Rails of the Golden City 150 Years of Cable Cars Streetcars and Steam Trains in San Francisco DVD

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150th Anniversary of Cable Cars in San Francisco 1873-2023
Out of the Halcyon Days of the Comstock Nabobs
Came the invention of the Cable Car in 1873.

From the Earthquake and Fire of 1906 To Baghdad-by-the-Bay of 1955. The Rails of the Golden City Provided transportation for the people of San Francisco.

The historic trains run again in this Archival film-based documentary.

In 1873, Andrew Hallidie utilized wire rope to first run a Cable Car on the Clay Street hill in San Francisco. This film celebrates 150 years of railroads in the City by the Golden Gate. Drawing on archival footage dating back to the Earthquake of 1906, and stills from 1873, the story is told of trains running in SF.

Operations of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Municipal Railway of SF, and the White Front Cars of the Market Street Railway are shown in detail. Footage of the earthquake before and after highlight the moments when San Francisco closed the doors on the halcyon days of the Big Bonanza of the Comstock, richly detailed by the eloquent writings of Lucius Beebe, and voiced by Richard Beggs. Vibrant Kodachrome color footage of the City between 1940 and 1955 allows one to visit a time, which will never come again.

16mm COLOR FOOTAGE OF:
8 Cable Car Lines
6 Lines of Market Street Railway's White Front Cars
3 Abandoned Muni Streetcar Lines
Southern Pacific Steam in 1955
Shops, Carbarns, Maps

PLUS:
Interview with Ray Muther, 87, who brings
the railroads to life with his vivid memories

64 Minutes Stereo Sound Wide Screen