May 16, 2021May 16, 2021 Rick Laubscher

Welcome back, F-line!

May 16, 2021May 16, 2021 Rick Laubscher Muni News, Posts with Photos F-line, F-line restart, F-line return, F-line streetcars, San Francisco streetcars

San Francisco’s famed (and much missed) F-Market & Wharves historic streetcar line is carrying happy passengers again. Regular service began on Saturday, May 15, with Boston PCC 1059 the first car to reach Fisherman’s Wharf, followed by Detroit 1079, as documented below by Matt Lee. As a bonus, the four-block loop through the Wharf from Pier 39 to the fishing fleet’s harbor at Jones Street, was back in service after having been shut down in Fall 2019 for construction on Jefferson Street, as shown in the photo above, by Jeremy Whiteman, featuring Philadelphia PCC 1055.

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May 6, 2021May 6, 2021 Rick Laubscher

Streetcars bring smiles to the streets

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021 Rick Laubscher Antique Streetcars, News, PCC - All, SF - Antiques, SFMSR Blackpool boat tram, boat tram, F-line, F-line restart

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.

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March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 Rick Laubscher

F-line to return in May, Hyde cable later this year!

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 Rick Laubscher Muni News, PCC - All, Posts with Photos Castro District, F-line, F-line comeback, F-line streetcars, Fisherman's Wharf, Powell-Hyde cable car

Mayor London Breed told a group from Fisherman’s Wharf this morning that F-line vintage streetcar service will return to the full length of the route, from Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf, in May.

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October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 Rick Laubscher

Keeping the streetcars ready

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 Rick Laubscher Fleet Updates, News, Posts with Photos, Streetcars F-line, F-line streetcars, historic streetcars, San Francisco streetcars, vintage streetcar

They’re not back yet. At least not for passengers. But the streetcars in Muni’s historic fleet are at least more visible these days where they belong: on the streets of San Francisco.

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September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Rick Laubscher

F-line 25th anniversary merch!

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Rick Laubscher SFMSR F-line, F-line 25th anniversary, F-line streetcars, San Francisco streetcars, streetcar pin, streetcar poster, streetcars

With San Francisco’s historic streetcars still shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we can’t take an actual ride to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the permanent F-Market line, but we can get some virtual thrills with these two new merchandise items, designed by Chris Arvin. Above, a poster with Chris’s iconic, er, icons that playfully visualize some of Muni’s historic streetcar fleet. Below, a pin featuring a PCC in original Muni livery.

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September 1, 2020September 1, 2020 Rick Laubscher

F-line’s 25th anniversary

September 1, 2020September 1, 2020 Rick Laubscher News F-line, F-line 25, F-line 25th anniversary, F-line anniversary, F-line future, F-line streetcar, PCC streetcars

On September 1, 1995, a parade of vintage streetcars rumbled westward on Market Street, led by the wildly popular Boat Tram 228, to officially inaugurate the permanent F-Market streetcar line (extended in 2000 to become the F-Market & Wharves).

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July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 Rick Laubscher

When will the cable cars and streetcars return?

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 Rick Laubscher Fleet Updates, Muni News, SFMSR Cable Car COVID, cable car safety, cable cars, F-line, Muni Covid 19

The short answer is: we don’t know; it’s up to the virus and what we all do together to shorten its grip on our society. But Muni can be ready for that day, and we’re encouraging them to do so.

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May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 Rick Laubscher

Giving Tuesday: can you help?

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 Rick Laubscher Apparel, Posts with Photos, SFMSR #GivingTuesday, #GivingTuesdayNow, Car 1015, F-line

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day promoted around the world to focus people’s attention on the needs of many kinds addressed by nonprofits. We at Market Street Railway know full well, especially right now, that there are urgent needs everywhere. We hope you’ll be able to spare a little something for charities in San Francisco, or wherever you’re reading this, that are helping with the Covid-19 pandemic or other human needs.

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April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 Rick Laubscher

Status update, April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 Rick Laubscher Muni News F-line, Muni coronavirus, Muni Covid 19

Muni has put into effect the dramatic service cuts we told you about in our last update. Muni is currently operating just 17 core routes (out of 87), all served by buses. No rail service of any kind currently. Given our focus, we won’t discuss details of that here, but if you read the public comments at the bottom of SFMA’s announcement, you’ll see a lively debate.

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February 26, 2020February 26, 2020 Rick Laubscher

Car-free Market Speeds Up F-line

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020 Rick Laubscher Muni News, Policy & Planning Better Market Street, Car 1040, F-line, Market Street

A new study, plus research by our board member Chris Arvin, shows that the first month of the ban on private automobiles on Market Street is making Muni operations, including the F-line, faster, according to this story in the San Francisco Examiner.

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