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longs to another discussion, but Muni is still there, and it still runs streetcars, buses and, of course, the cable cars. As mentioned, the book moves quickly,


but the major eras are covered well through the careful selection of photos from archives, libraries and Muni com- pany files. The laying of street trackage, the crowds on opening day, the exten- sions into the neighborhoods, they are all there for the early years. So is the build- ing of the Twin Peaks Tunnel and the in- troduction of new equipment as Muni es- tablished itself. The same applies to the following decades. With the company at the century mark and so much to choose from, the authors have done a fine job in sorting out what would tell the story. Re- cent years include the work of railroad photographers as well as company pho- tos, including some shots by noted Bay area fan Will Whittaker. This is not meant to be just a trolley


car or bus book. It is obviously also a “city book,” so neighborhood and down- town street scenes are prominent on the pages, as they should be. (Otherwise, why would you need public transit?) Many pictures will look familiar, not be- cause they have been in print before, since most haven’t, but because they re- flect San Francisco and how Muni’s cars and vehicles look in it. This is especially so in the older residential areas where wooden, three story apartment buildings


with bay windows line the street, a sig- nature feature of the city’s architecture, though not the only one. In any case, look for roster photos of cars and equip- ment elsewhere. This one has mayors, motormen, drivers, old automobiles, rid- ers waiting at the curb, a lively interac- tion between transit and the place it serves, and company and city pride. That said, it should be noted that


many of the photos are quite handsome and have pleasing composition in addi- tion to their historic (and that includes recent years) value. For modelers, who must compose three-dimensional scenes on their layouts, a quiet study of why certain pictures are so appealing is worthwhile. The busy street scenes will also provide information on how large cities looked through the years. Signifi- cantly, many of the main thoroughfares in San Francisco appear much the same today but with new signage, buses and maybe modernized storefronts at street level. Some even have streetcars, and in some cases the lines are even new. If you are in town, take a ride or two, then try your own hand at taking timeless pho- tos on the F line (see page 136, for ex- ample) or somewhere else. If you cannot get there in person, travel a century’s worth of transit history via the pages of San Francisco’s Municipal Railway: MUNI, instead. It is worth your time.– WILLIAM C. SCHAUMBURG


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