When it bought out Market Street Railway in 1944, Muni’s official colors for its streetcars and buses were blue with yellow trim. Muni painted two Powell cable cars into this scheme (today’s No. 3 and No. 10).
Bill Storage photo.However, this repainting project stalled and Muni soon reverted to Market Street Railway’s green as its primary fleet color, with cream fronts and trim, a color scheme that also adorned all new Muni streetcars and buses for 25 years.
But the blue and gold (actually yellow) livery represents an important period in Muni history, and so is represented in the Powell Street cable car fleet by No. 16.
Powell Street Cable Car Specifications
Number of Cars
28 on roster (Maximum of 19 in service at one time)
Capacity
60 (29 seated + 31 standing)
Weight
15,500 lb (7,030 kg)
Length
27′ 6″ (8.4 m)
Height
10′ 5″ (3.2 m)
Width
8′ 0″ (2.4 m)
Track Gauge
3′ 6″ (1.07 m)
Round Trip Route Length
Powell-Mason line: 3.2 mi (5.15 km)
Powell-Hyde line: 4.3 mi (6.92 km)
Cable Speed
9.5 mph (15.3 km/h)
Cable Lengths
Powell: 9,300 ft (2,835 m)
Mason: 10,300 ft (3,140 m)
Hyde: 16,000 ft (4875 m)
Cable Motive Power
510-horsepower electric motor driving four cable winders at powerhouse
Powerhouse and Carbarn
Washington and Mason Streets
Built 1887 by Ferries & Cliff House Railway
Rebuilt 1906 by United Railroads
Rebuilt 1982-84 by San Francisco Municipal Railway
Steepest Grades on Powell Lines
Powell: 17% between Bush & Pine
Mason: 17% between Union & Green
Hyde: 21% between Bay & Chestnut
