At the turn of the 20th century, the city of Pacifica was a collection of small settlements along the Pacific coast. The Ocean Shore Railroad brought settlers to the area and stitched these villages together into a community which later incorporated into the city of Pacifica. The Pacifica Historical Society is commemorating the railroad’s importance to our history by restoring the one of the last remaining passenger car of the OSRR and opening it to public view with displays of historic photos and artifacts. This will bring tourists to town, strengthen the Sharp Park Downtown District and instill civic pride.
Background:
In 2004, members of the Pacifica Historical Society learned that rail car number 1409, one of Ocean Shore Railroad’s original passenger cars, still existed, weathering in a Sebastopol backyard. The 1909 car needed a lot of work but was a good candidate, being just one of five of its model to have been built. The car was trucked to Pacifica in 2004 and, at several different locations over the last two decades, the Society has initiated reconstruction and restoration of the car.
At the present time, the car rests under a tent structure in a city-owned parking lot on Francisco Boulevard, across from the Society’s Coastside Museum in the Little Brown Church. The basic exterior shell of the car has been restored, new windows have been produced, and interior woodwork has commenced. The next step in the restoration process is to put the car on ‘trucks’ – it’s wheelsets – in it’s permanent location at the site, so that window installation and exterior finishing can be done.
Ultimately, the Society plans to build a glass-enclosed car barn around the rail car to protect it from the elements, and open it to the public along with historical exhibits. The car, along with the adjacent Pacifica Coastside Museum, will host tourists and events, and help enrich the local economy.
We should celebrate our very own Car 1409 – the last of its species – the only existing passenger car built exclusively for the Ocean Shore Railroad.Be Sure to Follow our Official Facebook Page for the latest updates & news!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnNs6JBMvyc Moving Day: Ocean Shore R.R. Car #1409 March 30, 2023 from Vallemar to Sharp Park. Credit: Mrs. Hagler-Wong Pacifica…
