March of Progress; Key System 1945

Before there was BART, before there was AC Transit, there was the Key System, a series of train/bus routes in the east bay and SF. Of, GM bought them up and shut them down.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• trolley
• key
• oakland
• bus
• train
• bart
• transit
• route
• system
• bay
• bridge

[408knw]

Wow. What a system! This is what America threw away for the bloody, black-hole debt engines know as "Interstate Highways." It's notable that WWII was a line of demarcation for many of America's rail transit systems. How many of the rail lines that wore themselves out providing heightened service for the war were soon after done away -- in the name of "progress?" Mr. Churchill said, "War is a catalog of blunders." War makes a great fog beneath which to hide such treachery.

[TrainmasterCurt]

Buses suck, they are uncomfortable, bumpy, noisy, polluting with emissions. How does that mark progress? The future is in LRT and Streetcars

[mstax]

But really folks, the future is going to be.....

[hedablinka]

It's worth noting that the Key System cars that ran on the Bay Bridge were obsolete by the time they made their first trip, and with no air conditioning, were sweat boxes. It'd be nice to see trains back on the bridge today, but hopefully something advanced for the age in which they are re-installed. One of these cars can be seen at Rio Vista, in the museum there.

[mikokat]

New GM is now Obama's new nonprofit...

[NobHillBorn]

Well, are you happy now that the old GM went bankrupt? Of course, it has been replaced by the new GM.

[NobHillBorn]

An excellent look at a transit system I barely remember. I was only two when the Key System converted to buses.

[docguch]

Reinstate the Key System Route instead of the the cheesy Bus Rapid Transit.

[mikokat]

That's really cool! My grandfather too was a bus driver for the Key System and AC Transit.

[mikokat]

Yes, National City Lines was owned by GM. I hope they go under.