As members of Market Street Railway have learned in the new edition of our newsletter, Inside Track, Muni has approved exterior paint schemes for the four double-ended PCC streetcars now under contract to be rehabilitated.
The selected liveries, recommended by Market Street Railway after discussion on this blog, represent history, tradition, and a dream come true.
1011 in the Market Street Railway Company’s “zip stripe” livery.
The dream goes back 70 years to the late 1930s, when Muni’s private competitor (and our namesake) Market Street Railway Company (MSRy) drew up plans for a double-end PCC streetcar, but couldn’t afford to buy any. Instead, they freshened up some of their old-fashioned streetcars with a racy “zip stripe” slashing across the side panels along with a bright yellow roof, while retaining the solid white ends patented as a safety feature. That undoubtedly would have been the paint scheme on any PCCs MSRy might have acquired.
Many members of today’s non-profit Market Street Railway have advocated this scheme. Now that attractive livery will join the F-line fleet on car No. 1011.
1009 in Dallas Railway & Terminal Railway Company livery.
History is represented through the livery adopted for car No. 1009, representing Dallas Railway & Terminal Railway Company. The predominantly red scheme with cream trim and silver roof graced the Dallas cars when they were delivered in 1945. Dallas repainted the cars in a predominantly cream scheme in 1949, but we chose the original red version in large part because of its more striking and colorful appearance.
Adding the Dallas paint scheme means that 21 different North American cities that once ran PCCs will be honored with tribute liveries in Muni’s PCC fleet.
1006 & 1008 in Muni’s popular 1950’s “wings” livery.
Many of those who made suggestions for liveries on this blog, though, called for more recognition to be given to Muni itself, especially on streetcars that have spent their whole lives operating on Muni tracks, as these four double-enders have. In consideration of this, Muni has agreed to paint two of the four streetcars in this group, Nos. 1006 and 1008, in the green and cream “Wings” livery that the cars wore when they were delivered new to Muni in 1948.
The four double-ended PCCs have not yet left Muni for their rehabilitation, but the contract with Brookville Equipment Company of Pennsylvania calls for all four of these streetcars, plus 12 others included in the contract, to be completed and returned to Muni before year-end 2011.
Thanks to all who offered comments on potential liveries for these four PCCs. To get news like this first, consider becoming a member of Market Street Railway and receiving our quarterly newsletter, Inside Track.
