It’s official. Muni will kick off its centennial year celebrations by welcoming historic streetcar No. 1 back to the fleet on Thursday, April 5 at 10 a.m. with a ceremony outside our San Francisco Railway Museum. The ceremony will be led by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Mayor Ed Lee.
Muni has also unveiled its official logo for the centennial, which as you see prominently features Car 1.
Senator Feinstein, who has agreed to serve as chair of Muni’s centennial committee, was the key mover in establishing vintage streetcar service on Market Street during her term as mayor. Her support of the idea of a summer-long Historic Trolley Festival in 1983, following the relocation of surface streetcar service to the Muni Metro subway, enabled the proof of concept of the value of such vintage service. Four more trolley festivals followed, leading to the construction of the permanent F-Market & Wharves line, now America’s most popular traditional streetcar line.
The ceremony site is a public plaza facing our museum on Steuart Street between Market and Mission streets. The ceremony is open to the public, but rides on the car on that day will be restricted to invited dignitaries. No. 1 is expected to run a quick loop up to Pier 39 and back. It is expected that Muni will run No. 1 in regular F-line service as part of its centennial celebration. We will let you know, in this spot, as soon as we have word.
There are other centennial events planned later this year, with details still being finalized. Muni’s well publicized budget crunch will affect the extent of these celebrations, but Market Street Railway has pledged to help however we can. We’ll keep you informed.
