SFMTA Announces Details of Muni Heritage Weekend
Who: SFMTA and non-profit partner Market Street Railway
When: Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2, 2014, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with family fun activities from noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Market Street Railway Museum, 77 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA
(Note: All festivities will take place at and across Steuart Street from the Market Street Railway Museum)
During Muni Heritage Weekend, visitors will be able to ride and view historic streetcars, cable cars and buses that are rarely seen on city streets. In addition to these vintage vehicles from around the world, there will be exhibits, children’s activities, cable car bell ringing demonstrations, live music… and much more.
Free gift bags that include passes, memberships, gifts and discounts from sponsors such as PIER 39, Ghirardelli Chocolate, the Exploratorium, SF Conservatory of Flowers and the de Young and Legion of Honor Museums are valued at $150 and will go to the first 100 families each day. Also enter a raffle to win one of five Muni Heritage Premiere Prizes.
Schedule of Events
Noon Welcome with Guest & Sponsor Recognition
12:15 pm Bell Ringing Demonstrations
12:30 pm Del Barrio Jazz Trio
1:15 pm Maya Angelou Reading by Johnnae D. Saunders, St. Ignatius Class of 2015
1:30 pm Bell Ringing Demonstration
1:40 pm “Live” Music by the Del Barrio Trio
Find out more at www.sfmta.com/node/144521.
Explore Muni’s History and Exciting Future
Exhibits on Muni’s history and future will be on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. across the street from the Market Street Railway Museum. View historic photos, vehicles and videos, and find out about the projects and vehicles that will carry Muni into the future. Exhibits will be on display in the big tent within the event site.
Market Street Railway Museum
At the San Francisco Railway Museum, there will be a special sale of transit books and memorabilia both days to benefit Muni’s non-profit preservation partner Market Street Railway. Talks on San Francisco’s transit history will be given at the museum at 2 p.m. both days. Visitors of the free museum can also see an exhibit on the Historic Trolley Festivals of the 1980s that gave birth to the F Line.
Historic Vehicles
Where to Ride and See Them
Streetcars
Four historic streetcars rarely in operation will run between the Ferry Building and Pier 39. Ride Streetcars No. 1, 130, 228 and 578 for free along the short Embarcadero route. For some trips, Streetcars No. 1 and 130 may run the full F Market & Wharves route.
A number of historic streetcars are in service on the F Market & Wharves Line from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Castro. These streetcars operate regularly on the F Line, but this weekend more of them are running the rails at the same time. Board at F Line stops between Jones & Beach and 17th & Castro. Regular fares apply.
Streetcar No. 1: Muni’s very first streetcar, which inaugurated Muni service on December 28, 1912.. Streetcar No. 1 wears Muni’s first paint scheme of gray and red, with gold trim.
Streetcar No. 130: This streetcar was part of an order for 125 cars to expand Muni service for the 1914 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. This historic streetcar is dedicated to the late Herb Caen.
Streetcar No. 228: The boat tram from Blackpool, England, was one of 12 built for the English seaside resort city in 1934. This was the second boat tram acquired by Muni with the help of Market Street Railway members in 1984.
Streetcar No. 578: This 1896 streetcar is the oldest streetcar operated by a North American transit agency. It was converted to a work car after the 1906 earthquake, then restored by Muni crafts workers to its passenger configuration and original yellow livery in 1956 as part of the city’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the earthquake.
Streetcar No. 1040: The very last streamliner “PCC” streetcar built in North America. These famous streetcars, the core of today’s F Line, once operated in 33 different cities across the continent. Muni’s No. 1040, built in 1952, was recently restored to its original green and cream livery as part of a complete rebuilding.
Other vintage streetcars that have spent their careers on Muni tracks are expected to operate as part of regular F-line service and on the shorter Pier 39 to Market Street Railway Museum route.
Cable Cars
Cable Car No. 42 is a special double-end cable car built in 1906. It served the O’Farrell, Jones & Hyde line until that route was discontinued in 1954. Catch it on the California Street Cable Car Line. Regular cable car fares apply.
Cable Car No. 62 has the body of a cable car and the chassis and engine of a bus. This rubber-tire car will be on display at the event site and used for the bell ringing demonstrations at 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day. For display only.
Buses
Several historic buses are running a loop on Market to Sutter, Sutter to Mason and Mason back to Market. Board in front of the San Francisco Railway Museum on Steuart Street between Market and Mission streets. No fares – you can ride the historic buses for free.
Bus No. 506: This trolley bus built in 1941 was one of Muni’s first ten trolley coaches that operated on what was then called the “R-Howard” route. It has successfully undergone a cosmetic restoration into its original yellow and blue livery.. For display only.
Bus No. 042: One of the small gasoline coaches built by White Motor Company in 1938 that served Coit Tower on the 39-line for almost 40 years. Overhauled by Muni’s shops and restored to its original orange and black paint scheme and its original fleet number as part of Muni’s centennial.
Bus No. 776: A 1950 Marmon-Herrington trolley coach, which served virtually all of Muni’s trolley bus lines during its quarter-century of service. It is painted in its original green and cream “Wings” livery.
Bus No. 3287: Built by General Motors, purchased by Muni in 1969, and restored to its original maroon and yellow livery inspired by the cable cars.
Bus No. 5300: A 1975 Flyer trolley coach painted in the white and two-tone orange paint scheme created for Muni by famed San Francisco industrial designer Walter Landor, who also created Muni’s current logo, known to many as “the worm”.