Market Street Railway is offering three special trolley tours this month featuring rarely-seen vintage streetcars, one of which will roll beyond the usual F-line route.
"We’ve been doing these for more than 20 years, but not on the regular basis we’re doing now," said Rick Laubscher, president of Market Street Railway. "Usually we do one or two a year. We’d like to do at least one a month during the regular season to give people an opportunity to ride cars they don’t ride all the time and to go to parts of the rail system the historic streetcars don’t usually go."
All tours begin and end at the the San Francisco Railway Museum at 77 Steuart St. Arrive 15 minutes before departure time and sign up in advance, because Laubscher said they usually sell out.
The tour date and details include:
- April 12th, 1:30–3:30pm: Ride streetcar 737 representing Zürich, Switzerland, built in 1952, on Muni’s oldest surviving rail line, the J-Church line. It's about a 13-mile round-trip. Cost is $50; $37.50 for Market Street Railway members using the code "2015TrolleyTour" at online checkout.
- April 25th, 1pm and 2pm: Grandparents' and Grandchildren's Day will feature a guided waterfront tour, "all lit up", aboard the famous open-top “Boat Tram” dating from 1934 and hailing from Blackpool, England. It runs along the Embarcadero to Pier 39. The San Francisco Railway Museum will have kids' entertainment as well. Cost: $20; $15 for members.
- April 26th, 7-9pm: This first-ever night tour will include a ride on Muni’s first streetcar, car 1, along the historic F-line from the Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf and back. Local band Mesquite and Mustard will play, and alcohol is allowed. Cost: $60; $45 for members.
If you have trouble buying tickets online, call the museum at (415) 974-1948.
Streetcar 737.
Muni has more than 50 vintage streetcars, Laubscher said, which can be viewed on the "Meet the Fleet" page of the Market Street Railway website. "Most of the cars are the art deco streamlined streetcars seen on Market Street in different colors," he said.
But there are about 10 unique, unusual cars, including an actual Streetcar named Desire from New Orleans and the festive boat tram, which operates on the F-line in pleasant weather. Muni actually has two boat trams, Laubscher added.
These trolley tours offer not only a chance to see these cars, but to take rides to areas where they don't usually run, in the case of the April 12 tour on the J-Church line. Not to mention, these tours don't pick up along the routes, so you don't have to worry about the crush of tourists.
"Streetcars can go almost anywhere the light rail cars go with the exception of the subway," Laubscher said. "Later this year we’ll also have an excursion to the zoo."
Though some question the reliability of the streetcars because the F-line is often backed up and overcrowded, Laubscher said they're actually more reliable than light rail. The issue, he said, is training drivers.
"The biggest problem Muni has had is not with the cars, it’s getting enough operators," he said. "This is a problem they’ve had with all their modes: they’ve had it with the light rail cars and buses." Muni is working hard to provide more training classes, he added.
Market Street Railway is a nonprofit that advocates for historic streetcar and cable car service improvements and expansion and educates the public about the importance of attractive transit in creating vibrant, livable cities.
Want your very own streetcar ride for a wedding shower, birthday party or other special event? Muni offers private charters of historic streetcars. The cost is $363.50 for a two-hour minimum charter, and $181.75 for each additional hour.
