San Francisco Railway Museum - Overview
The Railway Museum dedicates itself to the history of San Francisco rail transportation. The museum is an small but colorful mix of history, artifact and art -- a single room showcasing more exhibits than one might expect within the confines of its square footage.
Expect to see archival photographs, historic books and DVDs on the origins of San Francisco's cable cars and streetcars, as well as a selection of cards, souvenirs and gifts bearing railway graphics and themes. The gift shop is a great place to stop for souvenirs with iconic images you won't find elsewhere in town.
The staff at the San Francisco Railway Museum is eager to help and will direct you to resources pertaining to your interests . . . or fill you in on some of the exhibit details. On our most recent visit, a member of the staff alerted us to the fact that Blackpool Tram No. 228 was running that day. For those in the know, this Blackpool car is a "boat tram" -- an open-air streetcar running on sunny days.
San Francisco Streetcars
Muni owns 90 or more historic streetcars and trolleys, many of which are in service on the F-Line. Some of the cars date back to the late 1800s -- some come from as far away as Japan or Australia.
Make note of interesting cars while you're walking on the Embarcadero and look up the stats at the Museum's streetcar roster. The website provides details on each car. The Railway Museum also has a take-away brochure with streetcar information.
San Francisco Railway Museum Location
If you haven't been, the Railway Museum is a logical stop when you're near the San Francisco Ferry Building. The museum itself can be a quick spin through the displays, or a more in-depth look at the exhibits -- a colorful portal into an important facet of San Francisco's past and future. The F-Line cars stop directly in front of the museum for a great view or photo op.
Railway Museum Address
77 Steuart Street
See: San Francisco Museum Map
San Francisco CA 94105
Telephone: (415) 974-1948
San Francisco Railway Museum Website
The San Francisco Railway Museum is free but does accept donations for its streetcar preservation efforts and projects.
To see actual cable car cables and sheaves in action, visit San Francisco's Cable Car Museum.
Go to: San Francisco Museum List | San Francisco Museum Map | San Francisco Photos
Source: San Francisco Railway Museum