Muni Diaries

Reader Ronald Reiss has been collecting Muni transfers for many years. These transfers tell a story of Muni’s history, from Muni’s first lines (A or B Geary) to a briefly enforced, novel way to thwart fare evaders in the 1980s. Some of the transfers really tell a story of how families used Muni on weekends. He took some photos of some of the more interesting transfers to share with Muni Diaries readers.

If you have more transfers from any era that you’d like to share with Ronald for his amazing collection, please be sure to get in touch.

Take a ride through Muni history, from Ronald …

Above, 1910s to 1930s, from left to right:

1. One of the earliest Muni transfers, dating from the early ‘teens. Note that no line is listed; it likely comes from the A or B Geary, Muni’s first lines.

2. Union Street Line, c. 1916: The “E” Union line eventually became the 41-Union trolley coach line. It was known by its unique single-truck center door “dinky” cars.

3. Van Ness Avenue Line, mid-to late 1920s.

4. Stockton Street Line, 1930s. This was the original “F” line, the F-Stockton. It became the 30-Stockton line in the late 1940s when streetcars were phased out in favor of electric trolley coaches.

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