Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
The Key System in the 1950s. Vintage film from the best days to the last days of the much-beloved San Francisco, Oakland and Bay Area transit company.
No AI was used to bring this show to you. Read about our AI Policy and how we get videos ready for YouTube at: Pentrex.com/AI
About Pentrex: For 40+ Years we've been the leader in railroad video entertainment. See us at Pentrex.com and right here on YouTube, with the Official Pentrex Channel!
About this show: Climb aboard a Key System interurban train at the downtown San Francisco Terminal and stand alongside the motorman as it rolls across the Bay Bridge. Then explore each of Key’s five lines, running on city streets and through their own private rights-of-way to Oakland, Piedmont, and Berkeley.
Get better quality and a permanent addition (with two more vintage electric shows) to your collection with the DVD:
pentrex.com/DVD-California-Electric-Trilogy-DVD_CAL3-DVD
0:00 The Key System and the Terminal Building
2:08 Lowering the 3rd rail pickup shoe
5:15 Key System history and map
8:09 Downtown Oakland
11:21 Tower 3
15:40 The "dead line" at Bridge Yard
16:14 A ride over the Bay Bridge to the Terminal
17:59 The end comes for the Key System
Key System car #187 photo by Jay Cross via a CCA 2.0 license.
Key System logo graphic from Wikimedia contributor Tbi1233 via a CCA 2.0 license.
Photo of BART train from Wikimedia contributor Maurits90 via a CCA 2.0 license.
The Key System in the 1950s. Vintage film from the best days to the last days of the much-beloved San Francisco, Oakland and Bay Area transit company.
No AI was used to bring this show to you. Read about our AI Policy and how we get videos ready for YouTube at: Pentrex.com/AI
About Pentrex: For 40+ Years we've been the leader in railroad video entertainment. See us at Pentrex.com and right here on YouTube, with the Official Pentrex Channel!
About this show: Climb aboard a Key System interurban train at the downtown San Francisco Terminal and stand alongside the motorman as it rolls across the Bay Bridge. Then explore each of Key’s five lines, running on city streets and through their own private rights-of-way to Oakland, Piedmont, and Berkeley.
Get better quality and a permanent addition (with two more vintage electric shows) to your collection with the DVD:
pentrex.com/DVD-California-Electric-Trilogy-DVD_CAL3-DVD
0:00 The Key System and the Terminal Building
2:08 Lowering the 3rd rail pickup shoe
5:15 Key System history and map
8:09 Downtown Oakland
11:21 Tower 3
15:40 The "dead line" at Bridge Yard
16:14 A ride over the Bay Bridge to the Terminal
17:59 The end comes for the Key System
Key System car #187 photo by Jay Cross via a CCA 2.0 license.
Key System logo graphic from Wikimedia contributor Tbi1233 via a CCA 2.0 license.
Photo of BART train from Wikimedia contributor Maurits90 via a CCA 2.0 license.
