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| SFMTA home > Transit > Fleet Info > Historic Streetcars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cars on the Street Right NowSan Francisco's Historic Streetcar Service
The story of San Francisco’s historic streetcar (trolley) service really begins when the voters of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and San Francisco approved the $792 million bond issue for BART construction in November 1962. The bond issue included funds for the construction of the Market Street subway, so that Muni’s five streetcar lines could be put underground for faster service. A subsequent bond issue for Market Street reconstruction and beautification was approved by San Francisco’s voters in 1968. At first, it was thought that almost all transit service would be removed from Market Street east of Van Ness Avenue, and it took several years before there was an official recognition of the importance of transit on this major thoroughfare. Meanwhile, transit advocates both within and outside city government began arguing that San Francisco should begin its own historic streetcar service, both on Market Street and on the city’s waterfront. The first proposal for an historic streetcar line on Market Street was made in 1971, and the first proposal for a line on The Embarcadero was made in 1974. The late Maurice Klebolt was one of the leading advocates for the historic streetcar service – he was the person largely responsible for obtaining the first historic streetcar from another country (the streetcar from Hamburg, Germany), which came to San Francisco in 1979. Also in 1979, a proposal for an historic line was officially adopted as part of Muni’s annually updated plan for improved service. (Beginning in 1981, the plan called for two lines, an E Embarcadero line and an F line that would serve The Embarcadero and Market Street. The second line was designated the F line because that is one letter after E in the alphabet.) There was historic streetcar service on Market Street on summer weekends in 1981 and 1982, before the regular streetcar service on Market had been entirely put underground. Weekday Muni Metro service in the subway had started on the N line in February 1980. The Metro service was implemented in phases, until all five lines were in the subway on a full-time basis as of November 1982. The Cable Car System Rehabilitation Program began in September 1982, shutting the system down until June 1984. The summer Trolley Festivals were started on Market Street in 1983 to provide an alternative historic transit service for visitors to the city, and they operated through 1987. Historic streetcars from San Francisco, other U.S. cities, and other countries brought delight to many thousands of people. The 1986 and 1987 Festivals received support from the Market Street Railway Company, a non-profit group dedicated to the acquisition, restoration, and operation of historic transit vehicles in the city. The success of the Trolley Festivals ensured that there would be full-time historic streetcar service in San Francisco. Construction for the Market Street Transit Thoroughfare Project took place in four separate phases from 1988 to 1995. The street improvements included streetcar track construction and the installation of new boarding islands, widened crosswalks, and new curbing, as well as the planting of palm trees in the median of Upper Market Street. September 1, 1995, was the first day of service for the F Market historic streetcar line, between Castro & Market Streets and the Transbay Terminal at 1st & Mission Streets. Planning for the extension of historic streetcar service to Fisherman’s Wharf received greatly increased attention after the October 1989 earthquake and the subsequent tearing down of the Embarcadero Freeway. Construction for the F-line extension became part of the city’s Waterfront Transportation Projects for roadway and transit improvements (the Muni Metro Extension to the Caltrain depot at 4th & King Streets was also one of the Waterfront Transportation Projects). Work began in July 1993 for roadway and F-line extension construction. However, the completion date for the extension was dependent on the completion of the Mid-Embarcadero segment of the Waterfront Projects. Service to Fisherman's Wharf began on March 4, 2000. Seventeen PCC streetcars are in regular F-line service (fourteen from Philadelphia and three from Muni). The cars are painted in the PCC colors of Muni and other transit agencies in the U.S. PCCs are streetcars that were originally designed under the direction of the Electric Railway Presidents' Conference Committee, in an attempt by twenty-five U.S. and Canadian transit companies to develop a standardized streetcar whose many improvements would help to reverse the decline in transit use that had begun in the 1920s. PCC cars were first put into service in 1936. Their streamlined design was attractive, and they were quieter and more economical than earlier versions of streetcars, with better motors, controls, acceleration, and braking. Streetcars from Milan, Italy, built in 1928, were acquired by Muni for the extension of the service (now called the F Market & Wharves line) to Fisherman’s Wharf. The cars are called “Peter Witt” cars because their design is based on one that Cleveland transit commissioner Peter Witt created for faster passenger boardings. The first "Peter Witt" cars entered service in about 1915. They were designed so that passengers would enter by the front doors and leave by the center doors. The conductor would be in the center of the car, and passengers did not have to pay until they left the car or went to the rear - the cars could provide faster service since they did not have to wait while passengers paid to get on board. Nine of the Milan cars are currently in service to Fisherman’s Wharf, and others will be ready for service in the future. About the StreetcarsPCC Streetcars in regular serviceLinks are to streetcar.org. Thumbnails courtesy of the Market Street Railway. Double-ended PCC cars originally built for Muni in 1948 with some cars painted to look like streetcars from other cities.
Single-ended PCC cars originally built for Philadelphia in 1946 with most cars painted to look like streetcars from other cities:
There are also the following cars:
"Peter Witt" Streetcars from Milan, ItalyCar numbers 1811, 1814, 1815, 1818, 1856, 1859, 1888, 1893, 1895 are in regular service. Car 1834 is not in regular service. Milan Cars at streetcar.org.
Antique Streetcars (Trolleys)Muni has several antique streetcars that operate from the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. They only run on Market Street when they are pulling into and out of service (when they also run on Church Street). The following is only a partial listing. (Some of these cars may not be in operating condition at all times.)
There is more information about historic streetcars, including photos, at the Market Street Railway Web site. Muni's F-line Connects Fisherman's Wharf to DowntownOn Saturday, March 4th, 2000, a long awaited dream became a reality. For almost three decades, San Franciscans longed for a direct rail link between Downtown and the Fisherman's Wharf area. That dream was realized with the start of the Municipal Railway's regular service on the F-Market and Wharves historic streetcar line from Market and Castro, through the Downtown and along the Northern Waterfront all the way to Fisherman's Wharf at Jones & Beach Streets. The tireless efforts of all those who advocated and worked on behalf of extending the F-line to the wharf were recognized by the Mayor and other City officials at a ceremony held on Tuesday, March 21st, 2000. Foremost among those honored were members of the Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Association whose efforts and support were essential to the success of the seven-year construction effort. Members of the Market Street Railway, a non-profit group supporting historic rail service, were also recognized for their contributions. Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr., praised the efforts of the Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Association, as well as the work of the contractor and Muni staff, saying, "The tireless efforts of all those involved has helped me to realize my vision of connecting San Francisco's diverse communities. The F-line is also another step in strengthening the City's extensive transit infrastructure and bolstering the City's dynamic and vibrant economy!" Muni General Manager Michael T. Burns also expressed delight in the initiation of F-line service to Fisherman's Wharf by stating that "This is yet another step in improving service to our customers and making Muni into the world-class transit system that San Franciscans deserve!" |
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San Francisco Muni is part of the SFMTA. Copyright © 2000-2008 SFMTA. All rights reserved. Updated January 29, 2008
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