Fillmore Street Cars
"I was there..."
from Walter de Vecchi, Marina Memories
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, San Francisco 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.
View southward up Fillmore Street from Cow Hollow, Greenwich Street c. 1905
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp4.1537
Fillmore north from Broadway, 1903.
Photo: C. R. collection, also SFMTA U00029
New cars pose on Fillmore Street, 1920s.
Photo: provenance unknown
Fillmore Street near Green, 1930s.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp5.50012
Fillmore Street south at Union, c. 1940.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp14.1371
Marina Memories, courtesy California History Center; De Anza College, Cupertino, CA