Demise of a Dream
Every so often, a breathless call would come into the Market Street Railway office. It usually went like this. "I was driving back from Tahoe and I saw all these streetcars sitting in a forest. They look like old Muni cars. Do you know about them?... (more)

The Long Hello
On April 9, a pea-green PCC streetcar picked up its first paying passengers on the F-lline, marking the first 'new' streamliner to enter revenue service since the F-line opened in 1995. Car No. 1078, painted to honor San Diego, drew stares among F-line regulars with its unfamiliar livery, and compliments for its fresh paint inside and out... (more)

Museum Momentum
The first four months of the San Francisco Railway Museum have been a resounding success, according to Rick Laubscher, president of Market Street Railway (owner and operator of the new museum)... (more)

Half of 'New' PCCs Here
At press time (December 20), six 'new' 60-year old PCC streetcars are at Muni to stay, more than half of the group of eleven Muni bought third-hand from Newark NJ after their retirement there in 2002... (more)

San Francisco Railway Museum Opens
Thanks to the generosity of our members and friends, Market Street Railway's new San Francisco Railway Museum opened its doors to the public on September 2, 2006. The museum is located at the Steuart Street F-line stop, half a block south of Market, catty-corner from the Ferry Building, in the wonderful Hotel Vitale building... (more)

'Torpedo' Rehab a Go!
On September 19, the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) unanimously approved the advertising of a request for proposals to completely remanufacture four more of Muni’s largest PCC cars, Nos. 1006, 1008, 1009, and 1011... (more)

Fort Mason Extension Progress
Despite the near-term travails facing historic streetcar service in San Francisco, Market Street Railway is always maintaining a long-term vision. Central to this is a service extension through an historic rail corridor from Fisherman’s Wharf to Aquatic Park and Fort Mason. A major step forward along this path has now been taken, with work begun in May on an Environment Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed extension... (more)

Slow But Steady
There's a least a little progress to report on vintage streetcar restoration projects underway involving especially historic cars... (more)

Third Street Getting 'T'-d Up
Muni’s ambitious new Third Street light rail line is slated to open for weekend service January 12, 2007, with full service starting April 7. Inside Track usually focuses on Muni’s historic rail service, but because of the interest of many of our members in this project, we have included some photos of the line in this issue... (more)

2006 Critical for Market Street Railway
In 2006, Market Street Railway faces perhaps the most important year in its three decades as a nonprofit. Our museum is slated to open, several critical restoration projects are scheduled to come to fruition, the F-line faces a turning point, and the E-line may finally start up...or not. The measure of success we achieve will depend to a large extent on our members’ involvement and support... (more)