World War II stretched San Francisco’s transit infrastructure to its limit. Gas rationing kept automobiles in the garage and imposed crushing loads on the city’s old-fashioned streetcars.

In 1944, the publicly-owned Municipal Railway acquired its private competitor, Market Street Railway Co., but the combined streetcar system was worn out. By 1951, 24 streetcar lines had been converted to bus operation, and only seven remained (the B & C on Geary and the J, K, L, M & N branching off Market). Even so, Muni needed new streetcars to help replace the remaining ‘Iron Monsters’ and ordered 25 modern single-end PCC streetcars to go with ten double-enders purchased in 1948.

The new PCCs arrived in Muni’s recently adopted green and cream paint scheme with ‘Wings’ reaching halfway along the car from the traditional ‘SF’ logo in the front. No. 1050 proudly displays that ‘Wings’ livery.