San
Quentin Point jutted eastward into San Francisco Bay. In the middle
of the nineteenth century this point was selected as a terminal site
for the old North Shore narrow gauge railroad. A causeway was built
out to a small island to form a roadway, and a trestle was also
built, to the little island. The trestle was for the railroad use,
and a pier was built at the island. This brought the terminal into
deep water where boats could land, regardless of high or low tides.
Here regular ferry service was established to connect with the North
Shore Railroad and ferry passengers and freight to San Francisco. The
North Shore Railroad served parts of Marin County and a part of
southern Sonoma County.
This
ferry service was later abandoned, and another terminal was
established at Tiburon, but the railroad continued to serve San
Quentin for many years.
Photo:
Dorothy Cowan collection
