| We at Market Street Railway use the term ‘vintage cars’ as verbal shorthand to describe the collection of unique streetcars, trams, and trolleys from around the world that bring the F-line (and future E-line) special flavor, including several authentic pieces of San Francisco’s own transit history.
At the same time, we believe the streamlined ‘PCC’ streetcars have great historic value of their own. This is true both of the PCC design as a whole, since it represented America’s most successful model of streetcar ever built, and of specific PCC streetcars, including two—still unrestored—at Muni.
Car No. 1006 was built in 1948, and was the first ‘true’ PCC delivered to Muni, including all the features patented by the Presidents’ Conference Committee. Converted to single-end operation in the 1950s after Muni installed loops at all streetcar terminals, it was restored to its original appearance in 1984 by Muni craftsworkers for service in the Historic Trolley Festivals. Three other cars in this class of ten (Nos. 1007, 1010, and 1015) have already been restored for F-line service; four other cars in this ‘Big Ten’ class, including No. 1006 (along with Nos. 1008, 1009, and 1011), are soon to be rehabilitated. The other two cars in this class were scrapped following accidents decades ago.
Car No. 1040, built in 1952, has the distinction of being the last PCC delivered new in North America. It was the final car in Muni’s order of 25 ‘Baby Tens’, which began with the delivery of No. 1016. Muni people recognized the car’s place in history throughout its life, sparing it modifications that many other PCCs received. As it ran in the Trolley Festivals, it proudly wore its restored, as-delivered ‘Wings’ paint scheme and maintained its ‘Golden Glow’ bulb-and-reflector headlight. Since the Trolley Festivals, though, the car has been neglected, and today sits rusting in Geneva Yard. On at least one occasion, Muni planners included it in a group of cars to be restored for regular service. Market Street Railway continues to advocate that this be done, ideally in conjunction with restoration of several other ‘Baby Tens’ still retained by Muni, including four reacquired by Market Street Railway and donated back to Muni.
We welcome member feedback on options for the vintage cars at feedback@streetcar.org. Market Street Railway hopes to work closely with Muni to develop these ideas and create a program that brings more historic cars onto the street more often, realizing more economic value for San Francisco from this unique collection.
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