Once a year we head up to San Francisco to step into the past. Vintage buses from various decades are seen cruising streets downtown and along the Embarcadero. Rare streetcars from all around the world are polished and tuned up and set upon the rails for enthusiasts to ride MUNI Heritage Weekend!

Our weekend was pretty free, so we made plans to go up on Saturday and arrived by late morning. By the time we got there, the square where it’s held was bustling and it was very clear that we wouldn’t have the opportunity to get on the famous boat streetcar due to the long line already snaking down the sidewalk. We’ve all ridden the boat streetcar before though, so we were happy to get in the line set up for all the other vintage street cars they were running all weekend. Our first journey was on car 162, built in 1914, featuring livery from the late 1940s. After completing our loop up to Pier 39 and back, we headed underground to ride the MUNI Metro to Montgomery Station and then to Fogo de Chao for a very satisfying lunch.

After lunch, it was time for a bus ride! It was the lovely 3287, affectionately referred to as a “fishbowl” due to the design of the front windshield. It is a beautiful bus, and the buses took a different route to Pier 39 than the streetcars, so we got to enjoy a bit of sailing through downtown. At least, most of us did. Little Aaron ended up not feeling well and generally didn’t seem quite as enamored with the bus rides as his brother.

After the ride, we visited the gift shop and picked up a few used books and had an opportunity to chat with the folks from the Pacific Bus Museum in Fremont. We’ve never been, but they brought up some buses to look at on Saturday, which was super cool of them. We’ll have to make a point to go there on one of the weekends they’re open (which are currently the 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month 10am-2pm). With that, we headed home as the activities for the day were winding down at 4PM.

The next day, MJ and I decided to split up and have me take Adam up to the city for more MUNI Heritage Weekend, while he stayed home with Aaron. Eager to make it on the boat this time, Adam and I left home around 9AM, putting us downtown and in line for the streetcar right before the event began. Even so, there was already a line when we arrived! So we didn’t get on the first boat of the day, but Adam had fun in the square while I waited in line for it’s 40 minute loop.

And then we were off!

It’s always such a delight to ride on. Plus, the conductor on the boat streetcar was incredibly kind and answered questions about the operating the streetcar that Adam and I had. We completed the full loop down to Pier 39 and back, and then worked out our strategy for the rest of the day. Adam wanted to check off all the streetcars and buses on the event card that was given out. I was pretty sure it was impossible but was willing to try with him. We noticed that in addition to requested stops, all the streetcars and buses made a stop at Pier 39 where a handful of people usually got on/off. If we took one vehicle to Pier 39, and picked up a new one at Pier 39, we’d get two rides in!

The first streetcar to come along was the 496 Melbourne. Given that I rode so many during my Australia trip, I joked that it was clearly my 2026 hobby. It was still fun though, it was nice getting aboard a Melbourne streetcar stateside again.

At Pier 39 we executed our plan to hop off and then get on another vehicle, this time the 2230, a 1956 Mack Diesel Coach. Afterwards, we got off at Ferry Building to have some pizza for lunch, which in spite of being Detroit-style pizza, Adam was a good sport about eating.

After lunch, we did a little more transit-themed shopping around the square while waiting for the Number 1 to roll around – and then almost missed it! We swiftly finished a transaction at the MUNI shop where Adam got a hat and we picked up a leash for Zara, and rushed over to hop aboard. I do love riding on the 1.

At Pier 39 we again stepped off and waited as the 2230 went by, since the 8350, a Neoplan USA Diesel Coach, was right behind it! Built in 2001, it was the newest bus we road all weekend, and the only model I’d ridden before during the actual service life in San Francisco.

Back at the square, we had a false start while we waited for 4574 to depart, only to discover that it had broken down! Oh, no! Adam was pretty disappointed that he couldn’t check that one off on his list, but at least we had a good reason for missing one.

Instead, we managed to squeeze on to the 578 “Dinky”, a streetcar that looks a lot like a cable car. It was the one ride where I found myself standing during the whole journey to Pier 39, but at least some people were able to squeeze over to offer Adam a seat. We then took the 042 White Motor Co. Gasoline Coach from 1938 back to Ferry Building.

The day was winding down at this point and we weren’t sure we’d get another ride in, but then we saw the 9010 Orion Diesel Coach from 1991 about to depart on a final ride. I’m so glad we caught it, they took a slightly different route that took us up a steep hill in Chinatown and then down by Union Square. It was the perfect way to conclude our day (aside from the BART ride home, of course).

Adam didn’t quite manage to check everything off on his list, but we got very close! The only streetcar we missed was the 1815, which was partially my fault because I didn’t recognize it as distinct from the other Milan trams that they have out on regular F-Line service. And the only functional bus we missed out on was the 0163 which we simply ran out of time for.

We were both a little disappointed to leave, especially when another attendee noticed Adam’s disappointment and let him know that there were opportunities to extend the day by riding one of the buses or streetcars back to the depot. Alas, Yom Kippur was literally on the horizon and I had to get home to eat before sunset.

Even without that extension, we had a wonderful time. I’m grateful for this time with Adam doing something we both clearly enjoy so much, I know I won’t always be able to have this kind of time with him. I’ll also say I think this event gets busier every year. There was often contention to get on vehicles! And we almost didn’t make it on our preferred one a couple times. That’s good though, it’s nice to be surrounded by other transit fans, and it gives me hope for the future, both in terms of public transit in general, and for preservation.

Next year we’ll have to head up early on Saturday to get a head start! And maybe plan on staying late for a depot journey. We’ll definitely have to see if we can manage to get Aaron and MJ on the boat with us.