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2009: Leonard Oats wins 47th annual Muni Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest

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Pictured left to right are Howard Woo (3rd Place), Leonard Oats (with bell, 1st Place) and Frank Ware (2nd Place).

Leonard Oats was declared World Champion of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) 47th annual Muni Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, held today at noon in Union Square. The contest had two divisions, one for cable car gripmen and conductors and the other for local community representatives.

The winners in the division for cable car crew members were: First Place, Mr. Oats; Second Place, Frank Ware; and Third Place, Howard Woo. Today’s win was the third in a row for Oats.

The winners in the amateur division: First Place, “Scotty B” of KOIT; Second Place, Janelle Wang of ABC Ch. 7, View from the Bay; and Third Place, Aaron Jones of KBLX.

For both portions of the contest, the winners received a trophy and Mr. Oats also received a Grand Prize Bell from Trophy Masters. Other prizes included hotel stays, dinners and other gift certificates, which were donated by the Union Square Association, Shanghai 1930, Ghirardelli Chocolates, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Macy’s.

The mistress of ceremony duties were once again graciously performed by comedienne Debi Durst. Entertainment was provided by The Slot Blades band comprised of Cable Car Grips and Conductors and performers from the Epiphany Productions Sonic Dance Theater’s San Francisco Trolley Dances.

Muni's 47th annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest was presented by the SFMTA with the generous support of its long-time partners: the Union Square Association and the Friends of the Cable Car Museum.

The SFMTA also wishes to thank Ghirardelli Chocolates, Shanghai 1930, AAA, Uncle Vito’s Pizza and Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Company for their support.

The SFMTA's newest Cable Cars

Car 15

Placed in service June 2009

Photograph of Cable Car 15 launch (Mayor Newsom, Nathaniel Ford and Cable Car Operators and Crafts Workers)

Cable Car 15, which will serve the Powell-Mason Line, was built from the ground up using original blueprints by SFMTA artisans from the Woods Carpenter Shop, the Cable Machinery Support Shop, the Special Machine Shop and the Running Repair Shop.

Cable Car 15 features a bright yellow Powell-Mason color scheme that originated in the 1890s. This paint scheme was worn by cable cars on the Powell-Mason line from 1894 to 1902.  The Powell-Mason cable car line, which opened in 1888, is the oldest transit line in America still operating on its original route with its original type of motive power and its original type of vehicles.

Cable Car 15 in the car barn with Cable Car operators and Crafts Workers

Car 25

Returned to service May 2008

Customers board Cable Car number 25 at Hyde and Lombard streets

Powell Street cable car number 25 was originally constructed 118 years ago in the shops of the Ferries and Cliff House Railway on the site of the current Muni cable car barn at Washington and Mason Streets. The cable car was heavily rebuilt by Muni craftsworkers in 1976 and rebuilt again even more extensively over two years. Car 25 is now virtually new, with very little of the original car remaining. To celebrate its place in San Francisco history, the car has been painted in the red and cream livery displayed by Powell Street cable cars at the time of the Earthquake and Fire of 1906.

Read the press release about car 25's return to service

 

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