melrose was the first san francisco bay ferry designed to carry automobiles. southern pacific transportation company and predecessor railroads had been operating ferries between san francisco and oakland, california since 1862. some ferries were equipped to carry team-drawn wagons, but the increasing number of automobiles requiring transport encouraged building of a ferry with an unobstructed lower deck for automobiles and 400 seats on an upper deck for passengers. "melrose" was launched without engines on 11 april 1906. installation of engines being built at san francisco's union iron works was delayed by the 1906 san francisco earthquake a week after launching. the ferry was not completed until 1909. the side wheels were powered by two inclined tandem engines to avoid main deck obstruction by a traditional walking beam engine.