1909: Report on the operation of the street railroad lines of San Francisco
If you’re like me, get ready to kiss your day goodbye.
@TheGreaterMarin tipped us off to this treasure. It’s a 36-page volume listing in excruciating detail all the rain lines all over our fair city 103 years ago. It was put together by The Merchants’ Association of San Francisco, and includes such gems as:
No 5 McAllister Maximum number of cars 18 Minimum headway 3 to 4 minutes 5 minute cars running to Central Ave only 7 to 10 minute cars running to Chutes ROUTE Out Market from Ferry to McAllister to Car House at McAllister and Central Ave Every other car continues through to Chutes This line gives fair service at times but is handicapped by the old style cars which do not hold the number of people the heavy type of car does The new track was laid on the south side of McAllister to Fillmore from Market but not on the other side All of the old track is in a deplorable condition and is damaging the gear boxes and armatures on the cars The cars are greatly overcrowded during the evening rush hours The cars that only go to the car house never carry at such time less than a hundred passengers which is a great many for this style of car while the cars that go through to the Chutes are crowded beyond reason All of the cars should run through to the Chutes especially mornings and evenings 18 cars are not enough for this line and several are taken off during the slack hours making extra long waits at transfer points
And …
No 22 Fillmore Maximum number of ears 19 Minimum headway 3 minutes KOUTE Broadway and Fillmore south on Fillmore to 13th to Church to 16th to Bryant Crowds patronize this line at all times of the day and night It grew faster than any line in the ctiy after the fire but as the large business houses leave Fillmore Street it will have fewer passengers It will always be a bigger line than before the fire however The service at present is good but the aisles and doorways are always crowded If the outside seats were arranged parallel to the sides of the car as the inside seats are it would aid greatly in handling the crowds and at the same time would give the same seating capacity From ten to twenty passengers board each car during the day at the intersection of Fillmore with Sutter Turk Eddy McAllister Haight and Market Streets as well as 16th and Mission There is one defect in the transfer system on this line Transfers from east bound Turk and Eddy Street cars are not accepted on north bound Fillmore Street cars though they are from all other east bound lines This prevents people living on the route of the Turk and Eddy line from getting over on Union Street Harbor View district etc without paying two fares
Neat!
Read and/or download the digital version on Google.
No related posts.
Sounds like a thorough examination of the operations of the United Railroads, Presidio & Ferries Ry., Geary Street, Park & Ocean Ry. and the California Street Cable RR.
[Reply]