I was watching a show on the Food Network recently where they were reviewing the Grubstake Diner in San Francisco. Apparently it was fashioned out of a Key System streetcar in 1927. The website has more info: http://www.sfgrubstake.com/

Any of you Bay Area/California folks know anything about the history of this car? Like number, builder, etc. Randall Hicks has included it on his blog and could use this info.

http://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2008/ ... #Grubstake

Thanks.

Jack

Maybe that's our missing 500 series. There's one not accounted for.

There's another ex-Key System car in Castroville. It was Bing's Diner for many years, but I'm not sure if that's still the case. I think the number was in the 960s. According to "oral tradition", the original purchaser was given some official NCL paint as part of the deal, so it was in "Fruit Salad" up into the 1960s or 70s. I'll post a photo after I reduce the image (350 KiB is a bit tight for today's systems.)

I'll definitely have "go to beans" at the Grubstake next time I go to MuniLand, even though it lacks the "hot and cold running streetcar watching" that the Fog City Diner and Orphan Andy's feature.

Here's Bing's Diner as it was in 1976 (that's the year I drove that white pickup from the LA area to San Francisco). I understand that the car body is still there, but not sure if the place is open for business at this time.

Here's the website for the old Bing's Diner in Castroville, now called the Trolley Car Rotisserie. Obviously very much changed, but still in existence.

http://trolleycarrotisserie.com/history/