Today’s Market Street Railway purchased a vintage car with the idea of reviving this tradition: a ‘Teaching Trolley’ that would mostly run in regular service, but would be outfitted with teaching aids for school classes and other groups to charter, and to attract families to the city on weekends and in summers.

Car No. 351 is a classic American trolley: a 1926 double-end, arch roof car from Johnstown PA, of a design virtually identical to cars once operated by the old Market Street Railway Co. It is complete with original rattan seats and wood trim and has received protective preservation by today’s Market Street Railway, with the intention of donating the car to Muni once restoration plans have been agreed on. It is easy to make ADA-accessible and simple to convert to one-person operation.

1926
Built by St. Louis Car Company for Johnstown Traction Company. Operated in Johnstown until retirement in 1960.

1960s
Acquired privately for never–built attraction in Sonoma County. Stored under cover for almost 30 years.

1989
Purchased by MSR for future use by Muni. Protective cosmetic work performed by volunteers to maintain it for preservation. Car is tarped at MSR’s Pharr Restoration Facility.

Market Street Railway’s goal
Donate the car to Muni, to be included in a proposed vintage car rehabilitation package. Raise separate funding for visual displays including onboard video, interactive website curriculum, brochures, and other educational materials. Supply volunteer docents on weekends, when it would run on a fixed schedule on the E- or F-line to attract family visitors. The car would also be available for a number of school field trips annually, and for revenue operation as part of core vintage collection.