Fillmore Street Cars

"I was there..."

from Walter de Vecchi, Marina Memories

Marina$fillmore-north-c-1920.jpg

Looking north down Fillmore Street about 1920 from Pacific Heights toward landfill which had hosted the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

FILLMORE STREET CARS

And who could forget the intriguing, though at times temperamental, Fillmore streetcars? From Green to Broadway towered two massive Kilamanjaros, mixtures of dirt, grass and cobblestone. One single cable was attached both to the descending and ascending cars. By means of accurately synchronized bell signals both motormen knew exactly when to begin their runs, and the descending car would pull the ascending car uphill. --from Walter de Vecchi, Marina Memories

Fillmore-north-1912.gif

Fillmore Street north, as a truck is stuck trying to climb the hill, 1912.

Photo: Greg Gaar Collection, San Francisco, CA

Fillmore-hill-w-car-1910.gif

A new car poses on Fillmore Street, 1910.

Photo: Greg Gaar Collection, San Francisco, CA

Marina Memories, courtesy California History Center; De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

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