My wife and I will be visiting San Francisco between April 6 and April 16 this year, to see our daughter there. Naturally, besides the usual tourist sites, I would like to visit some rail preservation projects in the Bay Area, but some have only weekend hours and there is too much to see in just two weekends. Would any readers be able to help me visit places like the Golden Gate RR Museum, the trolley and 2479/roundhouse projects in San Jose, Tilden Park minature RR, Western Railway Museum, some park engines and perhaps other sites that are less accessible during the week? If possible, I'd also like to see the remains of the Bayshore roundhouse if legal access can be had. I don't expect to see everything this trip, but would like to see what I can.

We will be restricted to public transportation on our own, but will be based right in the city, just off the F Market line. Advice on using public transportation to visit any of these places would be welcome as well. This will be my first trip to California since age 7, but I distinctly remember seeing a cab-forward pulling a freight train from the Greyhound's window -- 1954! I presume they aren't doing that anymore. Thanks in advance.

RNN 3-14
ryarger1@nycap.rr.com

Way too much to see and do in two weekends Bob. My mother just moved out there and I visited her a fw months ago. Public transit great and $6 per day to ride everything everywhere. Worst mistake I made was driving into town. Turned in the rental car as quick as I could.

SF would be a wonderful city of they just removed about 60% of the people and the cost of living, too crowded and expensive, but still fine and civilized with great transit. Food OK too if you avoid fancy places.

Plan one day just riding trolleys and cable cars around town. Have a great trip.

Dave

lathro19@idt.net

Bob, I wwould be glad to give you a weekday tour of the Maritime Park. Please give me a call at (415) 556-9828.

If you would like to visit Rio Vista, on a Wednesday there are people there but no cars running.

Kelly Park in San Jose will be open but again, no cars running.

Ted Miles



ted_miles@NPS.gov

Bob:

Don’t miss the cable car power house and museum at the corner of Mason and Washington Streets. Open daily. Your public transit plans are perfect for getting there, as there’s hardly any place to park and the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable car lines go right to it, or one block away. You might want to check out these web sites for good info before you go, and/or order the new book, “Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco”, from the first site below:

http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/

http://sfcablecar.com/

I’d endorse Dave’s recommendation to plan at least a full day just riding trolleys and cable cars around town. I did that two years ago and had a ball. Best way, as he indicates, is the 1-day or 3-day “Muni Passport” - saves money and is so convenient. For info on public transit go to the web site below. Also, you can order a complete street and transit map that’s great to show you the complete system and how to ride it.

http://www.sfmuni.com

As you might guess, IÂ’m a real cable car and trolley nut. If I can help with any more info that way for SF, let me know.

Dick Ikenberry



ri51425@alltel.net

Bob,
We at Roaring Camp will be running that week as it is Easter week. To get to Roaring Camp from San Francisco take the Caltrain to San Jose then the Hiway 17 connector bus to Santa Cruz. In Santa Cruz get on the #35 San Lorenzo Valley bus and get off at Felton Fair. We are about 1/4 mile west on Graham Hill Road.

Might I suggest that you think about a one or two day car rental as many rail sites are even farther off public transit than we are.

Have a great time while you're here at the "end of the world".

Tom

ironbartom@aol.com

At the risk of revealing my lack of common sense and ignorance of all things left coast,I'm suprised no one has mentioned that the "best seat" on S.F. Cable cars IMHO is the front left side outer footboard...if it's open. Usually there's some human Irish Setter with slobbery tongue all akimbo latched onto this position grooving on the whole cable car experience.

Ahem.

heisler1607@earthlink.net