And then you wait 35 minutes for the next one.

Look, we love the F line. We genuinely do. San Francisco's collection of vintage streetcars from around the world is one of the most charming transit features in any American city. The cars that roll along Market Street and the Embarcadero are living history — a rolling museum that actual people use to get actual places. In theory.

In practice, the F Market is one of SFMTA's most unreliable lines. Service gaps are legendary. The vintage cars break down with the regularity of a 1940s appliance (because that's literally what they are). And Muni has struggled for years to maintain a fleet that requires specialized parts and mechanics who essentially practice a dying trade.

Here's the tension: San Francisco spends enormous sums on its transit system and still can't deliver consistent service on one of its most iconic routes. SFMTA's budget has ballooned past $1.4 billion annually, yet riders on the F line are often left staring down the tracks wondering if that beautiful vintage car is actually coming or if it's sitting in a maintenance yard somewhere waiting on a part from Milan.

We're not saying scrap the heritage fleet — far from it. The F Market is a genuine asset, for tourism and for the city's soul. But charm doesn't excuse dysfunction. If you're going to operate a transit line with vintage equipment, you need to fund the maintenance infrastructure to back it up, not just shrug when the pretty streetcar doesn't show.

Beautiful photo, though. Seriously. Just don't ask how long the photographer had to wait for it.