August 31, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher

E-Embarcadero Demonstration Shows Promise

August 31, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher News

Today’s E-Embarcadero line demonstration service from Pier 39 to Caltrain showed, on the one hand, how smoothly the vintage streetcars can share the tracks with N-Judah and T-Third Street light rail vehicles. On the other hand, it demonstrated several areas — none surprising — that need to be addressed before regular service can begin. Identifying problems was a key reason that Muni COO Ken McDonald wanted the demo service, which will be repeated from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 14th.

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August 28, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher

E-Embarcadero Line Service for Sunday Streets

August 28, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher News

Thanks to an initiative by Market Street Railway, there will be demonstration service on the E-Embarcadero line from Caltrain to Fisherman’s Wharf in conjunction with upcoming city events. Not only that, but rides will be free!

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August 26, 2008August 9, 2014 David Dugan

Fast Pass Project Update

August 26, 2008August 9, 2014 David Dugan News

Several years ago, artist John Kuzich began collecting Muni Fast Passes for an art project that is nearing completion. He’s created a number of small collages and completed three out of a set of four large panels using the passes. Along with flyers posted around town and word of mouth, Market Street Railway helped John connect with riders and their accumulated passes through our website, and our member newsletter, Inside Track. The public response to his appeal for donated passes has been phenomenal.

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August 25, 2008October 15, 2014 David Dugan

Streetcar No. 162: Tested Tough!

August 25, 2008October 15, 2014 David Dugan History Spotlight, Posts with Photos

During the reacquisition and restoration of 1914 Muni streetcar No. 162, we sought out vintage photos of the car, almost all of which we’ve featured in our member newsletter Inside Track already — except these two. Seems that our ‘newest’ vintage streetcar has never been afraid to get into a scrape … literally.

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August 22, 2008August 9, 2014 David Dugan

Downtowns Across the U.S. See Streetcars in Their Future

August 22, 2008August 9, 2014 David Dugan News

The New York Times published a piece last week about the resurgence of the streetcar in cities throughout the US, focusing on Cincinnati (with a brief mention of San Francisco). Click here for the main story, and here for the accompanying slideshow.

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August 20, 2008August 9, 2014 David Dugan

Photo of the Week: August 20, 2008

August 20, 2008August 9, 2014 David Dugan Posts with Photos

Our Photo of the Week is a great shot of F-line PCC No. 1055 on The Embarcadero, shot from inside car No. 130 on its way to Fisherman’s Wharf. We think this image really captures what a unique and beautiful experience it is to ride along San Francisco’s grand waterfront boulevard on the F-line, and we hope you enjoy it.

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August 18, 2008October 11, 2014 David Dugan

Museums In Motion 2009 Calendar

August 18, 2008October 11, 2014 David Dugan News

Market Street Railway’s 2009 Museums In Motion calendar is available for purchase. This 11×16 inch full color calendar features thirteen beautiful photos of Muni’s historic streetcars and cable cars in action on the streets of San Francisco, along with 24 historical black & white images from the city’s rich transit past.

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August 16, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher

Saturday Mobs on the F-Market & Wharves

August 16, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher News

Another sordid Saturday morning on the F-line. Eleven a.m., Ferry Building, Wharf-bound. A mob of people waiting as Birmingham 1077 pulls up (see, some of those Newark streetcars DO run!). It’s already packed, but the operator squeezes a few more people in. Then he can’t get the rear doors closed because a passenger is standing on the door-opening treadle and apparently doesn’t understand English (a WHOLE lot of those folks, Europeans, on the line today).

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August 12, 2008March 6, 2023 David Dugan

Ballad of the Hyde Street Grip

August 12, 2008March 6, 2023 David Dugan Cable Car History, History Features, History Spotlight, Route Histories, SFMSR ballad of the hyde street grip, gelett burgess, gelett burgess poem, O'Farrell Jones & Hyde line

The O’Farrell, Jones & Hyde line was the last complete cable car route built in San Francisco, opening in 1891. By rule, anytime a new cable car line crossed an existing one, the cable of the new line had to be routed beneath the older line’s cable.That meant that operators gripping the new line had to drop (“let go”) their cable at such crossings. The O’Farrell, Jones & Hyde line had 22 cable drops on a round trip. That’s why this 1901 poem by Gellet Burgess says “You are apt to earn your wages, on the Hyde Street Grip.”

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August 8, 2008August 9, 2014 Rick Laubscher