This past weekend offered transit nerds like myself the chance to board a bus bound for history. Muni vehicles from 1896 to a mere decade ago saw the sun again for the annual Muni Heritage Weekend. Together with Market Street Railway, Muni invited the public to celebrate icons of San Francisco’s transportation system for free. Streetcars, trolleys, and motorcoaches from different eras of SF hauled riders up and down the streets of 2025 from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. If those old tanks could talk!
Muni ran five vintage vehicles at this year’s event:
“Flyer” No. 5300, 1975. A Muni Classic.
Generations of Flyer trolleys and coaches have served generations of San Franciscans. In 1977, the Canadian-made electric and diesel buses hit the streets. SFMTA operated the vehicles until the retirement of the New Flyer E60 fleet from 2010–2015. Built in 1975, The fully electric Flyer No. 5300 featured Muni’s memorable “Sunset” orange-and-white palette.
“The Mack” No. 2230, 1956. Chariot of your ole dad’s youth.
The Mack, arguably the most photogenic coach in Muni’s repertory, was a 48-seat work horse. A strapped-for-cash, post-WWII San Francisco sorely needed to replace their Depression-era fleet. Muni turned to renowned bus manufacturer Mack Trucks, leasing dozens of these diesel-fueled beauties for over twenty years. This legendary brute, practically a Greyhound, chugged through fog with the confidence of a Baby Boomer pushing an expired coupon. It dominated city streets until the lease with Mack Trucks concluded in the mid-1970s.
“Baby White” No. 042, 1938.
Like today’s mini-buses (the "El Dorado EZ Rider” model, specifically), “Baby White” was built for navigating hills and hairpin turns. Think the 39-Coit, 37-Corbett, 35-Eureka. Once again, the city’s geography necessitated creative thinking. In these little buses one could climb and descend the steepest grades without relying on a private car. SFMTA restored the “Baby White” they brought out this weekend to their original team colors: orange and black.
Streetcar No. 1, 1912.
Literally Muni’s streetcar number one, SFMTA requisitioned this vehicle for the new Geary-A line, predecessor of the 38-Geary. The route began downtown at Geary and Market, extending to 10th Avenue in the Richmond District. Service started in December 1912, taking its inaugural run with Mayor “Sunny Jim” Rolph in the driver’s seat. Streetcar No. 1 sported Muni’s initial paint scheme, red and grey with gold trim. In August 2024, the urban heirloom came to the rescue when three other streetcars could not run their waterfront routes.
“Dinky” No. 578, 1896.
This streetcar is the oldest of any North American transit agency still in operation. Built in 1896 for a transportation company that preceded Muni. It looks almost exactly like a streetcar. I can’t say for sure that Model No. 578 appears in footage taken four days before the 1906 earthquake. After the quake, survivors converted the streetcar to haul equipment and debris in and out of the devastated city. Skilled restorationists brought car No. 578 back to original condition in 1956 for the earthquake’s 50th anniversary.
For more on Muni’s historic modes of transportation, visit Market Street Railway at streetcar.org.
