Riding Berkeley’s Key System Trains, 1906
by Keith Skinner • September 29, 2011 • History • 2 Comments
Shot just over a month after the great 1906 earthquake decimated much of San Francisco, this film shows Berkeley at the beginning of a boom that would continue until roughly 1920. It begins on the northbound #3 Oxford St. trolley near Berkeley Way. The camera person changes cars at Hearst St. and boards an eastbound #4 trolley up Hearst. An incident that may or may not have been staged ensues near the intersection of Hearst and Scenic. After resuming its eastern trajectory, the car turns north on Euclid en route to its terminus at Hilgard.
The Key System, which would later be joined by an electrified Southern Pacific fleet of streetcars, was one of the many attractions that Berkeley offered those seeking respite from the destruction on the other side of the bay.
A full turn-by-turn description of the streetcar’s journey and more information about the film can be found here.
Keith,
I was intrigued by the hope of seeing some 1906 footage, but the video (of “A Trip to Berkeley”) doesn’t load for me. Any suggestions?
See you Thursday at Colleen’s.
Betsy
Hi, Betsy.
There are any number of possibilities but, briefly: make sure your browser is up to date, the vid is a YouTube video so go to http://www.youtube.com and make sure you can view ANY video. Your firewall or browser settings may be preventing you from viewing that type of file or you could have an incorrect default viewer. If you can watch other YouTube vids, it may simply be your popup blocker. Make sure you temporarily allow the popup.
If you still can’t view it, let me know and I’ll send you some other links.