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

Muni 100 Years -- 1912-2012 29-December-2012 will be the 100th birthday of the San Francisco Municipal Railway

Tales From the Grip: "Maybelle the Cable Car" I am proud to be the host of gripman Val Lupiz's column: Tales From the Grip. Special Update, December 2011: Maybelle the Cable Car.

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.

A front view of tin toy cable car 28. 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-Oct-2011)
• Where and when did cable cars operate? (updated 01-May-2011)
  • San Francisco (updated 01-Feb-2012)
  • Other California Cities
    • Los Angeles (updated 01-Nov-2011)
    • 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-Jan-2012)
    • Hoboken (updated 01-Jan-2012)
    • Newark (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Binghamton (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Brooklyn (updated 01-Sep-2006)
    • New York (updated 01-May-2006)
  • Ohio (updated 01-Sep-2011)
    • Cleveland (updated 01-Feb-2011)
    • Cincinnati (updated 01-Sep-2011)
  • 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-Nov-2011)
    • Melbourne (updated 01-Nov-2011)
    • Sydney (updated 01-Dec-2011)
    • Dunedin (updated 01-Sep-2005)
  • UK (updated 01-Feb-2012)
    • Birmingham (updated 01-Feb-2012)
    • Douglas, Isle of Man (updated 01-Jul-2011)
    • Edinburgh (new 01-Jun-2010)
    • Glasgow (updated 01-Oct-2011)
    • Liverpool (new 01-Oct-2001)
    • London (updated 01-Dec-2010)
    • Matlock, Derbyshire (new 01-May-2010)
  • Other Cities
    • Providence, Rhode Island (updated 01-Mar-2011)
    • Denver (new 01-Mar-2006)
    • Paris (new 01-Nov-2003)
• Who Was Important in the History of the Cable Car? (updated 01-Jan-2011)
• Why do I Maintain This Site? (updated 01-Nov-2011)
• News (updated 01-Feb-2012)
  • News Archive
• 2011 Anniversaries (updated 01-Jan-2011)
  • Anniversaries Archive
• Thanks/Links (updated 01-Jan-2011)
• 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-2011)
• Miscellany (updated 01-Apr-2011)
• Site Map (updated 01-Aug-2011)
• Bibliography (updated 01-Nov-2011)
• 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

Testing Car 26 - 18-January-2012

Newly rebuilt Powell Street car 26 made a test run this morning. The car is painted in Muni's 1950s green and cream livery.

Talking to Schoolkids - 14-September-2011

Car 3 on the Powell-Hyde line, crossing Mason at Jackson. September, 2011.

I talked to a group of 6 to 12 year olds from Brightworks School about cable cars after a walk around the cable car barn. It was too loud to talk inside. We took a walk up to Huntington Square so they could eat lunch and I could talk a bit and then answer questions. They enjoyed the noon bells at Grace Cathedral. They had some good questions like "What is the difference between a cable car and a bus?" and some interesting questions like "Has a cable car ever had a toilet?" (No) and "Has a cable car ever exploded?" (Yes)

Their favorite part: a crew was shoveling muck out of the sheave room and a crane on the street was pulling it up in barrels. I had a very good time.

Powell Street Promenade - 07-July-2011

Here is the Powell Street Promenade on the east side of Powell at Geary.

The Powell Street Promenade is part of the city's program of introducing neighborhood parklets. On street corners along Powell from Ellis to Geary, there are aluminum platforms with planters and railings. They may provide good spots for photographing cable cars.

I stood on the platform on the west side of Powell near Geary with my new camera and took this photo of car 25.

The World Famous San Francisco Cable Cars - 31-July-2011

Citypass.com has produced a wonderful graphic, "The World Famous San Francisco Cable Cars": http://www.citypass.com/blog/world-famous-san-francisco-cable-cars

It is well worth a visit.

Angels Flight Returns - 07-July-2011

Angels Flight, the Los Angeles funicular that returned to service in 2010 after a fatal accident in 2001, had been ordered to shut down in June, 2011 because of excessive wear on the wheel flanges of its two cars. It returned to service on 07-July-2011, just in time for me to make a visit to Angels Flight.

Photos I took during our visit to Angels Flight, as an animated gif, courtesy of gifka.com.

Cal Cable Line Returns - 27-June-2011

I took this photo at California and Kearny on 26-June-2011. Outbound car 56 climbs toward Kearny with a load of passengers.

The California Street line was closed down on 24-December-2010 for upgrading and refurbishment for the first time since the 1982-1984 reconstruction. Cars returned to service on 21-June-2011, with an official ribbon cutting at California and Drumm on 27-June-2011.

Operators Reject Contract - 10-June-2011

Muni operators rejected a new labor contract which had been agreed to by union leadership. An artbitrator ordered them to accept the terms.

Angels Flight Ordered Shut Down - 09-June-2011

The California Public Utilities Commission ordered that Angels Flight, the Los Angeles funicular that returned to service in 2010 after a fatal accident in 2001, to shut down immediately because of excessive wear on the wheel flanges of its two cars. The foundation which operates the line says it was planning to replace the wheels. The replacement may take several weeks, or may take much longer.

Cable Car Fares to be $6 - 08-June-2011

A report in the Chronicle says that cable car fares will rise from $5 to $6 starting July 1. I have mixed feelings on the subject.

Powell Street Outage - 01-June-2011

I took this photo at Powell and Market on 02-June-2011.

As part of the ongoing system refurbishment, Powell Street cars were down again from 31-May to 04-June. Because of Central Subway work on Stockton street, the replacement buses stopped on the diagonally opposite corner at Powell and Ellis streets, Southwest instead of Northeast.

Whole System Shut Down - 25-April-2011

I took this photo at Powell and Market on 30-April-2011.

The Hyde Street line is shut down for five days. Buses are carrying riders from Powell and Jackson to Hyde and Beach.

Hyde Street Shut Down - 25-April-2011

I took this photo at Powell and Market on 30-April-2011.

The Hyde Street line is shut down for five days. Buses are carrying riders from Powell and Jackson to Hyde and Beach.

Powell Street Shut Down - 28-March-2011

I took this photo at Powell and Market on 31-March-2011.

The Powell-Mason line is shut down from March 28 to April 1. Buses are carrying riders from Ellis and Powell to the Cable Car Barn, where they can board Powell-Hyde cars. I walked by Powell and Market on 29-March-2011 and saw some confused tourists. On 31-March-2011, there were several people wearings hats that said "MTA Ambassador."

Powell Street Outages Planned - 08-March-2011

A report in the Chronicle says that "The Powell-Mason line will be shut down from March 28 to April 1, the Powell-Hyde line will be shut down April 25-29, and both lines will shut down June 1-5."

News Archive

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2012 Anniversaries

225 years ago - 1787
May 25 - The Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia, charged with revising the Articles of Conferation.
Jul 13 - Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance.
Sep 17 - The Constitutional Convention approved and signed its proposed new Constitution.
Dec 07 - The first state to approve the new Constitution was Delaware.

200 years ago - 1812
Jun 08 - President James Madison signs the declaration of war against Great Britain, beginning the War of 1812.

150 years ago - 1862
Feb 06 - Union soldiers under General Grant captured Fort Henry in Tennessee
Mar 08 - Confederate ironclad Virginia attacked the Union blockading squadron at Hampton Roads and sank two ships
Mar 09 - Union ship Monitor fought the Virginia to a draw in the first battle of ironclads
Apr 06 - The Battle of Shiloh began. 23,000 were killed or wounded in the two days
Apr 24 - Flag Officer David Farragut's Union fleet took New Orleans
Jun 25 - The Seven Days' Battles begin in Virginia, leading to a Union withdrawal towards Washington, DC
Jul 01 - President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act, calling for the construction of a transcontinental railroad by two companies
Aug 29 - Confederates won the two-day Second Battle of Bull Run
Sep 02 - The Union Pacific Railroad was organized at a meeting in Chicago
Sep 04 - Lee's first invasion of the north
Sep 17 - In the battle of Antietam, 26,000 were killed or wounded as the Union Army under General McClellan turned back Lee's invasion of the north
Sep 22 - Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Dec 13 - Conferderates killed or wounded over 12,000 Union soldiers under General Burnside in the Battle of Fredericksburg, while losing only 5,000 men

125 years ago - 1887
Jan 09 - A grip car of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway was shattered by an exploding bomb.
Jan 13 - Dynamite destroyed a Sutter Street Railway grip car and severely damaged its trailer on Post between Larkin and Post. At least one passenger was seriously injured and the Sutter Street company offerred a $1000 reward.
Feb 06 - A grip car of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway was destroyed by an bomb at Fillmore and Geary.
Feb 16 - J. E. Stiles and H. C. Dean were arrested and charged with bomb attacks on the Sutter and Geary Street cable lines.
Mar 04 - The strike of carmen on the Sutter and Geary Street cable lines collapsed.
Mar 06 - The Brooklyn Cable Company opened its experimental Johnson ladder cable line in Brooklyn, NY
May 12 - The Wyandotte line of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway opened for service.
Jul 15 - The Brooklyn Cable Company closed its experimental Johnson ladder cable line in Brooklyn, NY
Sep 06 - Frank J Sprague's Union Street Railway electric installation in Saint Joseph, MO opened.
Sep 18 - The main line and the 15th Street line of Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway opened for service.
Sep 26 - The Daily Alta California reported that The Casebolt Overhead Cable Road in Oakland's Blair Park was operating successfully.
Oct 02 - The Mount Adams and Eden Park Ry (Cincinatti, OH) had a serious accident because the cable looped around the grip.
Oct 12 - A runaway car of the Kansas City Cable Railway smashed into a carriage occupied by President Grover Cleveland and his wife.
Oct 27 - The Wyandotte line of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway was extended.
Nov 17 - The Troost Avenue line of the Kansas City Cable Railway started service.
Nov 22 - The Cottage Grove Avenue line of the Chicago City Railway was extended.
Dec 15 - The main line of Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway was extended.
Dec 20 - Henry Root brought suit against the North Chicago Street Railroad for patent infringement.

New York Giants record: 68-55, 4th place. Manager: James Mutrie.

100 years ago - 1912
May 05 - The last day of operation of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway.
Dec 28 - The first day of operation of the San Francisco Municipal Railway.

New York Giants record: 103-48, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series 4 games to 3 with one tie.

75 years ago - 1937
May 27 - The Golden Gate Bridge opened.

New York Giants record: 95-57, 1st place. Manager: Bill Terry. The New York Yankees beat the Giants 4 games to 1 in the World Series.

50 years ago - 1962

San Francisco Giants record: 103-62, 1st place. Manager: Alvin Dark. The Giants played another three game playoff with the Dodgers (as in 1951) and again lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series, 4 games to 3. If McCovey had hit the ball two feet higher...

25 years ago - 1987
May 30 - Turk Murphy, traditional jazz trombonist and band leader, died

San Francisco Giants record: 90-72, 1st place. Manager: Roger Craig. Won the NL West, but lost a 7-game playoff to the Cardinals

Anniversaries Archive

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What's New

• 01-February-2012
  • Picture of the Month: Birmingham cable tram 104. Thank you to John Perkin
  • On the UK page: More about the Birmingham Central Tramways Company, thanks to John Perkin. Also an 1887 Street Railway Journal article and an item from an 1890 Baedeker guide
  • Added News item about newly rebuilt car 26
  • Archived November 2011 What's New
• 01-January-2012
  • Picture of the Month: A stereo view of a car on the cable-operated Hoboken elevated
  • On the Cable Car Lines in New York and New Jersey page: More about Hoboken's North Hudson County Railway, including articles from the Street Railway Journal. Also some contemporary newspaper articles about the elevated and the company's Weehawken Viaduct:
    • Hoboken Elevated Trial Trips (New York Sun, Sunday, December 20, 1885)
    • Hoboken Elevated Testing (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday, January 26, 1886)
    • Hoboken Elevated Suspended (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, February 8, 1886)
    • Hoboken Elevated Runaway (New-York Tribune, Thursday, February 10, 1887)
    • Weehawken Viaduct Removed (New York Tribune, Monday, March 5, 1900)
  • Also on the Decorated Cable Cars page: A list of cars decorated for Christmas 2011. No photos yet.
  • Archived October 2011 What's New, 2010 Anniversaries, and July-December 2010 News items.
• 13-December-2011
  • A special installment of Val Lupiz's column Tales From the Grip: "Maybelle the Cable Car", about car 26's new classic Muni paint job.
• 01-December-2011
  • Picture of the Month: A fly-wheel for Sydney's Ocean Street cable tramway, at the Hudson Brothers' Works in Clyde. I like the dude in the bowler. Source: "Sydney's New Tramway. The Ocean-Street Cable Line.", Australian Town and Country Journal, 11-August-1894.
  • On the Cable Tramways in Australia and New Zealand page, more about Sydney's New South Wales Government Tramways. Includes two illustrated newspaper articles about the Ocean Street cable tramway's powerhouse and one about the Ultimo electric powerhouse. Two newspaper articles about the beginning of Sydney's two cable tram lines:
    • North Sydney Line Opens (Melbourne Argus, Monday May 24, 1886)
    • Sydney/King Street Line Opens (Adelaide Advertiser, Thursday, September 20, 1894)
  • With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit Joe Lacey's article Christmas on the Cables, and the Decorated Cable Cars page.
  • Archived September 2011 What's New

What's New Archive

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Ten Years Ago

• 01-Feb-2002
  • Picture of the Month: Car 24, formerly 524.
  • Add Chicago West Divsion, a short-lived experimental implementation, to the Chicago page
  • Add 524 at the Fair, about San Francisco cable car 524's visit to the 1949 Chicago Railroad Fair to the Chicago page
  • Add more photos to the Chicago page
  • Add books Mind the Curve and Halfway to the Stars, article about decline in ridership, and obituary for Raymond McCann to Bibliography.
  • Add items about call to fill in Hallidie Plaza to News and Bibliography. Include photo of Cable Car Coffee. Also added news item about Olympic torch.
  • Archive Nov 2001 What's New. Split What's New archive onto separate page.
• 01-Jan-2002
  • Picture of the Month: Hoboken elevated
  • Roll out new Cable Car Lines in New York and New Jersey page with an article on the Hoboken's North Hudson County Railway.
  • Sutter Street Railway cable traction 125th anniversary. Add photos to the Sutter Street Railway page and make images into thumbnails. Add Sanborn maps of powerhouses. Also thumbnailed photos on McTeague page.
  • Add Henry Casebolt to the Who page
  • Add photos to the Geary Street, Park and Ocean page and make images into thumbnails. Add Sanborn maps of both powerhouses.
  • Archive news stories, 2001 Anniversaries, and Jan-Oct 2001 What's New.
• 01-Dec-2001
  • Picture of the Month: North Sydney cable tram
  • Roll out new Cable Tramways in Australia and New Zealand page with an article on the Sydney's New South Wales Government Tramways. Also photos of Dunedin's Roslyn Tramway and Wellington's Kelburn Cable Car, a funicular.
  • Add George Smith Duncan to the Who page
  • Add another photo to the Presidio and Ferries page and make images into thumbnails. Add Sanborn maps of Union & Leavenworth powerhouse and the Jefferson/Lyon roundhouse.
  • Add Sanborn maps of Sacramento Street carhouse and California/Laurel roundhouse to the Ferries and Cliff House and more Sacramento/Clay photos to the More Ferries and Cliff House page.
  • Add photo of Santa arriving at the Emporium to Joe Lacey's Christmas on the Cables article.
  • Revise Mount Lowe article with corrections and new information. Thanks to Michael Patris.

Ten Years Ago Archive

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Legal Stuff

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