Ocean Shore RR’s “Gas Car” Stopped at Moss Beach Station

[Image below from Rosina Gianocca, via R. Guy Smith, also pictured in my book, Half Moon Bay Memories: The Coastside’s Colorful Past.]

gas train_2

Says Angelo Mithos:

“Hi June. I remember the Moss Beach station from one of my 1930’s trips and have a photo I took with my Brownie camera.  The station was totally vacant but undamaged.  Further back up the line was an OS trestle, which I also inspected (Page  120 of Jack R. Wagner’s book).  Not long after, both were gone– demolished!- believe for the new highway. Re the OS’s gasoline- powered motor cars, Nos. 61 and 62.  Both built at Sacramento by the Meister Co., 61 in 1918 , 62 in 1920.  Each had  31 passengers. capacity.  61 had a rounded rear with observation platform; 62 had a square closed end.  61 sold to Long-Bell Lumber .Co.,; scrapped 1955; 62 sold to La Cross  & Southeastern Ry.; scrapped c1934. OS bought them as an economy measure-too ezxpensive to run full size steam trains for just a few passengers. References: When Steam Ran on the Streets of San Francisco, Part IV by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria; booklet Ocean Shore Railroad by Rudolph Brandt (publisher Western Railroader); The Last Whistle by Jack R. Wagner (publisher Howell-North Books). ”

June says: Rosina Gianocca told me this railroad station turned into a broom factory before vanishing from the landscape. Rosina, who grew up in Montara, got to know the Moss Beach Postmaster “Guy” Smith, who, took many fantastic photographs of the Coastside. The old historic post office still stands on the east side of Highway 1 in Moss Beach and is owned by my neighbor Connie Phipps. I hope this building will be preserved.