The Coburn Mystery: Chapter 44

By June Morrall

In the 1890s the Pescaderans looked forward to the coming of the railroad, an event that would solve their economic isolation, but there had  been disappointments.

Local lumberman Alvinza Hayward began the grading work for a railroad when he ran out of money to complete the project. A loquacious fellow called Colonel Bridge, who tried to get the villagers to invest in his railroad, turned out to be full of hot air. A stream of others like Colonel Bridges came to the town armed with surveys and maps but nothing clicked.

Then came the idea of the “bicycle railroad,” dubbed a “decided novelty.”  The bicycle railroad, which was engineered to work just like it sounds, was supposed to run from Millbrae to Pescadero, built over grades and through country unfriendly to a narrow gauge.

It also had an overhead device that kept the cars in place, perhaps like the old streetcars. Yet, it was self-supporting and could reach speeds of 100 mph.

(When I locate the sketch of the bicycle railroad, I will insert it into this post.)

Shortly after the announcement of the bicycle railroad reached the South Coast, new developments emerged regarding the West Shore Railroad’s plans. People said it was a “go.”

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