The car, built in 1952 with US PCC technology, had performed well in Brussels for half a century, and Muni’s intention was to operate it in its Brussels livery. But coincidentally, the Mayor of Zürich and its sister city committee heard about the F-line and wanted a Zürich tram to run here for UN World Environment Day in June 2005, which Mayor Gavin Newsom was hosting. When a Zürich tram was found to be impractical on that timetable because of gauge incompatibility and other issues, they hit on the idea of painting the very similar looking No. 737 to resemble a Zürich tram.

Muni shops changed the doors to be ADA-accessible and made other modifications for San Francisco service, but problems with the car’s electronics (modifications made by Brussels to the original PCC technology) limited the car to a ceremonial unveiling with Mayor Newsom and his Zürich counterpart during UN WED '05. With fancy interior displays paid for by the sister city committee, car No. 737 then sat unused for more than a year, finally getting close to revenue service, with crew training underway in late 2006, when new electronics problems sidelined the car again. But in March 2007, the car did enter revenue service.

1954
Built in Belgium as first generation European PCC; operated successfully for 50 years.

2004
Retired from service in Brussels, acquired by Muni for $25,000, modified in Muni shops for San Francisco service and to meet ADA requirements.

2005
Mayor Newsom and Zürich mayor unveiled the car, painted in Zürich livery, as part of UN World Environment Day ’05.

2007
Car enters revenue service on the F-line.

Market Street Railway’s goal
Modify car if necessary to remove oddball electronics, restoring it to reliable basic PCC configuration. Operate No. 737 regularly and interchangeably with the PCC fleet to meet Mayor Newsom’s desire to see the car on the street.