History F Market & Wharves

1 history

1.1 previous f-line
1.2 previous lines on market street
1.3 historic trolley festivals
1.4 f-market line
1.5 extension on embarcadero

history
previous f-line

in 1915, san francisco municipal railway started f-stockton route, ran laguna (later scott) , chestnut streets in marina down stockton street 4th , market streets near union square, later extended southern pacific depot (currently caltrain depot) in 1947. streetcar line discontinued in 1951 , replaced 30-stockton route, still runs today.

the f-line designation therefore available use current line, although service on different route f-line of 1915 1951.

previous lines on market street

a pcc streetcar on k ingleside route on market street in 1967

market street major transit artery city of san francisco, , has carried in turn horse-drawn streetcars, cable cars , electric streetcars. in 1960s construction began on market street subway, carry bart s trains on lower level. streetcar lines operating in subway ran on surface of market street, , diverted upper level of tunnel. diversion, provision of new light rail cars, resulted in today s muni metro system.

the diversion of market street streetcar lines tunnel , replacement of existing streetcars new light rail cars completed november 1982. however, street trackage on market street retained, , many of old streetcars still in storage.

historic trolley festivals

in 1982, san francisco s cable car lines shut down 2 years allow major rebuild. provide alternative tourist attraction during period, san francisco historic trolley festivals began in 1983. these summertime operations of vintage streetcars on market street joint project of san francisco chamber of commerce , muni.

the trolley festival route went transbay terminal @ first , mission streets market, retained market street tracks duboce avenue. there, followed temporary streetcar detour built in 1970s bypass subway construction under market: duboce, church street, , 17th street castro.

f-market line

ex-milan streetcar on f line

the trolley festival proved successful repeated every year until 1987. in year, preparation began introduction of permanent f line. after year’s festival finished, muni replaced old market street tracks new ones, restoring tracks upper market street , recreating line castro. different types of vintage streetcars evaluated provide backbone of f-line fleet, resulting in decision use pcc car, due in part historic san francisco transit use. fourteen such cars acquired second-hand philadelphia add 3 of muni’s own retired double-ended pccs.

on september 1, 1995, f line opened replacing faster number 8 bus parade of pcc cars, painted represent of 2 dozen north american cities type of streetcar once served. @ point in history, rare instance in streetcar replaced bus line in operation, rather other way around. ridership exceeded expectation, , need cars resulted in acquisition of ten peter witt style cars being retired in city of milan, italy. these cars built in 1920s design once common in north american cities, , sister cars still used on milan tramway network.

extension on embarcadero

f line pcc streetcar @ pier 39

the embarcadero eastern waterfront roadway of san francisco, along san francisco bay. @ 1 time busy port , ferry related traffic, fell decline freight transferred container terminals of oakland , bay bridge replaced ferries. in 1960s elevated embarcadero freeway built above, dividing city bay, condemned , demolished after 1989 loma prieta earthquake. proposals streetcar service along embarcadero put forward 1974, , historic streetcar service along embarcadero first provided during 1987 trolley festival, using existing belt railroad tracks on embarcadero , towed diesel generators provide power.

with increasing development of waterfront leisure , tourist activities, , existence of fisherman s wharf , pier 39 @ northern end, decided rebuild embarcadero tree-lined boulevard complete streetcar reservation. section north of market street served extension of f line. tracks extended on northern end of market connect embarcadero tracks. in march 2000, service on f line began along new extension fisherman s wharf.

a month later, muni dedicated car herb caen, noted columnist san francisco chronicle perhaps famous coining phrase baghdad bay describe city. car, streetcar no. 130, delivered in 1914, contains wood paneling , decorated many quotes caen.