S.F. Vintage Streetcars & Museum

Cable cars are justifiably famous because they’re historic, unique, colorful, and capable of climbing San Francisco’s most insanely steep hills. But for more than a century, the conveyances that have moved most San Franciscans around the city have been its streetcars. F-line streetcars—colorful, vintage models that rattle along Market Street and The Embarcadero on the waterfront—are as packed with passengers as ever.

For more than a century, the city’s streetcars have been electric—“Green” long before it became fashionable. Some are San Francisco originals, but most of the 44 vintage F-line streetcars (20 on the streets at any given time) were collected from disbanded trolley lines around America and the world. Zurich, Hiroshima, Milan, Melbourne and Mexico City are among the cities whose antique trolleys now negotiate San Francisco streets, although the oldest is an 1895 Market Street Railway car that sees daylight only on special occasions.

F-line streetcars are mostly packed with locals, but visitors can enjoy riding them as a low-cost ($2) tour of San Francisco sites. The eastern terminus is at 17th and Castro, in the heart of the renowned Castro District. The F-line then proceeds 3.3 miles down Market Street, past Civic Center, Union Square and the Financial District to the foot of Market, where it winds past the Ferry Building to begin its northern route along The Embarcadero. On The Embarcadero, it clatters past waterfront restaurants, Telegraph Hill and Pier 39, then through Fisherman’s Wharf on Jefferson (westbound) and Beach (eastbound), with the turnaround point at Jones Street. A different vintage cars goes past every 6 to 15 minutes, from dawn to midnight.

It’s fitting that these streetcars follow Market and The Embarcadero. The first railway on the West Coast was the Market Street Railroad, which commenced on July 4, 1860. Railcars have prowled Market ever since, powered first by steam, then horses, then steel cables (cable cars), then electricity through overhead wires beginning in 1892.

While F-line streetcars are called “Museums in Motion” by Muni, the citywide transit agency that operates them, there’s also a real museum you can visit that tells their story. The free San Francisco Railway Museum and gift shop features displays that trace the long history of San Francisco streetcars; a scale model of a 1928 streetcar; a full-size replica streetcar platform where kids can play conductor or motorman; and videos on streetcar and cable car history. The spotlight is on streetcars; the more impressive Cable Car Museum at Washington & Mason tell their story.

The museum is at Steuart & Mission, just across from the Ferry Building, where F-line streetcars encircle the city block that connects Market Street and The Embarcadero. This is also the location where a second historic streetcar line is due to debut. In 2012, E-Embarcadero vintage streetcars will follow The Embarcadero from the Ferry Building to 4th & King, near the ballpark and Caltrain station.

HelloSanFrancisco tip: F-line streetcars connect with all three cable-car lines on Market Street: the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines at Market & Powell, and California Street cable cars from Market & California.

- by Bob Cooper, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Bob Cooper

Bob Cooper is a full-time freelance writer (www.bob-cooper.com) who writes about travel, outdoor sports and health. He is a monthly contributor to Runner's World and has written recent articles for other national magazines such as Continental, Ladies' Home Journal and Inc.