Streets of San Francisco, 2007: Streetcars

My wife and I spent a few days in San Francisco in June 2007. My first (and last) visit to San Francisco was in August of 1969. Of course I had my movie camera along and the attraction for me then was the Cable Cars and Streetcars. Well, mostly. It was interesting to see what has changed and what hasn't changed. One thing that I remember was the sirens. Always sirens. That hasn't changed. The streetcar fleet is much more colorful and interesting than it was 38 years ago. On the other hand, the cable cars aren't as much fun as I remember them -- too crowded and too regulated. In 1969 the trolley cars and trolley busses complemented each other. Now the classic lines of the PCC cars clash with the burnished boxy busses. Mini-skirts, a phenomenon of the 1960's, have gone around and come back. In 1969 there were hippies. Now there are guys in kilts, skateboarders, and adults riding bicycles right down Market Street (in 1969 you could hardly walk down Market for all the BART construction). And those famous hills that provided the excuse for the cable cars, in the space of only 38 years, have defied all the laws of geology by turning into mountains. What hasn't changed is that I really enjoyed the time I spent there, then and now. Can't imagine why it took me so many years to get back there for my second visit. Think I won't wait so long for the next one.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• bus
• cable
• car
• California
• Muni
• railfan
• railway
• San_Francisco
• streetcar
• train
• tram
• trolley

[SuperAlexrios]

why sf got the fame of being the gayest city in the world? I dont see gay people in this vid i only see normal people

[gothpapa]

@SuperAlexrios I don't know. I know several gay people and they seem pretty normal to me. But then I hang out with railfans, and my oldest son wears kilts and hangs out with Rebnaissance Scots reenactors, so what do I know about normal :-).

[SuperAlexrios]

@gothpapa YOU SOUND ANORMAL MAY BE THATS WHY GAY PEOPLE IS NORMAL FOR U

[gothpapa]

@SuperAlexrios That's right. One thing we learn as we go through life is that "normal" is relative. I know I don't have any normal relatives, and I bet you don't either. And that's all I'm going to say on this subject.

[strassenbahntk]

Thanks for making and providing this video! I'll be near San Francisco job-related in May for a week, looking forward and hoping to find the time to enjoy (not only) the famous F-line and to take some photos and video sequences as well.

[gothpapa]

@strassenbahntk Good, I know you will enjoy it.

[TrainmasterCurt]

Great Trams! I'd love to visit there, i know my Mother and Sister have been there, and homosexuality is not normal, it is a disorder

[Elettricistadido]

e mò da Milanese doc vi dico:

Vi Piace il Carelli 1936!!!!! Il nostro ATM milano Carelli 1936?

Ora venite a Milano City Italy (and not Milano texas)

[Jeffbear1]

The thumping sound is the air compressor. The whining sound is the gears and traction motors. There's no engine.

[ekincam]

Muni has a new vehicle from Melbourne, Australia this week.