The promoter of the line was Andrew Smith Hallidie, and the engineer was William Eppelsheimer.

Accounts differ as to exactly how involved Hallidie was in the inception of the Clay Street Hill Railway.

However, at least one source[2] reports that the run took place a day late, on August 2, but the city chose not to void the franchise.

The Clay Street line started regular service on September 1, 1873, and was a financial success.

In 1888, it was absorbed into the Sacramento-Clay line of the Ferries and Cliff House Railway, and it subsequently became a small part of the San Francisco cable car system.