Open-Air Public Transit in the Blackpool Boat Car

How do you know when it's a warm day in San Francisco?

If you see the 1934 Blackpool, England Boat Tram making the F Market run down Market Street, that's a pretty good clue.

The Boat Tram is certainly the most fun ride in San Francisco's exceptionally fun vintage streetcar fleet. Open to the elements and strung with colored lights, it was built in 1934 to serve vacationers at the beachfront resort town of Blackpool, England. Telstar Logistics has never visited Blackpool, but our sources describe it as being home to a slightly seedy and slightly fantastic amusement promenade -- sort of like Seaside Heights, New Jersey, except in England, and without all the guido guys driving Camaros.

Twelve boat cars were originally built for Blackpool, and they served on-and-off until the 1970s, when one of the cars was shipped off to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to participate in the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations. That car eventually ended up in San Francisco, where it was restored to participate in the annual Trolley Festivals that did so much to lay the groundwork for the permanent return of vintage streetcars along today's F Line. Four boat cars remain in service in Blackpool, as does the one in San Francisco. And that's the car that's often seen rolling past the Ferry Building whenever temperatures start to climb.

Open-air streetcars?  Strung with Christmas lights? On a warm day?  If that's not public transit heaven, nothing is.

LINKS:
Blackpool Boat Cars (Enthusiast website)

Blackpool Tramway (Wikipedia article)

Blackpool (Flickr photo group)

PREVIOUSLY:
San Francisco's Streetcar Revival

Municipal Railway Streetcar 1006, Then and Now

Vintage Streetcars Deliver Economic Development

Lost Streetcars of Lake Tahoe Fated to Become Diners and Sushi Bars in Missouri

(Photos: Color images of San Francisco's Boat Car by Telstar Logistics. Historic black-and-white from John Burke's Blackpool Web Page)

Comments

[April - RC Boat Shop]

Love that tram! I wish they would bring back trams here in the UK, our public transport system sucks big time.

[Boating Equipment]

Wow that's pretty cool! Very unique

[LuvGasRCCars]

This kind of reminds me of "the Duck" in Seattle WA. Was converted to show tourists around historical hotspots in the city.

[Trolleypup]

I know it is frustrating...I drive it and it is frustrating.

Here are the conditions for the Boat to come out: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, qualified crew to operate it, decent weather (no rain, no bitter cold[1]), it is not held for maintenance or repairs.

Also, when we do get it out, it spends the day on the Embarcadero, rather than being exposed to the risks of Market Street...only operating on Market St on the way to and from the Embarcadero.

[1] Every now and then we'll bundle up (fur hats and all) and bring it out on a bright sunny cold day (it was out last Christmas, for example).

[Trolleypup]

I know it is frustrating...I drive it and it is frustrating.

Here are the conditions for the Boat to come out: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, qualified crew to operate it, decent weather (no rain, no bitter cold[1]), it is not held for maintenance or repairs.

Also, when we do get it out, it spends the day on the Embarcadero, rather than being exposed to the risks of Market Street...only operating on Market St on the way to and from the Embarcadero.

[1] Every now and then we'll bundle up (fur hats and all) and bring it out on a bright sunny cold day (it was out last Christmas, for example).

[Radio Controlled Boats]

They just don't make em like this anymore. How sad.