Posted on Feb 3, 2018
Twin Peaks Tunnel Construction and Opening 1918; San Francisco Streetcar Tunnel
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Just looking at this video , I was in awe at the construction practices that were carried out 100+ years ago . Nowadays OSHA and MSHA would have a field day there. But , that is the way it was ! Something to contemplate about safety and health...........
Party Like it’s 1918: The Twin Peaks Tunnel Turns 100 !
By Erica Kato
The Twin Peaks Tunnel is hitting a huge milestone this year—turning 100! That’s 100 years of access to the southern and western areas of San Francisco. We’re celebrating with a photo exhibit and walking tour on February 3rd at the West Portal Library Open House from 1 to 5pm. Stop by for some swag, a history lesson, and a walking tour lead by Rick Laubscher from the Market Street Railway.
Here’s a bit of history: Following two and a half years of construction, the Twin Peaks tunnel was complete by mid-1917 and the final pieces of streetcar infrastructure were laid in place later that year. By 1918, Muni’s K Ingleside streetcar made its debut through the Beaux-Arts style façade of the West Portal of the Twin Peaks Tunnel to a crowd of cheering residents. Prior to the creation of Muni Metro and its Market Street subway tunnel, the Twin Peaks Tunnel emerged heading towards downtown at its East Portal on Market at Castro, with streetcars continuing above ground. By the late 1970s, we were well on our way to constructing the East and West Portals in preparation for what you use today—the Muni Metro subway.
Today, the tunnel is integral in transporting about 80,000 riders dialing on the K Ingleside, L Taraval, and M Oceanview lines.
It’s no surprise that at 100-years-old, the Twin Peaks Tunnel needs extensive work to its interior to continue to operate safety and reliably for years to come. The tunnel's infrastructure, including the tracks, walls and drainage systems, must be maintained in a timely manner to keep up with the demands of the Muni system. The Twin Peaks Tunnel is currently under a speed restriction, which slows down trains as they travel through. Replacing the tracks will lift the speed restriction and allow trains to move faster through the tunnel and speed up travel times. Seismic reinforcements will better protect the tunnel's overall structure and stability.
https://www.sfmta.com/blog/party-it%E2%80%99s-1918-twin-peaks-tunnel-turns-100
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks_Tunnel
http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Twin_Peaks_Tunnel
Additional video footage :
https://youtu.be/aFjap6Fva_E
@ col mikel COL Mikel J. Burroughs @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen F. @ ltc wayne LTC Wayne Brandon @ ltc frank LTC (Join to see) @ maj william Maj William W. 'Bill' Price @ capt tom Capt Tom Brown @ capt marty Maj Marty Hogan @ smsgt doc SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas @ tsgt joe TSgt Joe C. @ sra christopher SrA Christopher B. SSG David Andrews SSG Robert Webster @ sgt randy Sgt Randy Wilber @ sgt jim SGT Jim Arnold @ sgt david SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth @ sp5 mark SP5 Mark Kuzinski @ cpl dave CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins @ po1 chip PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Party Like it’s 1918: The Twin Peaks Tunnel Turns 100 !
By Erica Kato
The Twin Peaks Tunnel is hitting a huge milestone this year—turning 100! That’s 100 years of access to the southern and western areas of San Francisco. We’re celebrating with a photo exhibit and walking tour on February 3rd at the West Portal Library Open House from 1 to 5pm. Stop by for some swag, a history lesson, and a walking tour lead by Rick Laubscher from the Market Street Railway.
Here’s a bit of history: Following two and a half years of construction, the Twin Peaks tunnel was complete by mid-1917 and the final pieces of streetcar infrastructure were laid in place later that year. By 1918, Muni’s K Ingleside streetcar made its debut through the Beaux-Arts style façade of the West Portal of the Twin Peaks Tunnel to a crowd of cheering residents. Prior to the creation of Muni Metro and its Market Street subway tunnel, the Twin Peaks Tunnel emerged heading towards downtown at its East Portal on Market at Castro, with streetcars continuing above ground. By the late 1970s, we were well on our way to constructing the East and West Portals in preparation for what you use today—the Muni Metro subway.
Today, the tunnel is integral in transporting about 80,000 riders dialing on the K Ingleside, L Taraval, and M Oceanview lines.
It’s no surprise that at 100-years-old, the Twin Peaks Tunnel needs extensive work to its interior to continue to operate safety and reliably for years to come. The tunnel's infrastructure, including the tracks, walls and drainage systems, must be maintained in a timely manner to keep up with the demands of the Muni system. The Twin Peaks Tunnel is currently under a speed restriction, which slows down trains as they travel through. Replacing the tracks will lift the speed restriction and allow trains to move faster through the tunnel and speed up travel times. Seismic reinforcements will better protect the tunnel's overall structure and stability.
https://www.sfmta.com/blog/party-it%E2%80%99s-1918-twin-peaks-tunnel-turns-100
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks_Tunnel
http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Twin_Peaks_Tunnel
Additional video footage :
https://youtu.be/aFjap6Fva_E
@ col mikel COL Mikel J. Burroughs @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen F. @ ltc wayne LTC Wayne Brandon @ ltc frank LTC (Join to see) @ maj william Maj William W. 'Bill' Price @ capt tom Capt Tom Brown @ capt marty Maj Marty Hogan @ smsgt doc SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas @ tsgt joe TSgt Joe C. @ sra christopher SrA Christopher B. SSG David Andrews SSG Robert Webster @ sgt randy Sgt Randy Wilber @ sgt jim SGT Jim Arnold @ sgt david SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth @ sp5 mark SP5 Mark Kuzinski @ cpl dave CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins @ po1 chip PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
American History
Construction
Technology
Safety
San Francisco
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 10
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Thanks for sharing a great historical video of early twentieth century technology in action long before OSHA existed SGT John " Mac " McConnell :-)
Work hazards were common and of course in 2018 the influenza epidemic killed 100,000 or more which dwarfed the accident rate and even war dead number for the USA in 1917 and 1918.
Life expectancy was shorter for a lot of reasons; but, life was also much simpler and the sense of community in neighborhoods was stronger. Neighbors helping neighbors out of necessity built stronger communities.
What do you think? COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see)
Work hazards were common and of course in 2018 the influenza epidemic killed 100,000 or more which dwarfed the accident rate and even war dead number for the USA in 1917 and 1918.
Life expectancy was shorter for a lot of reasons; but, life was also much simpler and the sense of community in neighborhoods was stronger. Neighbors helping neighbors out of necessity built stronger communities.
What do you think? COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see)
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SGT John " Mac " McConnell
This was a time when it had to be done right the first time.... In most cases ! This was great film of the industrial revolution. Work ethics was much greater back then, than most today's work practice. Quantity over quality ! So sad that it has come to this today LTC Stephen F. .
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Thanks for sharing. It s fun to note that this is a transitional period from animal to power equipment.
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Don't recall going through a tunnel when riding SF street cars, but pretty much stayed in downtown areas.
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