The Cable Car Home Page by Joe Thompson

I want to use this site to share my knowledge about and interest in cable cars (also known as cable tramways). I want to keep it simple. I welcome input from any source, especially about cable cars in cities other than San Francisco. I hope to build this page up gradually as time permits. I welcome information, photographs, and suggestions.

Where Should I Go from Here? Visit the Map

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest The 48th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest has been postponed till August.

Angels Flight is Back Angels Flight in Los Angeles returned to service on 15-March-2010.

Tales From the Grip: "Rookie Bites" I am proud to be the host of gripman Val Lupiz's column: Tales From the Grip.

The Feel of the Rope Reflections on Life at the San Francisco Cable Car Division I can highly recommend Nick Tomizawa's dvd The Feel of the Rope: "a tribute to the men and women that carry on a San Francisco tradition that has continued for over 130 years. Through the words of employees past and present representing two generations of operators, managers, maintainers, trainers, and car builders, you will get an insider's look at what makes the cable cars the most unique transit system in the world." Read my Review. Read about or see some other Cable Car Videos.

Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco Second Edition by Robert Callwell & Walter E. Rice, Ph.D. The second edition of Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco -- not yet available in a print-and-paper book format -- is available on this web site.

Ten Years of Kitsch Plastic toy cable car 501 posed on top of its box. I like tin cars better. See more collectible items on my Cable Car Kitsch page. See toys, magazine ads, and other new items.

Table of Contents

• What is a cable car? (updated 01-Sep-2005)
• How do cable cars work? (updated 01-Aug-2007)
• Where and when did cable cars operate? (updated 01-Aug-2010)
  • San Francisco (updated 01-Jun-2010)
  • Other California Cities
    • Los Angeles (updated 01-Apr-2010)
    • Oakland (updated 01-Jul-2009)
    • San Diego (updated 01-Jun-2009)
  • Chicago (updated 01-Mar-2010)
  • Kansas City (updated 01-Aug-2008)
  • New York/New Jersey (updated 01-Nov-2007)
    • Hoboken (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Newark (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Binghamton (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Brooklyn (updated 01-Sep-2006)
    • New York (updated 01-May-2006)
  • Pennsylvania (new 01-Aug-2010)
    • Philadelphia (updated 01-Aug-2010)
  • Pacific Northwest (updated 01-Dec-2008)
    • Portland (new 01-Feb-2003)
    • Seattle (updated 01-Aug-2010)
    • Tacoma (new 01-Mar-2003)
    • Spokane (new 01-May-2003)
    • Butte (new 01-Jun-2003)
  • Australia/New Zealand (updated 01-Mar-2009)
    • Melbourne (updated 01-Dec-2001)
    • Sydney (new 01-Dec-2001)
    • Dunedin (updated 01-Sep-2005)
  • UK (updated 01-Jul-2010)
    • Birmingham (new 01-Jul-2010)
    • Douglas, Isle of Man (updated 01-Aug-2004)
    • Edinburgh (new 01-Jun-2010)
    • Glasgow (new 01-Oct-2001)
    • Liverpool (new 01-Oct-2001)
    • London (updated 01-Dec-2009)
    • Matlock, Derbyshire (new 01-May-2010)
  • Other Cities
    • Providence, Rhode Island (new 01-Jul-2008)
    • Denver (new 01-Mar-2006)
    • Paris (new 01-Nov-2003)
• Who Was Important in the History of the Cable Car? (updated 01-Jul-2010)
• Why do I Maintain This Site? (updated 01-Apr-2008)
• News (updated 01-Jul-2010)
  • News Archive
• 2010 Anniversaries (updated 01-Jan-2010)
  • Anniversaries Archive
• Thanks/Links (updated 01-Jun-2010)
• What's New (updated every month)
  • What's New Archive
• Ten Years Ago (updated every month)
  • Ten Years Ago Archive
• San Francisco Cable Car Chronology by Walter Rice and friends (updated 01-Jul-2009)
• Miscellany (updated 01-Apr-2010)
• Site Map (updated 01-Aug-2010)
• Bibliography (updated 01-Jun-2010)
• Guest Book (new 01-Sep-1998)
• Picture of the Month (updated every month)
• Search This Site (updated 01-Oct-2006)
• Legal Stuff (modified 01-Jul-2001)

News

Call to Revive the Mount Beacon Incline Railway - 28-May-2010

A postcard shows the two cars of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway, which ran from 1902 to 1978.

An article in Hudson Valley Business says that a group of citizens in Beacon, New York wants to revive the Mount Beacon Incline Railway, which ran from 1902 to 1978. A 1983 fire destroyed the original line. They believe a new funicular will be good for business.

Second Gripwoman - 14-April-2010

Congratulations to Willa Johnson, who became only the second woman to make it through the training program and become a gripwoman. The first gripwoman, Fannie Mae Barnes, retired a few years ago.

New Upgrade and Refurbishment Plan - 25-March-2010

Muni announced plans to upgrade and refurbish the cable car lines for the first time since the 1982-1984 reconstruction. The California Street line will be down from January to June 2011. Muni has not announced a date for work on Powell Street.

Angels Flight Returns - 15-March-2010

Angels Flight in Los Angeles returned to service on 15-May-2010 It had been closed since a fatal accident on 01-Feb-2001. The line has been redesigned to add safety features that were omitted when the line was restored in 1996.

Book: Early Pullman Car Freight and Passenger Car Production by Eric Neubauer - 28-February-2010

Did you know that some cable car lines ran Pullmans? Not sleepers, just rail cars built by Pullman.

I just read Eric Neubauer's new E-Book, Early Pullman Car Freight and Passenger Car Production. It is an impressive work, more than 370 pages listing Pullman passenger and freight car orders from the 1860s until the end of 1911. He gives as much detail as he could find for each order, including the lot number, the company that placed the order, the numbers of the cars, the order quantity, the capacity (in pounds) of the cars, the type, the weight, the capactity (in cubic feet), the inside length, the plant, the date built, the floor plan (Pullman had standard numbered plans), and the unit cost.

This book will be a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in any of the hundreds of railroads that ordered cars and trucks from Pullman. I also enjoyed the names of some of the companies (Multnomah Street Railway, Kankakee Electric Railway, Akron & Cuyahoga Falls Rapid Transit) and the cars (Lochnivar, Circassia, Ocmulgee, Eunomia, Coconino).

Order the book using Eric's website (follow the Eric's Books link): Eric's Railroad Car History

Penang Last Run - 21-February-2010

Thank you to Ric Francis for reporting that the Penang Hills Railway, a funicular in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, made its last run in its current form on this day. The current system is in two sections and passengers transfer in the middle. The upgraded system will run directly from the top to the bottom. The work is scheduled to be complete by 28-September-2010, but people regard that date with skepticism.

Book: Carville-by-the Sea by Woody LaBounty - 29-December-2009

I received Woody LaBounty's new book, Carville-by-the-Sea, San Francisco's Streetcar Suburb as a Christmas gift. I enjoyed learning more about San Francisco's Carville neighborhood. He gives a well-documented history of the growth of Carville from a single shack to a neighborhood with water, electric power, a school, and a firehouse.

He frames the story with his dream of buying a house in San Francisco.

I also appreciated the way the author included Gelett Burgess and his writings about Carville.

Order the book using the supporting website: http://www.carville-book.com/

Saint Paul Cable Car Remnant - 16-December-2009

Workers relocating utilities on Fourth Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota to make way for the proposed Central Corridor light-rail line found a yoke from the Selby Avenue cable car line, a portion of which had been converted to an electric line in 1898. Part of the line became a counterbalance. John Diers, a local rail historian had warned them that they might find artifacts. I'm happy they listened to him. The yoke may be preserved and included in a historic display at Union Depot.

Sudden Stop Injures Passengers - 21-November-2009

A cable problem caused a sudden stop by a Powell Street car. 4 people were injured.

Another Big Rainfall Stops Cable Cars - 19-October-2009

A short but heavy rainfall this afternoon, flooded the Van Ness Muni Metro station. Flooding at Bay and Taylor stopped the Powell/Mason line.

Big Rainfall Stops Cable Cars - 13-October-2009

2.48 inches of rain fell in downtown San Francisco this afternoon, flooding intersections and freeway entrances. High winds knocked down a tree on Hyde Street, which blocked the Powell/Hyde line.

City to Buy Cable Car Museum Collection - 07-October-2009

The Examiner reports that the City and the Cable Car Museum have reached a deal for the city to purchase the historic cable cars and other artifacts in the museum's collection. There was a dispute over the value of the priceless items.

City Van Hits Cable Car - 29-September-2009

There are two new videos about cable cars:

• Virtual Field Trip - Cable Cars in San Francisco

  Meet Me at the Corner produces what they call Virtual Field Trips on video. The videos are aimed at home schooled kids, but they are suitable for everyone. They just rolled out a video about cable cars. A seventh grader interviewed me and did a really good job. You can see the video here:
  Meet Me at the Corner

  There are lots of other videos on interesting topics (check out the one on falconry at the US Air Force Academy), and guidelines for kids who want to make their own and submit them.

• Lords of the Rings

  Judy Tierney has produced a video about the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest called "Lords of the Rings" -- great title. "Lords of the Rings is a documentary about the San Francisco Cable Car Bell Ringing contest, profiling three champions who have won the title multiple times. Leonard Oats, winner of the last three contests, 5-time champion Bryon Cobb and 3-time champion Ken Lunardi describe the contest, talk about their own individual styles and offer a glimpse of what it is like to prepare for and compete in the annual event at Union Square."

  You can see the video here:
  http://vimeo.com/6283427

City Van Hits Cable Car - 07-September-2009

An inbound Powell Street cable car collided with a city van at Washington and Mason Streets. Four people were injured.

News Archive

Go to top of page.

2010 Anniversaries

175 years ago - 1835
Nov 30 - Samuel Clemens was born in Florida, Missouri

150 years ago - 1860
Apr 02 - Tracklaying began for the new Market Street Railroad
Jul 04 - The steam-powered Market Street Railroad made its first trip
Jul 15 - The steam-powered Market Street Railroad started revenue service
Nov 06 - Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States
Dec 20 - South Carolina seceded from the Union

125 years ago - 1885
Oct 08 - In Los Angeles, the Second Street Cable Railway started service
Oct 21 - The National and Pacific Cable Companies agreed to share the national market
Nov 06 - The Binghamton, New York experimental cable car line started running
Nov 11 - The first cable tramway service in Australia began to Richmond in Melbourne, Australia

New York Giants record: 85-27, 2nd place. Manager: James Mutrie. Mutrie began calling his players "My Giants". The name caught on.

100 years ago - 1910
Mar 29 - A car of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway derailed on the 12th Street incline and was struck by the following car.
Apr 22 - Mark Twain died

New York Giants record: 91-63, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

75 years ago - 1935
Feb 27 - A runaway automobile hit the California and Powell signal tower. Signalman James Chiamps later died.
Apr 30 - The Inner Circle of the Glasgow District Subway last ran with cable traction
Nov 30 - The Outer Circle of the Glasgow District Subway last ran with cable traction

New York Giants record: 91-62, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Terry.

50 years ago - 1960

San Francisco Giants record: 79-75, 5th place. Managers: Bill Rigney, Tom Sheehan.

25 years ago - 1985

San Francisco Giants record: 62-100, 6th place. Managers: Jimmy Davenport, Roger Craig. This was the only time the Giants have lost 100 games.

Anniversaries Archive

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What's New

• 01-August-2010
  • Picture of the Month: The intersection of Twelfth and Market Streets in Philadelphia, where the Market Street cable line crossed a horse car line.
  • On the new Pennsylvania page: More about the Philadelphia Traction Company, including a lithograph of Twelfth and Market Streets and an 1892 newspaper article about how Philadelphia gripmen were developing asymmetically
  • On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page, photos from our July, 2010 visit to Seattle
  • On the Los Angeles Area funiculars page: Roll out a new article about the funicular at the Victoria Station Restaurant at Universal City. Thank you to John Heller for telling me about the funicular. Also thanks to John for permission to use the only known photo of the Playa Del Rey Incline Railway
  • Archived May 2010 What's New and January-June 2009 news items
• 01-July-2010
  • Picture of the Month: Birmingham Central Tramways Company's single-jaw side grip.
  • On the UK page: The Birmingham Central Tramways Company, which operated cable trams until 1911
  • Also on the UK page: an 1897 article by William Newby Colam on the Conversion of Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello Horse Tramways Systems Into Cable Traction
  • On the Who page: Thanks to John Colam, a cousin, a photo and biographical information about engineer William Newby Colam, who was involved with several UK cable tramways. Also engineers Edward Pritchard and Joseph Kincaid, who designed and built the Birmingham Central Tramways Company's cable tram line.
  • Added News item about an effort to revive the Mount Beacon Incline Railway
  • Archived April 2010 What's New and January-June 2009 news items
• 01-June-2010
  • Picture of the Month: Edinburgh Cable Tram 209.
  • On the UK page: The Edinburgh Northern Cable Tramways/Edinburgh and District Tramways Company, Ltd, which operated until 1923 and an 1890 article by William Newby Colam on the Edinburgh Northern Cable Tramways
  • On the Who page: A new article about engineer William Newby Colam, who was involved with several UK cable tramways
  • On the Cable Car Video page: Two videos of cars rounding the corner at Powell and Jackson. One of a car backing into the barn at Washington and Jackson. One of a car running from Jackson and Mason to Washington
  • On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: Thanks to Dexter Wong, I added The Sniper
  • Add link to new cable car page, Coming to Grips
  • Archived March 2010 What's New

What's New Archive

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Ten Years Ago

• 01-Aug-2000
  • Picture of the Month: Philadelphia Traction train
  • Roll out Philadelphia Traction Company on the Other Cities page. Later moved to the Pennsylvania page
  • Add news item about bell ringing contest
  • In the Bibliography: update information about J Bucknall Smith book.
• 01-Jul-2000
  • Picture of the Month: State Street, Chicago at night
  • Roll out page with excerpt from "South of the Slot" by Jack London.
  • Add State Street at night postcard to Chicago page
  • Add more information about Portland Cable Trams Inc to Melbourne page. Add thanks to Bruce McMillan for the information.
  • Add link to John Smatlak's Railway Preservation Resources page
  • Add photo of Benjamin Brooks to Who page
  • Archive news stories and Jan-Jun 2000 What's New
• 01-Jun-2000
  • Picture of the Month: DB Fisk Advertisement
  • Mystery Picture Contest results.
  • Roll out Seattle Miscellany section with article about ferry Kalakala (later moved to my San Francisco Bay Ferryboats site.
  • Add newspaper items about ferry Kalakala and Demoro Key System books to bibliography.
  • Add mention of 1897 movie clip to Chicago page
  • Add thanks to First & Fastest, a magazine about the electric railways in the Chicago area for recommending this site in its Summer, 2000 issue. Add thanks to Val Golding for supplying newspaper clippings about Kalakala. Add thanks to Yahoo for listing this site in its directory. Add link to Clive Mottram's Tramway and Trolleybus Images.

Ten Years Ago Archive

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Legal Stuff

The opinions expressed in The Cable Car Home Page are mine.

All copyrights and trademarks belong to the people or firms that own them. I have always tried to give credit where credit is due. If I have failed and you can correct me, please let me know immediately. In such cases, I apologize beforehand and I mean no harm.

In general, the contents of The Cable Car Home Page (unless otherwise noted) are the copyright of Joe Thompson.

Following the links on this site may cause you to leave the Cable Car Home Page and enter the website of a third party. I have no influence whatsoever over the design and content of such websites and can accept absolutely no responsibility for them.