Finding a bit of Toronto in San Francisco

A Toronto native feels at home in San Francisco, finding the No. 1074 streetcar on the famous F line.

This is the cheapest and coolest way to see the sights after walkers weary of all the hills. See Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, the Embarcardero, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Castro and more on this streetcar line. Jump on and off to shop, grab a bite or sightsee for only $2 (for a 90-minute transfer.)

San Francisco is the only place to ride a “Red Rocket” on public transit.  Toronto once had the largest fleet of these streetcars in North America — buying up discards from major U.S. cities and renovating them — but has replaced them with more modern light rail cars.

“Nowhere on the continent have streetcars had such continuing success, with routes running all over Canada’s largest city to this day,” according to the Market Street Railway, the non-profit devoting to preserving historic transit in San Francisco.

San Francisco bought some Red Rockets in the ’70s and this year, introduced made-in-America streetcars newly rejuvenated in Toronto’s historic red and cream colors, complete with TTC logo.

It’s another reason both cities are known for having the best public transit networks on the continent.

Toronto’s “Red Rocket” restored and running again in San Francisco. (Photo courtesy of Market Street Railway)