by Frank Dunnigan
Among the thousands of photos contained in the archives of OpenSFHistory, there are many images of streetcar accidents over the years—most of which seem to be from the 1940s. One must speculate if the streetcars of that era were inherently unsafe (many scenes record situations in which derailed cars were to blame), or if it was somehow operator and/or motorist error that caused these accidents. Another thought is that perhaps there were simply more street photographers from MUNI, Market Street Railway, SFPD, SFFD, and/or the press—San Francisco did have 4 daily newspapers at the time—out and about, looking to capture dramatic images. In any event, these photos have also managed to preserve many long-vanished neighborhood street scenes.
Streetcar accident at Standard Oil station at Balboa and Arguello intersection, June 6, 1944. (wnp27.6339;Courtesy of a Private Collector)
ARGUELLO & BALBOA
Here is an example of a car that jumped the tracks while approaching the Arguello job to Turk from Balboa. Some 20+ years later when bus service had replaced the streetcar line, the City acquired the corner gas station and installed a gentler angled curve for diesel (now electrified) buses on the 31-line to make the same turn. The remainder of that former gas station lot was later used for a construction of an apartment building. Likewise, the Seaside gas station at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Balboa was replaced in the 1960s by yet another apartment building. Note the cone atop the streetlight near the rear of the streetcar, which was in place to comply with World War II regulations on minimizing the possibility of night lighting being seen by aircraft.
Streetcar accident at California and Park Presidio, August 8, 1943. (wnp27.50386; Courtesy of a Private Collector)
CALIFORNIA & PARK PRESIDIO
This C-California streetcar and a truck hauling what looks to be a heavy load collided at California & Park Presidio, looking east on California Street, on August 8, 1943. In the distance, San Francisco College for Women (now the Lone Mountain campus of USF) and the towers of St. Ignatius Church are visible. Sutro Elementary School, at 230-12th Avenue (since replaced with a more modern two-story structure), is also visible at upper right of this image. Neighborhood automobile traffic was decidedly light, given that this photo was taken in the middle of gasoline and tire rationing that was in effect during World War II.
Streetcar accident on Cortland near Folsom, November 13, 1946. (wnp32.0038; Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection / Courtesy of Emiliano Echeverria)
CORTLAND NEAR FOLSOM
On November 13, 1946, a 9-line streetcar derailed on Cortland Avenue, in this view looking north across Cortland Avenue from 1021 Cortland. The buildings in the background are still in place today with some minor remodeling.
Streetcar accident at Ocean and Manor, 1940s. (wnp5.51088; Courtesy of Jack Tillmany)
OCEAN & MANOR
This image shows an accident involving a MUNI streetcar at left and a Market Street Railway streetcar at right on Ocean Avenue near Manor Drive, looking east on Ocean in the early 1940s. The El Rey Theatre, then just barely 10 years old, appears at left, with its directional navigation light still in place atop the 146-foot tower. Given the location, the children pictured were likely students at nearby Aptos Junior High (now Aptos Middle School). The El Rey closed in 1977, and was used as a church until 2015. The building was then sold to a group of investors and ultimately given landmark status in 2017. There are plans to restore the façade and the lobby, while building 42 housing units and an underground parking garage at the site. Learn more about the El Rey Theatre in Outside Lands Podcast Episode #110.
Streetcar accident at Powell and Market, July 26, 1947. (wnp32.0051; Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection / Courtesy of Emiliano Echeverria)
POWELL & MARKET
Muni 6-line streetcar derailed in front of Flood Building on July 26, 1947. Large crowd watching as wrecker trucks approach from left and right. Owl Drug Store, Morgan Jewelry, Florsheim Shoes and other retailers have all been replaced over the years. Decorations on streetlamps are for Lions International convention parade set to take place on July 28, 1947. Read about the extensive history of the Flood Building and view more historical images.
Streetcar accident at Market and Church, September 17, 1943. (wnp28.1818; Trudeau – photographer / Courtesy of a Private Collector)
MARKET & CHURCH
This J-CHURCH streetcar and 8-MARKET streetcar managed to collide at the corner of Church and Market Streets on September 17, 1943. The buildings in the background at far right were demolished to make way for a new Safeway store in the mid-1950s. The J.H. Wiley furniture and appliance store directly behind the accident was demolished ten years later for an expansion of the Safeway parking lot. The U.S. Mint at Duboce Avenue and Hermann Street is barely visible above Market Street buildings at right.
Streetcar accident at Market and Sansome, circa 1940. (wnp67.0681; Jack Tillmany Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)
MARKET & SANSOME
This elevated 1940 view looks east on Market Street to MUNI K-line streetcar collision with Market Street Railway 31-line streetcar as another MSRy 31-Line car is in foreground. Ferry building seen in far distance. Note birdcage traffic signal in left foreground and Mobilgas sign with winged red Pegasus symbol atop Fife Building at distance on left. Most of the buildings in the near view of this photo have been demolished. The buildings at near left were demolished and replaced by the modern Crown Zellerbach Building in 1959. The building on the near side of the intersection at right was demolished and replaced with the new Standard Oil building (now known as 555 Market) in 1966 and the larger building on the far side of the intersection at right was demolished and replaced with First Market Tower (now known as 525 Market Street) in 1973.
Streetcar accident at Sutter and Stockton, January 13, 1947. (wnp67.0173; Jack Tillmany Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)
SUTTER & STOCKTON
This crash occurred at the corner of Sutter and Stockton on July 23, 1947, and sadly, one person was killed. The businesses have all changed since then, and the building at right housing Dolan’s Bar was demolished in the 1950s to make way for the Sutter-Stockton Garage. Note the vintage “birdcage” traffic signals at the intersection.
Streetcar accident at 8th and Balboa, July 24, 1947. (wnp67.0429; Jack Tillmany Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)
8TH AVENUE & BALBOA
A brake failure caused this crash of two MUNI streetcars at 8th Avenue and Balboa (looking east on Balboa) on July 24, 1947. The four corner buildings remain essentially the same today while the biggest change in this street scene involves the long-ago replacement of streetcars with buses, plus the addition of street trees and the presence of many more parked automobiles in the area. Read more about this accident from an eyewitness and view more photos in Tillmany’s Ride by San Francisco historian and WNP member Jack Tillmany.
Streetcar accident on 8th near Geary, February 24, 1948. (wnp5.50614; Courtesy of Jack Tillmany)
8TH AVENUE & GEARY
This accident occurred between an automobile and a 21-line streetcar at the corner of 8th & Geary, looking north on 8th Avenue on February 24, 1948. Star of the Sea Church at left and the building that housed the former convent at right both remain today. Reliable Drugs at left is now a wine/spirits store and the building at right was demolished in the 1980s for a new apartment building with ground-floor retail.
Streetcar accident at 18th Street and Castro, 1940. (wnp67.0562; Jack Tillmany Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)
18TH STREET & CASTRO
In its final year of operation (the line was shut down in April of 1941), a cable car from the Castro Cable line derailed at the corner of 18th and Castro in 1940. Ramsay’s Pharmacy at left eventually became the Elephant Walk (now Harvey’s) and the Star Pharmacy at right is now a Walgreen’s. Note the small MUNI electric trolley bus on the #33 line loading a passenger.
Streetcar accident at 24th Street and Dolores, April 22, 1945. (wnp4.1172; Courtesy of a Private Collector)
24TH STREET & DOLORES
In this scene, a derailed streetcar crashed into the front of a house near 24th & Dolores Streets on the night of April 22, 1945. Bystanders and workers survey the wreckage and damage.