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| The first streetcar on the T-line was, appropriately, a vintage one. Muni work car No. C-1, restored by Market Street Railway volunteers in the early 1990s, has been trucked over several times to test various parts of the line. In mid-April, it tested perhaps the most spectacular part: the Fourth Street Bridge, where foundation problems and squabbles between Muni and the contractor caused delays to the overall project. Here, looking north toward SOMA, it is operating on its diesel generator, but it has since used the wire. Speaking of wire, note the extra double-wire hangers outboard of the streetcar wire (directly underneath the giant concrete counterweight of this historic bascule bridge). They’re for an extension of the 30 and 45 trolley coach lines into Mission Bay in a few years. |
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| An instant classic—car No. 1461, the first Breda LRV streetcar to test the Third Street line, on April 24 at the north end of the Third Street trackage, with the historic Third & Fourth firehouse and AT&T Park as the backdrop. This is sure to be a favorite photo op when regular service begins. |
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| Car No. 1461 went as far as 20th Street before turning back. Here it is on April 24 at the uncompleted 19th Street loop, led by No. C-1 under wire, with the Giants’ ballpark in the background. |
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| Car No. 1461 poses at the sleek new lofts along the Third Street line at Mariposa. |
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| Just for fun—even though single-end cars can’t provide regular service south of Islais Creek on the new T-line (because of the center platforms), Muni staff added the T-line to the roll signs of the newly arriving PCCs anyway (as they did ‘B-Geary’, a long-held restoration dream of some streetcar fans that now looks more likely to be a bus rapid transit line). But the PCC’s destination reading, ‘Pier 70’ could indeed be more than a fantasy. It could be the last stop of the E-Embarcadero line, on the still-unfinished 19th & Illinois loop, should the ‘E’ be extended through Mission Bay. |
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| Third Street Getting 'T'-d Up |
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| 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.
It is well worth noting that the new route, designated ‘T-Third Street’, was designed to allow at least charter operation with traditional streetcars, including all of Muni’s historic fleet. Overhead wiring and special work is compatible with trolley poles. However, many stops, especially south of Islais Creek, are center platform, with no space to accommodate stops for right-side loading PCC or Milan cars. Further, the stub-end terminal at the county line means single-end cars cannot venture past the wye at Armstrong (just south of the Bayview district’s business center).
Once the T-line is open, Market Street Railway hopes to offer its members a charter all the way out Third Street in a vintage double-end car, such as 1914 car No. 130 (or, even better, No. 162 when it is operational—story). We also hope to work in future years with Bayview-Hunters Point and Visitacion Valley youth groups and private and foundation donors to sponsor excursions for kids from the T-line neighborhoods. These excursions would teach them about San Francisco’s transit heritage while carrying them to enjoyable outings along The Embarcadero, such as an Alcatraz cruise, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s historic ship collection at Hyde Street Pier, and (should it go forward with its proposed move) the Exploratorium at its new Pier 17 location.
So even though the ‘T’ will be a modern LRV streetcar line, there are many historic possibilities to savor. Market Street Railway is planning a special exhibit on the history of Third Street railway service, to open at its San Francisco Railway Museum when the T-line does.
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| This story originaly ran in Market Street Railway's quarterly newsletter, Inside Track. We hold web publication of such stories under a three-month embargo. To receive these stories in their printed form at their time of publication, join Market Street Railway today. |
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