Another sordid Saturday morning on the F-line. Eleven a.m., Ferry Building, Wharf-bound. A mob of people waiting as Birmingham 1077 pulls up (see, some of those Newark streetcars DO run!). It’s already packed, but the operator squeezes a few more people in. Then he can’t get the rear doors closed because a passenger is standing on the door-opening treadle and apparently doesn’t understand English (a WHOLE lot of those folks, Europeans, on the line today).
Rick Laubscher photo.
New Chronicle story tonight on the paper’s website, SFGate. Excerpt:
In his column today, Chuck Nevius of the Chronicle has essentially repeated a story the paper’s Carl Nolte wrote a couple of years ago: the F-Market & Wharves line attracts more riders than the streetcars can handle. (This just in…!)
Milan tram No. 1807 rear-ended ‘Pacific Electric’ PCC No. 1061 today headed northbound on The Embarcadero right-of-way at Washington Street (just north of the Ferry Building). The Chronicle reports that fourteen people were injured. The Chronicle story is here.
Eight years ago, at the opening celebration for the F-line extension to Fisherman’s Wharf, several Market Street Railway directors were discussing Muni’s delays in committing to start up the E-Embarcadero line. (The trackage for that line, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Caltrain, was just being completed along with the F-line extension.) The discussion was interrupted by a familiar voice saying, “You’ll get your E-line.” It was then-Mayor Willie Brown.
Telstar Logistics photo.
Frank Zepeda photo.
Steve Ferrario photo.
Left to right: Craig Walker, Nick Figone, Alison Cant, and Bill Smalley put the finishing touches on their deep clean of the Blackpool Boat Tram in the shadow of the US Mint. Rick Laubscher photo.
