The F Market & Wharves historic streetcar line turns 30 years old this month! You can celebrate the anniversary at this year’s Muni Heritage Weekend on Sept. 20 and 21.
Today, we’ll share the history of Muni’s iconic heritage rail service.
Two F Market & Wharves streetcars pass each on the Steuart Street curve. On the left is Streetcar 1056, painted for Kansas City. On the right is Car 1010, painted in Muni’s 1939 “Blue & Gold” livery.
Ideas in the 1970s
The story of the F Market & Wharves Line dates back to the 1970s. In 1971, an engineer named Gerald Fox completed a report about running rail service on Market Street using historic vehicles. By the end of the decade, both Muni and the Planning Commission published plans for what would become the F Market & Wharves Line.
1983 Trolley Fest sparks interest
Mayor Dianne Feinstein kicked off the ’83 Trolley Festival from Muni’s original, Car 1. Feinstein was a major supporter of the creation of the F Line.
As reported in our June blog post, the San Francisco Trolley Festivals of the 1980s were crucial for the F Line. The events ran special historic streetcar service during summers from 1983-1987. They proved to be very popular. With support from riders, businesses and City Hall, the F Line dream would soon become reality.
Construction begins
Workers lay tracks along 17th Street during construction for the F in 1993.
Construction of the F Line started in the early 1990s. Work took place in two segments -- Market Street and the Embarcadero. The first segment of the line ran from 17th and Castro streets to the Transbay Terminal on 1st and Mission. This work happened while Market Street saw a major renovation. F Line construction mostly involved redesigning the upper Market segment to include medians and landscaping. It also included rebuilding platforms along the entire street. By 1995, work was complete and the F Line was ready to roll.
Opening day of the F Market
The F Line along Market Street opened on Sept. 1, 1995. Initially called the “F Market”, its opening marked the return of rail service to the city's main drag.
A parade of streetcars along Market on opening day, Sept. 1, 1995.
Crowds celebrated with a ceremony at 2nd and Market streets plus a ribbon cutting at Castro. Twenty streetcars paraded the line and provided free rides for the day.
Ceremony at Market and 2nd Streets for the F Line opening.
Extension to Fisherman’s Wharf
Work along the Embarcadero took longer than Market Street. It was part of a complete rebuild of the boulevard and removal of the elevated Embarcadero Freeway. Crews built tracks and platforms from the Ferry Building to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Workers setting rails for the F on a curve near Pier 39.
The Fisherman’s Wharf extension opened on March 4, 2000. It was celebrated with a ceremony at Jones and Beach streets and the line was renamed the F Market & Wharves. For the first time, San Francisco had a heritage streetcar service along its stunning eastern waterfront.
The ever-popular “Boat Tram” runs during the first day of service on the F Market & Wharves in March 2000.
The F Line today and tomorrow
Today, the F Line shuttles people back in time along its six-mile route. It is served by a diverse fleet of streetcars ranging from 73 to 129 years old. With a rainbow of vehicles from around the world, the F is an icon on par with the cable cars. Popular among both locals and visitors alike, hopping on an F Line car is a new experience each time.
Streetcar 1051 is dedicated to San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and is painted in one of Muni's mid-century color schemes.
A skilled maintenance team and dedicated operators keep the wheels turning daily. This one-of-a-kind transit experience wouldn’t be possible without their work. It would also not be possible without long-time support from Market Street Railway.
Looking to the future, there are proposals to extend the F through the Wharf to Fort Mason. In 2013, the National Park Service, which owns Fort Mason, completed an impact study. Three years later, the proposal was recommended to the SFMTA Board by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee. While not an active project, this extension would add almost one mile to the line. The extension would travel along Aquatic Park and through an old railroad tunnel. It would connect people to the Powell-Hyde cable car and Fort Mason Center.
Join us this weekend to celebrate the F Line with a special ride at Muni Heritage Weekend!
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