Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 6h

Made twice baked potatoes.

Finished reading Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

The wind is low. The air cool. The sycamore across the street is glowing from the street light.

My dog is curled up on my bed.

It doesn't get much better than this. Enjoy each day as it comes and you will live. 🙂

1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 2d

Ah yes! Certainly.

Have you ever heard of the Paul Smith Electric RR?

3

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 2d

As a vintage fashion enthusiast I cannot help but point out how the centre gentleman has a collar gap: a travesty in vintage and modern fashion.

1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 2d

Frank Hicks doing what he does best! A titan of midwestern interurban knowledge.

I wasn't aware the Illinois Terminal was rare though.

1 4

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 2d

It's important to remember that at this time, other Bay Area streetcars were already becoming "ancient," as electric railway technology rapidly progressed.

The "Huntingtons" resembled the first standardised modern car in the West Coast.

Photo Credits:
sfmemory.org/Display/sfm0...

Unknown Location

East Shore and Suburban Railway streetcar #45 with crew

sfmemory.org

3

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 2d

At the turn of the century, Richmond boasted the best streetcars in the Bay Area.

Built in 1906, the East Shore & Suburban Ry's "Huntington" cars impressed everybody. From comfort to agility, riders and crew alike adored the seven 'modern' cars, whose design came from trolleys down in LA!

c. 1906

1 1 5

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 4d

Bay Area transit teeters on a fiscal precipice. To save it, riders and workers are banding together.

In my debut article for the Bay Area Current, explore the everyday people behind the fight to save transit and what that means for solidarity. Thank you!

bayareacurrent.com/the-people-a...

The People Against Transit Cuts

Bay Area transit is heading off a cliff. Can riders and workers in San Jose slam the brakes?

bayareacurrent.com

4 9

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 6d

Photo Credits: sfmemory.org/Display/sfm0...

Townsend & 4th

View westerly on Townsend toward 4th Street, Muni F-line streetcar #13 turning onto Townsend. Southern Pacific railroad tracks and cars. Second to last day before F-line streetcar service ended. Rain...

sfmemory.org

1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 6d

Shuffling through the downpour, an empty
Muni A-Type streetcar glides onto Townsend St from 4th, its bells muffled by the typical pluvial SF winter.

It's January 18th, 1951: the final day of F-line streetcars. Once 'bustituted,' the A-types will be scrapped, save for the very first car: #1.

1 5 10

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 6d

Photo Credits: eastbayhillsproject.org/gallery/doub...

Double Track Curve - Views to the West - East Bay Hills Project

eastbayhillsproject.org

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 6d

Steel wheels whining on the curve, the Sacramento Northern "Comet" races into Saranap, six-cars filled to capacity for a 2hr 47min journey to Sacramento.

Even in its heyday, it was unusual to see SN trains exceeding three cars. However, big events in the Capital often warranted such.

c. 9/27/1936

1 1 6

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 7d

Just wanted to extend my thanks for your website!

Your citations and story on the Carver Line was of great help when I came across this photo of one of its fabled gas-electrics. Love everything you got and I look forward to more of your research in the future!

1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 7d

There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see.

The depot was built in 1904, abandoned in 1958, and repurposed into a myriad of tenants. It's a school nowadays.

1 1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 7d

A real damn shame. I'm sure the Selwood shop crew tried their best to keep those wooden cars running as best they could.

1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you for commenting! Solano Avenue really did use to be a bustle of rail activity — imagine the sight and sounds of all those interurbans clattering, motors whining, down the street!

And to think: Solano & Masonic is now where BART runs. Have you ever seen the old ATSF depot on University?

1

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 7d

Photo Credits: m.facebook.com/story.php?st...

Log in or sign up to view

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

m.facebook.com

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 7d

Crazy to think Solano Avenue once looked like this!

Drivers pounding, an ATSF passenger train thunders into still undeveloped Albany, hissing past the Masonic Ave Tower. Built in 1911, the Tower ensured the safety of ATSF trains and Southern Pacific interurbans.

c. 1913 (Paul Ayers photo)

2 3 33

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 8d

Trees are cold too, I guess.

1 9

Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 8d

A picture can speak a thousand words — this photo tells of a journey.

Native to Indiana, Portland Traction (PTC) #4001 came to Oregon after buses replaced it in Terre Haute. PTC, in desperate need of cars, gladly took it.

Proving apt in Portland's suburbs, it ran until 1958. (TrolleyDodger photo)