Loss of a Friend

A stalwart supporter of historic transit has passed away. Enid Lim, a dedicated advocate for San Franciscans of Chinese ancestry, died February 27, 2008 at the age of 76. Among many other accomplishments, she served on the city’s Landmarks Preservation Board and as the first vice president of the Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors (which governs Muni) from 2000 to 2003. Ms. Lim, also an advocate for disabled rights, was a strong supporter of Muni’s historic streetcar operations, delighting in riding the F-line. She will be much missed by her friends throughout San Francisco.

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1071 – Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

Minneapolis-St. Paul came late to PCC streetcars. Its private operator, Twin City Rapid Transit, was fiercely proud of its own car-building capabilities, and even sold cars it built to other properties. So, they had no interest in participating in the industry group that designed the PCC in the mid-1930s.

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1072 – Mexico City

This car is painted to honor Mexico City, which ran PCC streetcars from 1947 until 1984. Shortly after taking over a privately owned tramway company in 1945, the Mexican government agency Servicio de Transportes Electricos del Distritio Federal (STE) began a fleet rehabilitation program that included the order of Mexico’s first PCC from St. Louis Car Company — the only PCC ever bought new in Latin America.

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1074 – Toronto, Canada

This car is painted to honor Toronto, which ran PCC streetcars in regular service from 1938 until 1995. Toronto boasted the largest fleet of PCCs in North America: 745 cars.

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1075 – Cleveland, Ohio

This car is painted to honor Cleveland Transit System, which ran PCC streetcars from 1946 to 1953. Cleveland transit commissioner Peter Witt designed a popular pre-PCC streetcar that was adopted by many cities (including Milan, Italy, ten of whose ‘Peter Witts’ are now part of Muni’s historic fleet).

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