Market Street Railway (nonprofit)
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation preservation |
| Founded | 1976 |
Area served | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Products | Historic streetcar fleet preservation and restoration |
Number of employees | Volunteers |
Market Street Railway serves as the nonprofit preservation affiliate of San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), boasting a membership of 1,200. It depends on private donations to support the upkeep of San Francisco’s historic streetcar fleet, which operates on the E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves routes.
This organization is responsible for establishing and managing the San Francisco Railway Museum located along the Embarcadero corridor. Additionally, it oversees the David Pharr Restoration Facility, where volunteers meticulously restore vintage vehicles before they are handed over to Muni.
The name Market Street Railway honors the original Market Street Railway Company, a former commercial operator of streetcars and buses in San Francisco.
History
Market Street Railway was established in 1976, and its members were instrumental in initiating the San Francisco Historic Trolley Festivals during the 1980s. These events paved the way for the permanent reintroduction of historic streetcars on Market Street via the F Market & Wharves line, which has become North America’s most frequented heritage streetcar route.
The F Market line, initially replacing Muni's 8 Market trolleybus service, commenced operations on September 1, 1995. Within twelve months, average daily ridership surged by 43%, reaching 7,758 passengers and surpassing the previous trolleybus figures.
In the late 1990s, a redesign of the Embarcadero incorporated streetcar tracks along its center median. On March 4, 2000, the F Market line was extended to run between the Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf using these new tracks. By 2008, daily ridership had climbed to roughly 20,000 passengers, leading to capacity challenges. For comparison, in 1999 Muni Metro transported about 130,000 riders daily through the Market Street subway.
The service network grew further in 2015 with the launch of the E Embarcadero line, linking the Embarcadero south of the Ferry Building to Caltrain’s station at 4th and King.
Since its inception, Market Street Railway has assisted Muni in acquiring and restoring more than a dozen historic streetcars and cable cars, thereby enriching the variety within the fleet. Much of this restoration work is carried out by its dedicated restoration team, while volunteers also maintain interior spaces at Castro Street Terminal to improve passenger comfort.