1906 Quake Jolts Tomales Bay and Its Railroad

by Simone Wilson

Olema was the earthquake epicenter

The San Andreas Fault, that bad boy of California seismic activity, runs right down the middle of Tomales Bay. In fact, itÕs the grinding action of the fault zone that created the depression now filled by the waters of the bay. The epicenter of the 1906 "San Francisco" Earthquake was actually the tiny town of Olema, about three miles south of Point Reyes Station. At the moment of the April 18 quake, the entire Point Reyes Peninsula on the west side of the bay moved 17 feet to the northwest. (Pictures of the time show that fences across the fault line were broken and offset by 17 feet.) The jolt added some S-curves to the tracks of the North Shore railroad along Tomales Bay. Railroad levees and bridges over creeks were damaged. At 5:13 a.m. on the morning of the quake, North ShoreÕs Engine #14 was idling on the track at Point Reyes Station. The shock toppled the locomotive and passengers cars over onto their sides, but didn't do much damage to the train. The fireman leapt to safety alongside the track. In three weeks the tracks were straightened out and the trains were rolling again.

Stalking the Narrow Gauge

Front Page