Steaming Down the Track

A steam train chugging along above the ocean through Lands End

The trail here is the bed of an old railroad line. In the early days of its development as a recreation destination, Lands End was far removed from San Francisco proper. To make it easier for people to make the trek, a steam powered railroad line was developed along 33rd Avenue from the intersection of California Street and Presidio Avenue. Its final terminal was above the Cliff House, near the parking lot below the USS San Francisco Memorial. The train ran from 1886 to 1905, when the steam powered streetcars were replaced by electrified transportation.