1908 San Francisco Call. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

Train Station #23 -- June 4, 2010

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921. North Granada station, across the road from Princeton, has served as a restaurant for many years. The Red Ginger went under recently. Before that it, was called the Moon Bay. The building has had bits added on, but the shape of the tile roof makes its origin clear.

Ocean Shore Railway Schedule -- April 23, 2010

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921. Here is a schedule from the 22-April-1910 San Francisco Call, when it was already in receivership.

Here is a photo of Arleta Station today:

http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2010/04/train-station-21-april-5-2010.html

Tunitas Glen was the end of the track running south from San Francisco. Work stopped because of the 18-April-1906 earthquake and fire. Riders could climb aboard a Stanley Steamer auto stage, which bridged the gap to the north end of the track from Santa Cruz. Stops along the stage route included San Gregorio and Pescadero.

Train Station #21 -- April 5, 2010

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921. The Arleta Station in Half Moon Bay, also referred to as Artlett and Arleto, is now a home. I'd like to live in a house like that. My daughter and I stopped to inspect the station and took the photo on 08-February-2010.

The description of a trip on the Ocean Shore below is from the 1913 California Tourist Guide and Handbook by Wells and Aubrey Drury.

---

(b) Ocean Shore Trip

The Ocean Shore Railroad runs for 40 miles down the coast by a line of great scenic beauty. The road is an engineering wonder, many difficulties of construction having been surmounted by the builders. The trip starts from the depot at Twelfth and Mission streets, San Francisco, passes by Islais Creek and the market gardens of the city, to Daly City (7 1/2) and thence by beautiful Lake Merced (2 miles long) with its wooded shores, its numerous islets and its delightfully blue waters. It was on the shores of this lake that the famous duel was fought between Judge David S. Terry and Senator David C. Broderick, in which the latter was mortally wounded, September 11, 1859. Running through Spring Valley, the train comes out on the Pacific Ocean in a region of rugged picturesqueness, passing Mussel Rock (4), and Edgemar (1) to SALADA (1), where there is a broad bathing beach between the ocean and a natural salt water lake, Laguna Salada. (Hotel Salada, $1.50 up.) From here the route extends through Brighton (1/2) and Vallemar (1) to Rockaway Beach (1). At this place are large amusement concessions. After passing here, the route enters the fertile San Pedro Valley, reaching Tobin (1 1/2), the shipping point of the valley. Though only three miles long by half a mile wide, every foot of its highly productive soil is under cultivation. Its produce is to be found on the tables of epicures the world over. The principal delicacy that thrives in this little valley is the artichoke, of which hundreds of carloads are shipped yearly to the markets of New York, London and the Continent. Leaving Tobin, the railroad is built on great cliffs for several miles around Pedro Mountain, exhibiting many feats of engineering. Far below the breakers dash with tremendous force against the cliffs. Here is passed Point San Pedro, a great rock of many-colored strata, presenting a strange and beautiful picture. Then comes the only tunnel of the line, which is broad and has a double track bored through four hundred feet of solid rock, and after traversing for some distance the rolling foothills the train reaches MONTARA (5), a beach resort. Nestling in the hills, less than a mile from the beach, is the modern and cosy Montara Inn. From Montara is reached Farallone (1/4). The bathing beach here is excellent and there is also good fishing from the rocks. The government lighthouse and signal station is located at this point. Mussel and abalone beds of great extent are along this part of the coast.

Next in the line of travel is MOSS BEACH (1), another popular beach resort. There are to be obtained here many unique specimens of marine moss and other sea growths. Surf and still-water bathing and fishing add to the appeal of Moss Beach as a recreation ground. There is also a pretty park. From Moss Beach, the line runs through PRINCETON-BY-THE-SEA (2), on the northern shore of beautiful Half Moon Bay. Nearby is Pillar Point, sighted in 1585 by Captain Francisco de Gali, a Spanish navigator. Portola passed here on his northern march to San Francisco, Otcober 30, 1769.

After leaving Princeton the traveller reaches GRANADA (1), situated on a gently sloping hillside overlooking the bay. From Granada the line runs past Miramar (1/2), where there is a long pleasure pier extending into the ocean, to HALF MOON. (Occidental Hotel, $2.) This quaint old place was settled early in the history of the State and was long known as Spanishtown. It is now a growing residence city. From here the route continues through Arleto Park (1-2) and Fair Haven (2) to PURISIMA (2), another old settlement, located in the green canyon of Purisima Creek. This stream, where it empties into the sea, plunges down in a series of picturesque waterfalls. Beyond here is Lobitos (2), situated where the Lobitos Creek enters the ocean, and thence is reached TUNITAS GLEN (2), the present terminus of the Ocean Shore Railway. There is here a pretty little cove with a good bathing beach. Excellent trout-fishing is enjoyed in Tunitas Creek. From here connection is made by stage along the coast to the popular seaside summer resorts of San Gregorio, Pescadero and Pebble Beach, and the mountain retreats of La Honda and Belleville. The road is good for automobiles, running south to Santa Cruz.

PESCADERO is picturesquely situated near the ocean, but separated from it by low hills. Two miles south of here is Pebble Beach, a little cove in which there are millions of pretty, smooth pebbles of all kinds, including moss-agate, carnelian, opal and quartz. It has been declared that no other beach in the United States equals this in the number and beauty of its stones. A stage road leads over the Sierra Morena, via La Honda, to Redwood City. (For description of other parts of San Mateo county see Route 3.)

Train Station #20 -- March 5, 2010

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921. The Kelly Avenue Station in Half Moon Bay has travelled more than most buildings. It started out near Kelly Avenue, closer to the coast. Some time after the railroad ceased operations in 1920 or 1921, it was moved to Kelly and Main. Around 1930, it moved again to Johnston and Miramontes Streets, behind the Community Methodist Church. A Bank of America, now serving as City Hall, replaced it at Kelly and Main. The church needed to expand, so the station moved once more in 2000 to its present location, near the Johnston House. My daughter found it amusing that a Jazzercise class was going on when we stopped to take a photo on 08-February-2010.

It was very cold today. I walked down to the Ferry Building at lunch time and took videos of ferries.

Hollywood Walk of Fame -- February 8, 2010

Today the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce started celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I took this photo of Harold Lloyd's star, which is rather well-worn, on 18-July-2009.

Today I had a vacation day. I took my daughter to Half Moon Bay for lunch. After we visited Bay Books and picked up a few volumes, she waited patiently while I looked for firehouses and Ocean Shore Railroad stations to take photos. Granada Station was hard to find. She was amused that Kelly Street Station in Half Moon Bay was being used for a Jazzercise class. I'm grateful that my family puts up with my interests.

I have mixed feelings about the tunnel to replace Devil's Slide. I'll miss the view.

Get All You Can For Your Money Without Risk -- December 29, 2008

An ad from the 29-December-1908 San Francisco Call tells people they can invest their money without risk in the Ocean Shore Railway. It didn't quite work out that way.

Ann Savage died. Detour. Great movie.

Train Station #3 -- October 9, 2008

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921. The Tobin Station in Pedro Point is a private home.

I took the photo on 10-October-2007.

Train Station #2 -- September 19, 2008

The Ocean Shore Railroad has been gone since 1921, but Pacifica's Vallemar Station has housed many restaurants since then. The current eatery is a sports bar with good food. It has a nice selection of railroad photos.

Signs of the Times #4 -- November 29, 2007

The Ocean Shore Railroad was killed off by Devil's Slide, a scenic stretch of coastline which keeps slipping down towards the ocean. The state took over the land to build Highway One. Highway One has fallen in many times during or shortly after the rainy season, often being closed for several months. This is very bad for the local economy. My dad was involved in drilling and studying the area in the 1950s.

There have been many proposals to bypass Devil's Slide. One would have torn a big gash through the Shamrock Ranch and a park. There is a project going on now to build a tunnel. First they built a bridge to span the valley of Shamrock Ranch. When they got to the other side, they started to dig the two bores.

This sign stands at the site office of one of the contractors, on the otherwise unused Oddstad School property. I took the photo on 10-October-2007.

Cantor Center/Vallemar Station -- October 27, 2007

My daughter wanted to visit the Cantor Center at Stanford to study a statue for a paper she is writing. I had never been to the Rodin garden. I enjoyed seeing the statues outdoors. I was overwhelmed by the Gates of Hell and we all had a nice discussion about what some of the figures represented.

Today I took this photograph of his signature on "Adam".

Later in the day, we took our in-laws to mass at Good Shepherd. We were eucharistic ministers tonight. Then we went to dinner at Vallemar Station, which we had not visited for a few years. It is the most recognizable surving station of the the Ocean Shore Railroad, which went out of business in 1921. We enjoyed the food.

The World Series game was less enjoyable. The Rockies are now down 3 games to 1. It was 35 degrees during the seventh inning stretch.