Muni’s first streetcar, No. 1, poses at 11th and Market streets December 28, 2012. Moments earlier, it passed Market and Geary almost exactly 100 years to the minute from its first ever trip from that same location, out Geary with Mayor “Sunny Jim” Rolph at the controls to inaugurate America’s first major publicly owned transit system. Here, it’s flanked by Muni’s oldest operable trolley coach, 1950 No. 776, and its oldest operating motor coach, 1938 No. 042. All carried passengers for free rides that day. Rick Laubscher photo.
Streetcars and Cable Cars
“Debut” of Muni’s Oldest Bus for Centennial Day
1938 White motor coach No. 042 on display outside the San Francisco Railway Museum November 11, 2012. Brian Leadingham photo. Click to enlarge.
A Trip to the Boneyard!
1954 Hamburg, Germany tram No. 3557 (right) and two ex-Muni PCC streetcars are among the historic vehicles awaiting restoration at Muni’s "boneyard," as the streetcar storage facility is informally known. Todd Lappin photo.
Celebrating Civic Activism – With a Cable Car
Powell cable car No. 26 reenters service in its 1947 livery, November 14, 2012. On the running board, from right to left: SFMTA Chair Tom Nolan, Vice Chair Cheryl Brinkman, Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin, MSR President Rick Laubscher, MSR board member Bruce Agid. Frank Zepeda photo.
Getting Ready for Centennial Celebrations
Muni teams have been working overtime to get vintage vehicles ready for special Sunday service tomorrow (November 4) and November 11.
The Day the Streetcars (Almost) Died
When PCC No. 1108 took the N-Judah beach loop on September 17, 1982, it was thought it would be the last PCC to ever do that. Thanks to lots of effort by advocates, that turned out not to be true. Bob Davis photo.
First Double-End PCC in Testing
Keep an Eye Out on I-80 for a Streetcar
It looks like the first of the four restored double-end PCC streetcars needed to start up E-line service is finally on its way to San Francisco, albeit 16 months later than the restoration contract specified. Sources tell us that PCC 1008, pictured below at the Brookville Equipment facility in Pennsylvania, is due to arrive at Muni on Friday, putting it somewhere along Interstate 80 at the moment.
Viva El Tranvia de Mexico!
PCC No. 1072, honoring Mexico City, on its first day of passenger service opposite the San Francisco Railway Museum, March 15, 2012.
“Last PCC” Back in Business!
Muni PCC No. 1040 at Van Ness Avenue March 12, 2012, on its first day back in passenger service. Matt Lee photo.
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