In June 1983 the very first San Francisco Historic Trolley Festival took place on Market Street. Read about how this event sparked the creation of the F Market & Wharves Line and lives on in today’s Muni Heritage Weekend.
Muni service changes spark a simple idea
1982 marked two major public transit service changes in San Francisco. First was the opening of the Muni Metro system and subway, served by brand new light rail vehicles (LRVs).
With the start of LRV service, older style “PCC” streetcars were retired from Muni’s rail lines. LRVs could serve stops on the street as well as in the subway. PCC cars had been in service for nearly 40 years and could not serve the new high-level platforms inside the Market Street Subway. As a “farewell,” Muni ran two of its oldest cars – Car 1 from 1912 and Car 178 from 1923 – on the J Church for a few weekends in late 1982.
Historic Muni Car 1 from 1912 passes a PCC type streetcar on Church Street during the last day of PCC operation on September 19, 1982.
Second was the closure of the cable car system for a complete rebuild. For two years, one of San Francisco's most popular attractions would go silent.
These changes sparked an idea for Rick Laubscher, today’s president of the non-profit Market Street Railway. In 1982, he was chair of the Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee. The idea was to run special service on Market Street using historic streetcars during summer months. The event would provide visitors with an alternative to the cable cars. As a bonus, running historic streetcars along Market Street would highlight the rich history of transit in San Francisco.
Putting the puzzle together
After some discussion, Mayor Dianne Feinstein gave the green light to the project. Work began to rally support and gather streetcars. This task was easier said than done, as there was not universal support in the city or business community for the festival. Adding to the difficulty, many of the old cars had been scrapped or sat unused for years.
Open-top Boat Tram 226 from Blackpool, England was one of the most popular rides during the Trolley Festivals.
Ultimately, a fleet of vintage streetcars from around the world was assembled. Muni maintenance staff worked to prepare cars and operations staff readied a service plan. The festival prompted the restoration of Muni’s second-oldest streetcar, Car 130 from 1914. It debuted to carry passengers for the first time in three decades.
Muni maintenance staff put the finishing touches on Muni streetcar 130 for the 1983 Trolley Festival.
Overwhelming success
Mayor Feinstein opened the first Trolley Festival on June 23, 1983 by piloting Muni Car 1 in a parade down Market Street. Massive rider turnout and enthusiasm surrounding this “only in San Francisco” kind of event had a lasting effect.
Mayor Feinstein waves a Motorman’s hat out the front window of Muni Car 1. She takes a cue from Mayor James Rolph, who operated the same streetcar for the launch of Muni service in 1912.
Even after the cable cars returned in 1984, Trolley Festivals were held every summer through 1987. Each year, ridership grew and the fleet and hours of operation were expanded.
The Trolley Festival’s 40-year legacy
The Trolley Festivals proved that historic vehicles create a unique experience for people taking transit. And customers enjoyed riding them. This success helped pushed the F-Market Street Line project forward. In September 1995, the F Line opened. The route ran from Market and Castro streets to the Ferry Building. The line’s opening made a permanent place for historic transit on Market Street.
Passengers ride a streetcar from Melbourne, Australia on Market Street during the 1983 Trolley Festival.
Today, the spirit of the Trolley Festivals lives on in Muni Heritage Weekend. Held in late summer, Muni Heritage brings out the rarest vehicles in our historic bus, cable car and streetcar fleets. Details on Muni Heritage 2025 will be shared closer to the event. In the meantime, catch a ride on the F Line any day of the week. And don’t miss our summer heritage service. On Fridays and Saturdays into October, special cars like the Boat Tram and Car 1 will also run on the F.
Streetcar 578, seen here at the 2024 Muni Heritage Weekend, is the oldest operating streetcar in the world.
For more details on the 1983 Trolley Festival, check out the blog from our non-profit partner, Market Street Railway.