But Muni didn’t touch the car when it returned, and No. 798 started to deteriorate at Geneva Division. Market Street Railway volunteers have restored it again and are now close to finishing their work. Muni restored a set of vintage trucks and motors for this car, but then used them to keep Melbourne No. 496 on the street. But they have additional Melbourne trucks or historically-accurate trucks that could be used. Putting car No. 798 on the street would restore an important but vanished part of the city’s transit history to the streets.

1924
Built by Market Street Railway Co. crafts workers at Elkton Shops (now Muni's Green Division). Operated mostly on 19-Polk and 11-line on Mission & 24th Street in Noe Valley.

1946
Retired by Muni (after being acquired with MSRy in 1944) and sold. The car body was ultimately moved to Columbia CA, becoming a jewelry store.

1984
Car No. 798’s body, threatened with destruction, was acquired by Market Street Railway members for Muni, and moved by Hetch Hetchy crews to San Francisco.

1989
Following prep work by Market Street Railway volunteers, No. 798 was moved to Deuel Vocational Institute in Tracy for body restoration by prisoners. Muni paid $300,000 for this contract but did not complete the car on its return, leaving it to the elements in Geneva Yard.

2001
Deteriorating from years of neglect, Market Street Railway asked for the car to be moved to our Pharr Restoration Facility at Market & Duboce, where volunteers restored damaged areas, and installed seats and interiors.

2007
Market Street Railway will be ready to turn this last-of-its-kind car over to Muni for installation of trucks and motors.

Market Street Railway’s goal
Muni and Market Street Railway should continue cooperating to complete the restoration of this last surviving car of its kind as quickly as feasible, and then operate it in revenue service as part of the core vintage collection operating plan.