Rails of the Golden City - NEW!

DVD $29.95 • STREAM $4.50 (below)

150th Anniversary of Cable Cars
in San Francisco
1873-2023

Out of the Halcyon Days of the Comstock Nabobs
Came the invention of the Cable Car in 1873.

From the Earthquake and Fire of 1906
To Baghdad-by-the-Bay of 1955.
The Rails of the Golden City
Provided transportation for the people
of San Francisco.

The historic trains run again in this
Archival film-based documentary.

In 1873, Andrew Hallidie utilized wire rope to first run a Cable Car on the Clay Street hill in San Francisco. This film celebrates 150 years of railroads in the City by the Golden Gate. Drawing on archival footage dating back to the Earthquake of 1906, and stills from 1873, the story is told of trains running in SF.

Operations of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Municipal Railway of SF, and the White Front Cars of the Market Street Railway are shown in detail. Footage of the earthquake – before and after – highlight the moments when San Francisco closed the doors on the halcyon days of the Big Bonanza of the Comstock, richly detailed by the eloquent writings of Lucius Beebe, and voiced by Richard Beggs. Vibrant Kodachrome color footage of the City between 1940 and 1955 allows one to visit a time, which will never come again.

16mm COLOR FOOTAGE OF:
8 Cable Car Lines
6 Lines of Market Street Railway’s White Front Cars
3 Abandoned Muni Streetcar Lines
Southern Pacific Steam in 1955
Shops, Carbarns, Maps 

PLUS:
Interview with Ray Muther, 87, who brings
the railroads to life with his vivid memories

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“There's only one word that describes this DVD, and that word is ‘Wow’. I mean, literally just wow. The footage here is so rare, so crisp, so clear, some of it looks like it was filmed yesterday. It's all here to soak in and I guarantee that you will watch this way more than just once. There is so much to absorb. Great value for the money. Very highly recommended!”
          - Frank Garon, Railfan and Railroad Magazine

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64 Minutes – Stereo Sound – Wide Screen
DVD $29.95 • STREAM $4.50  (72 hours)