News

Rick Laubscher

Tony Bennett’s ‘Halfway to the Stars’ Cable Car!

Rick Laubscher Cable Car History, Cable Cars, California, Double-Ended Cable Cars, Muni News, News, SFMSR

San Francisco has awarded just about its highest civic honor to a beloved honorary son, the late Tony Bennett. As morning fog chilled the air on Valentine’s Day, Mayor London Breed was joined high on a hill – Nob Hill – by Bennett’s wife Susan Benedetto, SFMTA/Muni leaders and workers, VIPs, and friends of the cable cars – to dedicate California Street Cable Car 53 to the singer who drew untold millions of visitors to the City and its cable cars with his rendition of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”.

Read More……

No Comments on Tony Bennett’s ‘Halfway to the Stars’ Cable Car!
Share
Rick Laubscher

Waterfront vintage streetcar service, summer 2023

Rick Laubscher News, SFMSR
Blackpool boat tram 228, in new red paint, at the carbarn.

UPDATE, July 9 — Today and tomorrow (July 9 & 10), a Milan tram will be the vintage vehicle on the waterfront. Pull out from Cameron Beach Yard at 9:20 a.m. It will shuttle between the Ferry Building and Pier 39. It’s not supposed to linger at Pier 39 or go all the way to the Wharf, so it can cover the heaviest part of the line more efficiently. Please send us an email (feedback@streetcar.org) if you see something different.

Read More……

2 Comments on Waterfront vintage streetcar service, summer 2023
Share
Rick Laubscher 1 Comment on 40th anniversary of the Trolley Festival
Share
Rick Laubscher

Time-travel kickoff for 150 Years of Cable Cars

Rick Laubscher Cable Car History, News, SFMSR

The Mayor was there. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, too. News media were there. And, thanks to “Stanford scientists”, cable car inventor Andrew Hallidie was there. Plus other civic luminaries, coming together on June 13 at California and Market Streets to kick off the celebration of 150 Years of Cable Cars, organized by our nonprofit and the little cars’ owner-operator, SFMTA/Muni, supported by partners from the historic preservation, business, and education communities.

Read More……

1 Comment on Time-travel kickoff for 150 Years of Cable Cars
Share
Rick Laubscher

Cable car celebration kickoff June 13, California & Market Sts.

Rick Laubscher Cable Car History, Muni News, News, SFMSR

As we’ve mentioned, the civic celebration of 150 Years of Cable Cars kicks off at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 13 at California and Market Streets as Mayor London Breed is joined by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Cable Car Inventor “Andrew Hallidie” (or a reasonable facsimile) and the oldest and largest cable car in the fleet, Sacramento-Clay Car “Big 19”, which will carry the dignitaries up through Chinatown and over Nob Hill to Polk Gulch and Van Ness Avenue, parallel to Hallidie’s original Clay Street line two blocks north. Here’s “Big 19” taking a spin on the cable car barn turntable, getting ready for its closeup.

Read More……

No Comments on Cable car celebration kickoff June 13, California & Market Sts.
Share
Rick Laubscher No Comments on Happy 109th Birthday, Muni!
Share
Rick Laubscher

Come take a cruise (or say G’Day)

Rick Laubscher News, SFMSR , , , ,

The Blackpool Boat Tram and the Melbourne tram both cruised The Embarcadero to the delight of riders and onlookers on their initial day of Fleet Week service, Thursday, October 8. They’ll be out every day through Monday, October 11, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. between our San Francisco Railway Museum (across from the Ferry Building) and Pier 39.

Read More……

No Comments on Come take a cruise (or say G’Day)
Share
Rick Laubscher 2 Comments on Sorrow and outrage
Share
Rick Laubscher

Streetcars bring smiles to the streets

Rick Laubscher Antique Streetcars, News, PCC - All, SF - Antiques, SFMSR

Smiles are breaking out along the city’s waterfront and along Market Street, as Muni’s vintage streetcars are out in force for the first time in more than a year. The F-line is running a full test schedule, including pull-outs and pull-ins along the J-Church line, in advance of the official reopening of the line for passenger service on May 15. Initial service will run seven days a week, but just eight hours a day (11 am-7 pm) initially, running the whole route from Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Read More……

2 Comments on Streetcars bring smiles to the streets
Share
Rick Laubscher 20 Comments on Happy 108th Birthday, Muni!
Share