BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fellows:

(I also posted a notice on this in my "RIDING THE CABLES" topic on the "OTHER MODES" board).............

While watching the local news at 11 earlier, I was NOT prepared for the short news story that came on, while I was waiting for the weather report.

San Francisco's iconic, charming, and beloved cable cars are now (difficult to believe) facing EXTINCTION (at the very least, partially, which is bad news enough), due to MUNI's deep financial woes, fallout from the Pandemic of several years ago.

Loving cable cars since my long-ago boyhood (and owning a sizeable collection of vintage cable car toys and models, as well as owning a number of related books) this TOTALLY UNEXPECTED news hit me like a ton of bricks.

Now, the few lines surviving today are the result of a worldwide public outcry (including many of the rich and famous) back in the late 1940s and 1950s;San Franciscans, of course, have ALWAYS cherished their cable cars......let's all hope that a loud and powerful public outcry will save these iconic cars from extinction.

Thinking of San Francisco without its cable cars is like thinking of New York without the Statue of Liberty, or Rockefeller Center........still CANNOT fathom this tOTALLY UNEXPECTED news.........

(also read that the "F" line may also be on the chopping block)

"NYO"

["POWELL & MARKET"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Sad news if it should come to pass. That would eliminate the two most important reasons for visiting if I were still traveling.

I could say something about CA politics or the mindset of most of the younger generation but I shall refrain!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Quick note:

The classic 1952 children's book, "MAYBELLE, THE CABLE CAR" (Virginia Lee Burton) is a MUST for anyone who wants to see how San Franciscans rallied 'round their cable cars when it was thought they'd be replaced with "up to date" transportation.

This charming book (easily found for sale online), features charming illustrations, and is as much for adults (if not more!) as it is for kids!)

In this story, an arrogant new bus "Big Bill" thinks that HE is the "way of the future".....and that he also represents "PROGRESS" and will MAKE MONEY for the city!

Grab a copy of this nifty little book, and ENJOY!

"NYO"

["WATCH CURVE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Consider this.........

With the cable cars being a MAJOR tourist attraction in SF, just think of the lost revenue to the City itself, if they decide to recklessly and foolishly axe the cable cars.....talk about "cutting off your nose to spite your face"...............

Beyond unbelievable.....and just plain STUPID!

"NYO"

["K'OUT FER DA CURVE!"]

[Cyberider]

Or, in other words, "WOKE."

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

VERY interesting, highly-detailed, illustrated page, with a lot of fascinating history........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_cable_car_system

["LET GO ROPE!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY" (interesting photos of "beauties" and the "BEASTS").......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Municipal_Railway_fleet

[Cyberider]

NYO:

Thanks for the links to all the information.

Bureaucrats like spending the taxpayer's money and their vendors are anxious to get it. It's just business. Right or wrong makes no difference. The taxpayer loses but who cares?

I was last in SF with my late wife in 1989. We rode the cable cars, the Boeing LRV's, and the Flyer trolley buses and saw a few forlorn looking PCC's in the yard. The place was overrun with bums and weirdos. I can't imagine it's gotten any better since then and I have no desire to go there even if I could.

I'd rather just read about it in books when "regular" people lived there and did their jobs, getting there on "real" streetcars and buses.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Sadly, San Francisco sounds too much like New York these days; between the acute homeless and migrant problems, people spaced out on legal weed, plus stabbings and gunfire on the subways (and other mass transit) almost daily, I am truly relieved that I no longer have to go into the city to work (I have not been there in 20 years, the day I retired)

I LOVED New York at one time; today, like any other city, I have no desire at all to visit.

IF Frisco loses the cable cars and the classic streetcars on the "F" line, well, be prepared for a HUGE drop in tourist $$$$$$$..

NEVER thought I'd live to see it come to this.

Back in the early 1960s, I used to LOVE the "Rice-A-Roni" commercials that featured the cable cars (my first school lunch box, which I STILL have, which Mom bought for me in 1962) looks like a 1900s cable car;look online for a picture of the "ALADDIN CABLE CAR" lunch box!

When I was still quite small, my older brother (then working) would sing "I Lifet My Heart In San Fransisco" to me, and I LOVED the part: '.....where little cable cars climb half-way to the stars......"

Ahhh, the memories!

"NYO"

["563"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another interesting page (w/links).............

https://www.streetcar.org

[Cyberider]

Great memories, NYO. Better hang on to them!

I've got good memories of some of the places I've been. LA was one of them, even though I was there too late for the really good stuff. But there were plenty of Old Looks running around in the early 70's along with the New Look GM's and Flxibles. I made trips back during the latter 70's and early 80's and things were still okay. Last visit was with my wife in 1989. What happened? Graffitti everywhere and it looked like a war zone. I've never been back since.

Anyway, at least we have the memories to recall and enjoy.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

My last trip to Canada (with the folks) was back in 1973; Montreal STILL had those classic CCF-BRILLS as well as Old Looks; my last visits to Philly were in 1982, when I rode "Bullets", "Straffords", prewar Broad Street Subway cars, and the 1960 BUDD "Almond Joys" on the Market-Frankford El.

Today, all of it is gone.

In New Your, all of the truly classic subway cars are now history, and railfan windows are now totally extinct.

The buses are now all either giant caterpillars or oversized milk cartons; New Jersey buses are all likewise.

I'm MORE than content (and a LOT safer!) staying at home, and recalling the good old days.............

"NYO"

["CCF-BRILL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On a related note (regarding cable cars)........

Oddly enough, the majority of vintage toy cable cars replicated the Powell cars; very few represent the double-ended California Street cars.

The vintage lithographed cars are quite nostalgic, depicting MUNI gripmen and conductors in their classic uniforms, along with well-dressed ladies and gents......indeed.....a LONG, LONG time ago, for sure!

One of the rarest of toy cable cars dates back to the 1910s/1920s, and is made of cast iron; I've only seen ONE of these rarities in all of my many, many years of collecting (and, no, I DO NOT own one!)

The tin lithographed toy cable cars of the 1950s and 1960s indeed have a nostalgic charm all their own (and I have have QUITE a few!)......

"NYO"

["MUNI"]