Class 1 Streetcar: Darling of Earth Fair

Published on April 30, 2013 in Events. 0 Comments

Photos by Marilia Maschion.

Another Earth Day has come and gone, but we can see that San Diego’s enthusiasm for protecting our environment continues to grow stronger and stronger. We have faith that this enthusiasm will help carry our city into the future as a leader in forward-thinking environmental policy. Thanks to all those citizens, organizations, and companies on the front lines of this fight— we had a blast celebrating with you on the 21st! You can check out some photos from the event up above.

We were also very excited to have Mayor Bob Filner stop by Class 1 streetcar #138 and say a few words about returning these San Diego historic landmarks to the rails. Take a listen down below. Of course, we still need your vocal support to make this dream a reality. There is no other project available to San Diego today that represents such a significant benefit for our city on a whole. From the potential boon to tourism, the creation of jobs, the boost to private investment and redevelopment, and of course the expansion of practical, charming public transit in a way that supports pedestrian culture and brings more customers to local businesses along the route, restoring these streetcars should be a no-brainer.

Video by Marilia Maschion.

Class 1 #138 to Make an Appearance at Earth Day 2013!

Published on April 17, 2013 in Events and News and Updates. 0 Comments

Class 1 #138 at Balboa Park

Earth Day in San Diego is always a big deal— we should all be concerned with our environment and carbon footprint, but when you live in a city surrounded by such natural beauty the imperative of “being green” becomes all the more apparent. On Sunday, April 21st, America’s Finest City officially celebrates its environmentalism with the 24th annual Earth Fair in Balboa Park! We’ll be there from 10am ’til 5pm with Class 1 streetcar #138. Our board president Christian Chaffee will be making a presentation on our proposal to restore these historic streetcars to the rail at around 11 am and we will be screening our short documentary-style video San Diego’s Lost Treasure: The Historic Class 1 Streetcars, 100 Years Later throughout the day.

We hope you’ll come down to get a look at the past and potential future of San Diego’s energy efficient public transportation. Plus, there will be a lot of other great exhibitors to check out, so be sure to come down, have fun, and learn how we can all do our part to make our world a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable place.

Tampa and San Diego: Team Streetcar

Published on February 26, 2013 in News and Updates. 0 Comments

From left to right: Tampa Historic Streetcar Vice President Michael English, former Teco Streetcar System Manager Tim Borchers, San Diego Historic Streetcar President Christian Chaffee

If you’ve been following our efforts to return the historic Class 1 streetcars to the rail in San Diego, you’re probably aware that Tampa’s TECO streetcar is one of our favorite systems in current American streetcar development. From their use of historic vehicles and authentic replicas made by Gomaco, to the more than $1 billion in private investments that have accrued in the two blocks around the TECO line since its inception, to their creative and multifaceted funding process — which combines special assessments of streetcar serviced districts, a private endowment fund fueled by naming rights to the stations and cars of the system, advertising, and fares — their story is inspiring to say the least. Last year, our board president Christian Chaffee traveled to Tampa to get an up close look at the operations of their system. He had a great meeting with Joseph Delgado, Streetcar Maintenance Supervisor, and streetcar mechanic “K.B.” that included a tour of the facilities at the 11th streetcar car barn. You can read more about that trip here.
As we’ve progressed and are now much closer to making our dream of restoring the Class 1s a reality, board president Chaffee again thought of Tampa and set out to meet with the Vice President of Tampa Historic Streetcar, Michael English and former TECO Streetcar Operations Manager Tim Borchers on Sunday, February 24th. They met in Ybor City, a historic neighborhood that has been revitalized by the streetcar line and discussed our next steps in creating a successful streetcar system in San Diego. These seasoned streetcar experts also spent their time going over our newly developed proposal for Mayor Bob Filner, which was penned by transportation expert and founder of The Mission Group Alan Hoffman. Both men are very knowledgeable and had a lot of good feedback for board president Chaffee. They also agreed to continue to provide advice to our organization as we move forward, which will surely help ensure our efforts in San Diego are successful.
Discussing the proposal to return the Class 1 streetcars to the rail in San Diego.

Discussing the proposal to return the Class 1 streetcars to the rail in San Diego.

We’re certainly feeling confident and inspired after our visit with our friends at the TECO streetcar line— definitely glad to have their expertise and experience at our disposal as we move forward. And we can’t wait to share our detailed proposal to return the Class 1 streetcars to the rail. We’ll be posting that proposal for you all to take a look at soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Bob Filner: State of the City Address Highlights

Published on January 30, 2013 in Issues and News and Updates. 0 Comments

In his State of the City Address, newly elected Mayor Bob Filner talked seriously about his broad vision for transit-centered urban planning. Our organization loves to hear this! We are working hard to ensure that the historic Class 1 streetcars are a central feature of our city’s new dedication to pedestrian-friendly, bikeable, walkable communities. At the very least, it’s certainly refreshing to hear such emphasis being placed on the neighborhoods of San Diego. We look forward to working with our new Mayor in connecting those neighborhoods with a practical and historic streetcar system.

Bob Filner Speaks on the Class 1 Streetcars

Published on January 9, 2013 in News and Updates. 0 Comments

Last night at Hillcrest Town Council, Mayor Bob Filner spoke about working to return the historic Class 1 streetcars to the rails in San Diego. The mayor has a vision of connecting our uptown and downtown neighborhoods in a way that is pedestrian and bike friendly, encouraging foot traffic that will benefit our local businesses and make our urban communities more vibrant and alive. We couldn’t be more excited. We hope to have some announcements for you all soon, so please stay tuned. Thanks to the Hillcrest Town Council and to Mayor Filner!

And of course thank you all for your continuing support! Be sure to contact the mayor and your local representatives and let them know that you want the Class 1 streetcars back on the rail.

The Seven Bridge Walk

Published on January 4, 2013 in History. 0 Comments
Quince St. Bridge, which crosses Maple Canyon

Quince St. Bridge, which crosses Maple Canyon. (Photo courtesy of sdrocksnroads.com)

Hello again to all of our supporters and streetcar enthusiasts! We hope you all had lovely holidays. We took some time off to enjoy friends and family, as well as a little bit of San Diego history.

This past weekend, we finally had the chance to take this wonderful 5.5 mile walk forwarded to us by San Diego Historic Streetcars board member Ernie Bonn (Thanks, Ernie!). The Seven Bridge Walk, published in the San Diego Reader in October, took us through several beautiful San Diego neighborhoods, including Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, University Heights, and also into the heart of our city’s crown jewel: Balboa Park.

We especially enjoyed the bridges that allowed access to the trolley lines that connected San Diego neighborhoods. As streetcar lovers, we love being able to walk along (and across!) history— especially a history that opened our beloved uptown neighborhoods to development in San Diego’s earlier days.

When you cross Quince Street bridge, imagine the trolley station that sat right across the way on Fourth Avenue. As you cross the Vermont Street bridge, think of how it might have looked as a wooden-trestle bridge that was used as part of the University trolley line (which ran 1888-1949). The Georgia Street Bridge, the seventh and final on the tour, was built as Greater North Park began to develop because of increased streetcar access starting in 1890. You can read more about how real estate development followed streetcar expansion in section 4.2 of this historic planning document. And you can read more about some of these historic bridges over at Hillquest.

Be sure to check out the entire walking route for yourself in the original article in The Reader.

We encourage you to walk along your local history… and while you’re at it, imagine what it would be like to have the historic Class 1 streetcars return to our cities uptown neighborhoods. Happy rambling, everyone!

Class 1 #138 at the North Park Toyland Parade & Little Italy’s Tree Lighting

Published on December 11, 2012 in Events and News and Updates. 0 Comments

Mayor Bob Filner (middle), First Lady Bronwyn Ingram, and San Diego Historic Streetcars board president Christian Chaffee (right) [Photo by Betsy McCue of La Vida Creations Photography]

On Saturday, December 1st we had a full schedule here at San Diego Historic Streetcars, spreading holiday cheer throughout the city with Class 1 Streetcar #138. We started the day on Utah Street in historic North Park with the streetcar wrapped up like a present for the 49th Annual North Park Toyland Parade. At 10:30 am, our invited guests boarded the decorated streetcar on University Avenue. We were joined by many civic and community leaders, our board, and our friends and family.  We’d like to give a special thanks to Mayor Bob Filner and First Lady Bronwyn Ingram, as well as Balboa Park Centennial Celebration Steering Committee chairpersons Ben and Nikki Clay for joining us. And, as always, a big thanks to Betsy McCue at La Vida Creations Photography for documenting the morning. We appreciate you and your serious skills! Last but not least, we’d like to thank Brenda at Victoria House Corp for her huge help in organizing the day’s logistics.

We were thrilled to wave, smile and laugh our way through the parade route. Afterward we hung out for a while and thoroughly enjoyed the ensuing procession of vintage cars, marching bands, dance groups and of course the big guy himself— Santa Claus. No offense to Kris Kringle, but we thought Todd Gloria looked best in red rollin’ down University in that ’63 Ford Falcon. Keep it up, Council President!

It really was a blast… and the proof is in this slideshow below. Betsy got some great shots, so be sure to check it out in full screen.

Following the end of the parade, we wove our way through University Heights, Hillcrest and downtown to our destination in Little Italy so we could join in on the festivities of the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Village from 4 to 8pm. Our streetcar, still wrapped up as a gift from San Diego’s past to San Diego’s future, served as the site for a scavenger hunt as children and adults searched for hidden candy canes on board the streetcar. A big thanks to Chris at the Little Italy Association for hosting us!  You can also see photos from this event in the slideshow below.

Tired but happy, we ended our day and let the streetcar catch some zzz’s. Thanks to all who boarded the Class 1, reminded us that history matters, and helped us get in the holiday spirit.

The Historic Class 1 Streetcars in the North Park Toyland Parade!

Published on November 29, 2012 in Events. 0 Comments

On Saturday Dec. 1st at 11am, historic Class 1 streetcar #138 will take a ride down University Ave.  for the North Park Toyland Parade, carrying our newly elected mayor Bob Filner and host of community leaders, friends, and family.

Hope you all are ready to enjoy a truly festive holiday celebration with the wonderful folks of North Park— I know we are! Come down and picture these streetcars running on the rail in San Diego once again, reconnecting and revitalizing our city’s urban neighborhoods.

You can see the full parade route right here. See you Saturday!

The 1915 Panama-California Exposition

Published on November 8, 2012 in History. 0 Comments

Photo of the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Panama-California Exposition

The opening of the Panama Canal was an event that was expected to usher in a new era of growth and prosperity for the West Coast. As such, San Diego’s leaders began to plan a grand exposition to advertise San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling westward through the Panama canal. The 1915 Panama-California Exposition not only helped elevate San Diego’s international profile, but it also led to the development one of San Diego’s most treasured resources, Balboa Park.

Of course, there was another historic treasure of San Diego that was designed and  built for the 1915 Exposition. John D. Spreckels had already donated the first $100,000 (nearly $2.5 million in today’s dollars) to kick off the fundraising drive for the development of the Exposition site, but he knew that they would also need to facilitate transportation for this event. Spreckels directed the engineers of his San Diego Electric Railway Company to design a special new streetcar to carry patrons to and from the Exposition. Homer MacNutt and Abel A. Butterworth drafted the designs for the Class 1 streetcar, a new model that combined the strengths of previous streetcar designs and uniquely refashioned them with the mild climate of San Diego in mind. These cars would serve both the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 and the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935 during their 1912-1939 run in San Diego. You can read more about the history of our Class 1 streetcars over at our website.

Recently our organization acquired a number of original antique items from both of the Expositions and we thought we’d share some photos with you all here! We’ve got a few postcards, souvenir tickets, an original menu, commemorative coins, and even medals from the groundbreaking ceremony of 1911. In the photo above you can actually see the men who wore those very medals! [1] Take a look at the slideshow below to get a glimpse of our collected turn-of-the-century relics.

Update: Video from the Bob Filner Press Conference

Published on October 12, 2012 in Events and News and Updates. 0 Comments

San Diego Historic Streetcars, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) and endorses no political candidate. However last Sunday, Congressman Bob Filner did endorse our project and we greatly appreciate his support and the visibility it can bring to our efforts. Check out the video footage of the event above!

We hope to continue to have the leaders of our city and our region recognize the Class 1 streetcars for what they are  — beautiful historic treasures — and also for what they can be: practical people movers on a national historic streetcar line, connecting and revitalizing our downtown and uptown neighborhoods.

If you’d like to get involved, please take a moment to find out how you can over at our website.