Photo: Today's system began when the California Street line began operating from the Washington-Mason car barn. Cal car No. 57 is pulling into the barn from Jackson Street after a day of service.

Photo: A Powell St. car is shown at the Market St. turntable in August 1947.

Muni Runs Cable Cars: Although Muni started transit operations in 1912, the railway did not get into the cable car business until September 1944 seventy-one years after Andrew Smith Hallidie had successfully tested the world's first cable car. Muni’s cable car operation began when the City and County of San Francisco took over the Market Street Railway and its two run-down Powell Street cable lines.

This acquisition left California Street Cable Railroad Company (Cal Cable) as the City's last privately owned transit system. The Cal Cable and its three lines (California Street; O'Farrell, Jones and Hyde; and the Jones Street Shuttle) were shut down in July 31, 1951, after Lloyd's of London canceled its liability insurance. Bankruptcy followed on August 13. Muni took over and reopened the three Cal Cable lines in January 1952

Photo: In August 1947, a Jones St. Shuttle car waits for transferring passengers as an O'Farrell, Jones and Hyde car turns onto O'Farrell St.

Photo above: It is 11:00 pm February 6, 1954 and the Jones Street shuttle is about to make its "last run."

Cutting Losses: Soon Muni discovered that the Cal Cable lines were even bigger money losers than the Powell Street cable lines. During 1954, to control the losses, Muni cut the California Street line in half, ending now at Van Ness Avenue; and the O'Farrell, Jones and Hyde line and its Jones Street Shuttle were eliminated. In 1947 citizens had voted to "Save the Cable Cars." However, the former Cal Cable lines were not protected since they were in private ownership at the time of the election.

Photos: The passage, in 1954, of ballot Proposition "E" meant the end of the Washington Jackson cable line. Most of this line was replaced by the new Powell-Hyde line in 1957.

Above are two modern day maps: Cable Car Track (1) and Cable Pathways (2).  To see a larger, more detailed map click your mouse on either map.

Photo: The construction for the rehabilitation program is very much in evidence in this August 1983 photo at Powell and Market.

Photos above (Left): By mid-June 1983, only the chimney and exterior walls remained, as the carbarn was almost totally rebuilt during the 1982-84 rehabilitation program; (Center) Over a year into the reconstruction, in November 1983, work is being done on the barn and the underground sheave room beneath Washington and Mason Sts.; (Right) This photo shows the construction in 1983 to enclose the formerly open car-storage area. 

Building Anew: A combined effort of the public and private sector resulted in the system being entirely rebuilt. Many operating improvements were made. Rail became uniform throughout the system, and radiuses became more comfortable. The power plant, car barn and Museum were rebuilt from the ground up. However, the cars themselves were only cosmetically upgraded for the most part. Muni replaced the familiar cream and green paint scheme of the Powell Street cars, except car No. 3, with a paint scheme of maroon and cream reminiscent of the original Powell Street Railway of 1888.

Photo left: Part of the enthusiastic crowd greeting the official return of cable cars, June 21, 1984

Photo: Powell-Hyde car No. 16 with a typical full load is climbing up the 21% Hyde Street hill.

Photo: Heavily traveled cable cars have a scheduled three minute headway on Powell Street.

Eight single-ended Powell and two double-ended California cars have been built under this continuing program. The newest car, California car No. 59, entered service July 31, 1998, as part of the Museum co-sponsored celebration of 125 years of San Francisco cable cars.