Cable car 19 was built by the Central Pacific Railroad in Sacramento in 1883 for the Market Street Cable Railway Co.
After the 1906 earthquake, the car was moved over to the Sacramento-Clay line, changed from standard to narrow gauge,
and rebuilt from open to California open-and-closed body style. Market Street Railway closed the Sacramento-Clay line
in 1942, and Muni sold it to a private organization in 1948. In 1997-98, the body was restored. In 2019, the mechanicals
were restored. Big 19 premiered for passenger service in the Heritage Weekend of September 7-8, 2019. It began operation
by making a trip out Hyde St. to Aquatic Park, back past the car barn via Washington and Jackson, then in on Hyde to
serve the California cable line.
PHOTOS TAKEN SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2019:
Big 19 came out the barn to begin service with a special passenger trip out to Aquatic Park.
Pickup at Washington and Mason Sts. on September 7, 2019.
Sixteen photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 stops at Hyde St. and Broadway on September 7, 2019. Six photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 stops at Hyde and Chestnut Sts. on September 7, 2019. Five photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 waits at Hyde and Beach Sts. to enter the Aquatic Park terminal on September 7, 2019.
Three photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 enters the turntable area but uses the facing point crossover to switch to the inbound track.
September 7, 2019. Thirteen photos added 09/10/19.
While Big 19 waits to begin its inbound trip from Aquatic Park, Muni personnel (including grip Val Lupiz)
pose and ham for photographers. September 7, 2019. Thirteen photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 bulkhead on September 7, 2019. One photo added 09/10/19.
Big 19 stops at Hyde and Greenwich Sts. on September 7, 2019. Six photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 stops again at Washington and Mason Sts. on September 7, 2019.
Nine photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 stops at Hyde and Sacramento Sts. on September 7, 2019. This trackage is used for
pullouts and pullins of California cable cars. Four photos added 09/10/19.
Big 19 meets O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42, which in 2018 made its own Hyde-California trip, at those two
streets on September 7, 2019. Eleven photos added 09/11/19.
Big 19 at the California and Drumm Sts. queue for the loading area on September 7, 2019.
Nine photos added 09/11/19.
Car 42 catches up to Big 19 at California and Drumm Sts. on September 7, 2019.
Twenty-two photos added 09/11/19.
Big 19, having completed the special trip, now enters regular Heritage Weekend service at California and Drumm Sts.
The car moves into the boarding area and then departs for Van Ness Ave. September 7, 2019.
Seventeen photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 arrives at the California and Drumm Sts. (actually Davis St.) terminal queue on September 8, 2019.
Thirteen photos added 09/11/19.
PHOTOS TAKEN NOVEMBER 9, 2019:
Big 19 was chartered on a special trip covering the outer ends of the Mason and Hyde St. lines as well as the California St. line.
(Because the car is too long to fit turntables and a lack of crossover, it can't go in on Powell to Market.) The charter benefitted
the SF-Marin Food Bank, and a box lunch was provided by the Buena Vista restaurant. Master gripman Val Lupiz operated the car.
Big 19 emerges from the barn to start the charter trip. November 9, 2019. Eleven photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 waiting on a turnback (using the crossover track because it can't fit on the turntable) at Taylor and Bay Sts.
on November 9, 2019. Forty-one photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 stops at Mason St. and Broadway on November 19, 2019. North Beach Church is in the background.
Seven photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 stops at Hyde St. and Broadway on November 19, 2019. Powell car 18 passes. Eleven photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 stops at Hyde and Lombard Sts. on November 9, 2019. Coit Tower is faintly visible in some shots.
Eight photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 on the pocket track at the Aquatic Park turntable (dedicated as the Friedel Klussman Memorial Turnaround; she's the Cable Car Lady that
helped spur preservation of some semblance of the 1950s cable railway system) on November 9, 2019. When it was time to depart, it had to be towed
off the pocket track onto the northbound track. Then gravity would allow the car to use the crossover to the southbound track.
Eighteen photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 at California and Polk Sts. on November 9, 2019. The block leading to the end of the line at Van Ness Ave. was in shadow,
so this sunny spot was a great place to stop for pictures. Seven photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 stops at California and Taylor Sts. for pictures with Grace Cathedral as a background.
Seven photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 at the California and Drumm Sts. turnback on November 9, 2019. Obligatory selfie shot!
Five photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 at Hyde and Washington Sts., in front of Keystone Apartments, on November 9, 2019.
Four photos added 11/11/19.
Big 19 has reached the end of the trip on November 9, 2019. It backs into the Jackson St. side of the car barn using gravity.
Twenty-one photos added 11/11/19.
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