Subject: (tan) July, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the July, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a diagram showing the screw-operated double-jawed
grip used on Rhode Island's Providence Cable Tramway. From "Street Railways: Their
Construction, Operation and Maintenance" by CB Fairchild, 1892.
2. On the Other Cities page: Rhode Island's Providence Cable Tramway, a short-lived
line which was replaced by a counterbalance. I was able to find several reports by the
state railroad commissioner which include financial information, accident information,
and notes on the company's progress each year
3. Added a new Chronology page: 2008-Today
4. Thanks to Harry Marnell and Ray Long: On the Los Angles Area Funiculars page,
information about the ultimate fate of the cars from the Court Flight, which had been
rumored to still exist
5. Added a photo of the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest
6. Added News and Bibliography items about an explosion at California and Drumm
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in August, 2008: An 1889 magazine article by cable railway engineer Robert Gillham, along with a brief biographical sketch
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jul-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Apr-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-May-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) June, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the June, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Val Lupiz photo of recently rebuilt Powell Street
Car 25
2. On the More Muni Photos page: Thanks to Val Lupiz, more photos of the rebuilt
car 25 and the brand new Powell Street car 15. Reports about car 25 going into revenue
service
3. Added News and Bibliography items about an car 25's return to service
4. On the Who page: A new article about Henry Root, the engineer who designed
and built the California Street Cable Railroad, along with a new page of excerpts from
his memoirs, "Henry Root, Personal History and Reminiscences with Personal Opinions on
Contemporary Events 1845-1921"
5. On the Miscellany page: More excerpts from Poor's Directory of Railway Officials,
1887.
6. 08-June is the 100th anniversary of the return to service of the Sacramento/Clay
line. I found 1908 article from the San Francisco Call: SACRAMENTO AND CLAY CABLE SERVICE
RENEWED
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On my park trains site: A report about a battery tram runaway at the Los Angeles Farmers Market.
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest will be held on Tuesday, 03-June-2008 at Noon in Union Square. I don't know why it will be on a Tuesday in June instead of a Thursday in July. I'll be there wearing a beat-up Panama hat and a cable car necktie. Say hello if you see me.
Coming in July, 2008: Rhode Island's Providence Cable Tramway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jun-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Apr-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-May-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) May, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the May, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Val Lupiz photo of new Powell
Street Car 15, taken from a unique angle
2. On the More California Street Pictures page: Thanks to gripman
Gordon Miller, photos of O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde Car 38 being moved in
Lakeport, California
3. On the More Muni Photos page: Thanks to Val Lupiz, more photos of
the rebuilt car 25 and the brand new Powell Street car 15
4. Added a News item about the date of the bell ringing contest
5. Added an article about Howard C Holmes, who designed and built
the Ferries & Cliff House Railway, to the Who Was Important in the
History of the Cable Car page
6. Added a banner and a review plugging Nick Tomizawa's excellent
video "The Feel of the Rope"
7. Added a favicon.ico to the site. On some browsers, you will see
a little red cable car in the address area and next to bookmarks
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On my ferryboat site: Thanks to John Schmale, some photos of classic ferries.
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
01-May-2008 marks the 125th anniversary of the new New York baseball club (not yet called the Giants) playing its first National League game, defeating the new Phillies club 7-5 at the original Polo Grounds on 110th Street in Manhattan. General and former President Ulysses S Grant attended the game.
Coming in June, 2008: Excerpts from "Henry Root, Surveyor, Engineer and Inventor", a memoir by the man who designed and built the California Street and Market Street cable railroads
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-May-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Apr-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) April, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the April, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows a paper model that Val Lupiz made for Walter Rice.
It represents Sacramento/Jackson cable car 455, which was destroyed by the
falling chimney of the Washington/Mason powerhouse on the morning of 18-April-1906
2. On the Miscellany page: A new page about Cable Car Models. Walter Rice's collection,
models by Val Lupiz, the Hawk model, Lego Models, and Lefton Models
3. On the Kitsch page: A menu from the Buena Vista Cafe. Another Italian charm and a
zipper pull charm. A Planet Hollywood pin. An ashtray made in occupied Japan. A
cable car-shaped telephone.
4. On the More Muni Photos page: Thanks to Val Lupiz, more photos of the rebuilt car
25 and the brand new Powell Street car. 25 has been painted an interesting shade of red
5. Added a News item about a cable car appearing in a currently-shooting movie
6. On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany, I
added "Walk a Crooked Mile"
7. Added new item on the Why page about this site moving from AOL to GeoCities
8. Added new Ten Years Ago This Month section
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
15-April-2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the first game played by the San Francisco Giants. They defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers at Seals Stadium. 20-April-2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the last Key System trains on the Bay Bridge.
Coming in May, 2008: Selections from the 1887 edition of "Poor's Directory of Railway Officials"
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Apr-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 31-Dec-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) March, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the March, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows a Chicago gentleman, taken in wine, who has gone to
sleep on the safety fender of a Madison Street cable car
2. On the Chicago page: Two 1901 newspaper stories about Chicago cable cars. One is
about love and the other is about drunkenness and safety fenders
3. On the More Muni Photos page: Thanks to Val Lupiz, a new section on the homecoming
of Powell Street Car 25 and the delivery a brand new car
4. On the new Cable Car Video page:
- California Street car 58 decorated for CChristmas. Also on the Decorated Cable Cars page
- Powell Street car 12 takes the pull curvve inbound from Washington to Powell
- Blue and Gold Powell Street cable car 166 runs inbound past the Saint Francis Hotel
- California Street car 49, stuck on an uppgrade, getting a push from an inspector
- F Line views of San Francisco B-Type strreetcar 130 and Melbourne W-2 class tram 496
- A shot of the only jitney bus left in Saan Francisco
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in April, 2008: A new page about cable car models and several new items on the Kitsch page
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Mar-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 31-Dec-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) February, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the February, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Val Lupiz photo of car 9, decorated for the holidays by the
Buena Vista Cafe, at the car barn
2. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Photos of cable cars decorated for the 2007 holidays
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in March, 2008: Two newspaper stories about Chicago cable cars. One is about love and the other is about drunkenness and safety fenders
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Feb-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 31-Dec-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) January, 2008 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the January, 2008 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is an image from the 31-May-1903 "San Francisco Call"
that reconstructs the a collision between a Fillmore Street electric car and a Haight
Street cable car
2. On the Market Street Railway page: "SCORES OF LIVES ARE ENDANGERED AND DEATH
AVERTED BY A MIRACLE IN ACCIDENT ON TRACTION LINES", a 1903 "San Francisco Call" article
about a collision between a Fillmore Street electric car and a Haight Street cable car
3. Added an article about the 2007 Cable Car Division Senior Luncheon to the San
Francisco Miscellany page. I got to meet Barbara Davies Walsh, Miss Cable Car 1973
4. Added an article about Walter Rice to the Who Was Important in the History of the
Cable Car page
5. Added a News and Bibliography item about an effort to rebuild the Mornington cable
tram line, which had been abandoned in 1957, in Dunedin, New Zealand
6. Added Bibliography items about security guards looking for fare collection
problems, a stoppage on the California Street line, and new the people who build new
cable cars
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On my Ferryboats page, I have a news item about Washington State Ferries' retirement
of the former San Francisco boats known as the Steel Electrics:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in Febuary, 2008: Cable cars decorated for Christmas, 2007
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jan-2008)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 31-Dec-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) December, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the December, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a A 1946 Charles L Reed Christmas cartoon from the December 1946
issue of "Trolley Topics", Muni's employees' newlsetter. Provided by Walter Rice, from the Tom Matoff
collection.
2. With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit Joe Lacey's article
"Christmas on the Cables", and the Decorated Cable Cars page. Both are on the
San Francisco page.
3. On the Market Street Railway page: "MARKET STREET VIEWS STIR ORPHEUM PATRONS", a 1907
"San Francisco Call" article about what may have been the world premiere of
the movie "A Trip Down Market Street"
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On my Park Trains and Tourist Trains page, I have a new article about a visit to the
Nut Tree, with photos and videos:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in January, 2008: A 1903 newspaper article about a collision between a Fillmore Street electric car and a Haight Street cable car
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Dec-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated erratically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) November, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the November, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. page: 26-November-2007 marks the 175th birthday of the Horse Car
2. The picture of the month is an 1886 advertisement for the John Stephenson Company,
which shows their first horse car, the John Mason of 1832, and their latest model
3. On the Miscellany page: A new article on horse car history. Other items with the
article:
- An 11-March-1906 newspaper article about Michael Houlihan, who drove the URR's
franchise-protecting horse car line on California Street
- A 29-July-1917 New York Times article about New York's last horse car
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
My ferryboat page has moved to a new location:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in December, 2007: A 1906 newspaper article about what may have been the world premiere of the movie "A Trip Down Market Street"
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Nov-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Sep-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated erratically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) October, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the October, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows California Street Cable Railroad carmen in 1902, in their
club room in the powerhouse at California and Hyde
2. On the Cal Cable page: "How The 'Grip' Arm is Trained", a 1902
"San Francisco Call" article about physical training and recreation for California Street Cable Railroad carmen
3. On the More Muni Photos page: A new section on Wreckers and Service Trucks, with photos of a California Street
car having its grip changed and photos and videos two Powell Street cars being towed
4. Added News items about a cable unstranding on California Street and a new children's book
5. On the new Cable Car Video page:
- A new section on Wreckers and Service Trucks, with photos of a California Street
car having its grip changed and photos and videos two Powell Street cars being towed. Also on the More Muni Photos page
- F Line views of New Orleans 952 and the Blackpool Boat
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On Labor Day Weekend, we visited Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont for
the Seventh Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair. See photos and videos of the
steam train and horse-drawn car on my Park Trains and Tourist Trains site:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
My ferryboat page has moved to a new location. I have some news items about problems with Alameda ferries:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog. I recently participated
in a slapstick blog-a-thon:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in November, 2007: 26-November-2007 is the 175th birthday of the horse car. I'm adding a new page about horse cars and a March, 1906 newspaper article about Michael Houlihan, who drove the franchise-protecting horse car on California Street
Also coming in November, 2007: On the Market Street Railway page -- A 1903 newspaper article about a collision at Haight and Fillmore
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Oct-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-Sep-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated erratically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) September, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the September, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Powell Street car 2, with its front dash removed because of dry rot
2. On the More Muni Photos page: A new section on a visit I paid to the car barn with Val Lupiz. I
took lots of photos and videos
3. On the UK page: London's Tower Subway, a cable-driven line which ran for a few months in 1870
4. On the new Cable Car Video page:
- Cars pulling out from the car barn and other images from a visit I made. Also on the More Muni Photos page
- Two more Powell/Market turntable shots
- Melbourne W-2 tram 496 on the F Line
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
This Labor Day Weekend, visit Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont for
the Seventh Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair. It will feature steam train rides,
horse-drawn train rides, a garden railroad layout, and lots of farm animals. See photos
from previous fairs at my Park Trains and Tourist Trains site:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
My ferryboat page has moved to a new location:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in October, 2007: On the Cal Cable page: A 1903 newspaper article about physical training for gripmen and conductors
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Sep-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Jun-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-July-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated erratically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) August, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the August, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a view up the 9th Street incline in Kansas City
2. On the new Kansas City page: An 1885 magazine article about the Kansas City Cable Railway,
with an interesting description of the duplicate cable system
3. On the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest page: The 2007 results, reported by Val Lupiz
4. On the new Cable Car Video page:
- Powell Street car 28 crossing California. (also on the How page)
- "A Trip Down Powell Street": taken from the back platform of Powell Street car 21
- PCC 1052 and 1053 make the turn at Market and Steuart
- PCC 1077, a recent arrival from Newark, runs along Market Street
5. On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany,
I added "Foul Play"
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
My Park Trains and Tourist Trains page has reports on my visits this summer to Disneyland
(I finally got to see Locomotive #5, the Ward Kimball), Travel Town (photos of Cal Cable #21), and
Descanso Gardens:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
My ferryboat page has moved to a new location:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in September, 2007: On the UK page: London's Tower Subway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Aug-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Jun-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-July-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated erratically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) July, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the July, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Jennifer De Grassi, Miss Cable Car, 1968
2. On the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest page: Jennifer Williams, Miss Cable Car 1968,
shares memories and clippings from her exciting summer
3. On the new Kansas City page: The Union Cable Railway, which used an experimental grip and
operated for one day
4. On the new Cable Car Video page with four new cable car videos and some others:
- Cal cable car 56 going through the crossover at California and Drumm. (also on the How page)
- Cal cable car 52 leaving California and Drumm
- Cal cable car 50 arriving at California and Van Ness (also on the How page)
- Cal cable car 50 leaving California and Van Ness (also on the How page)
- Two videos of a Breda car crossing the Fourth Street Bridge on the T-Third Street line
- F-Line car 1075, a recent arrival from Newark, passes in front of the Ferry Building
- Breda 1523 pops out of the portal at Folsom and the Embarcadero on the J-Line
5. Added a News and Bibliography item about an elderly lady struck by a Powell/Mason car
6. Split the site map into four pages to follow Google recommendations
7. Added "Picture of the Month -- Ten Years" to the Why page -- some interesting
statistics and stories about the Picture of the Month, which started in July, 1997
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Don't forget: The 45th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 12-Jul-2007 at noon in Union Square.
My ferryboat page has moved to a new location:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
As if I didn't have enough websites to keep track of, I now have a blog:
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Coming in August, 2007: On the Kansas City page: An 1885 magazine article about the Kansas City Cable Railway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jul-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (new url) (updated 30-Jun-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-September-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated erratically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
Subject: (tan) June, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the June, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is the patent drawing for the design of the California-type car
2. On the California Street page: John Hammond's 1891 patent D21,042, for the design of the California-type car
3. Added a News and Bibliography item about a surprise encounter with relics of the
Melbourne cable tram system. Thanks to Bill Bolton for pointing it out, and Mal Rowe
for the use of two of his photos. Also added photos and information to the Melbourne
cable tramways article.
4. On the new Kansas City page: The Peoples' Cable Railway, including an interesting
selection from the 1900 book "American Street Railway Investments" about the Brooklyn
Avenue Railway, successor to the Peoples' Cable Railway
5. Rolled out a new Cable Car Video page with two new cable car videos: Car 28 at the
switch on Powell between Washington and Jackson (also on the More Muni Pictures page, with
a still photo of old car 28 at the same location in 2001. Car 18 inbound on Powell Street
from California to Post. A long video with lots of interesting traffic, and a glimpse of
Mister Smiley. Also two videos of new F Line cars from Newark.
6. On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany,
I added "Daydreams", a Buster Keaton short, and three features, "In Love and War",
"No Escape", and "Man's Favorite Sport"
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On my ferryboat page, I have a review of "Ferries on San Francisco Bay" by Paul Trimble and William Knorp: http://home.comcast.net/~cable_car_guy/ferry.html
Coming in July, 2007: On the San Francisco page: Miss Cable Car, 1968
Also coming in July, 2007: On the Kansas City page: The Union Cable Railway, which operated for one day
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jun-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2007)
http://home.comcast.net/~cable_car_guy/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) May, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the May, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is an image looking across the West Bottoms at the
Kansas City Cable Railway's 9th Street trestle and the Inter-State Consolidated Rapid
Transit Company's 8th Street trestle and tunnel portal
2. On the new Kansas City page: The Inter-State Consolidated Rapid Transit Company
(one of my favorite company names).
Also added an interesting selection from the 1900 book "American Street Railway Investments"
about the Metropolitan Street Railway, which includes information about the many companies
which it consumed
3. Two videos: On the Ferries and Cliff House page: Car 17 passing the Saint Francis
Hotel. On the California Street page: Car 58 climbing towards Montgomery Street.
4. On the Motorized Cable Cars page: Photos of imitation cable cars, mostly used for
sightseeing.
5. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: A nighttime photo of car 28 decorated for
Christmas, 2006.
6. Added News and Bibliography items about a fare audit in San Francisco and a
surprise encounter with relics of the Edinburgh cable tram system
7. Thanks to Walter Rice and Val Lupiz: A new Chronology item about an additional
Powell Street run
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
On my ferryboat page, I have a review of Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria's new book, "The Key System: San Francisco and the Eastshore Empire": http://home.comcast.net/~cable_car_guy/ferry.html
Coming in June, 2007: On the Kansas City page: The Peoples' Cable Railway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-May-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Apr-2007)
http://home.comcast.net/~cable_car_guy/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) April, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the April, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is an image created by Val Lupiz to commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the Powell/Hyde line. It shows 507, which was the first car to run on the new line on 07-Apr-1957.
2. On the Kitsch page: A video of my Bachman ho cable car under the Christmas tree.
Magazine ads for Old Crow, San Francisco tourism, and the Saint Francis Hotel. A 1972 top
30 survey from KFRC. Three images of a Department 57 model of a Powell Street car. A
1984 All Star Game program. A 2007 SF Giants promotional poster with pitcher Matt Cain
3. On the Muni page: The 50th anniversary of the Powell/Hyde Line
4. On the How page: A video clip of car 21 on the turntable at Powell and Market
5. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Two photos of car 17. More Christmas 2006 photos coming next month.
6. On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany, I
added "After the Thin Man", with a photo, "Moran of the Lady Letty" and the number of the Powell Street
car that Humphrey Bogart rode in "Dark Passage"
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
07-April-2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the Powell/Hyde line.
Thanks to Val Lupiz for pointing out that 10-April-2007 marks the 17th birthday of Powell car 16.
Coming in May, 2007: Kansas City's Inter-State Consolidated Rapid Transit Company (one of my favorite company names)
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Apr-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) March, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the March, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
This is another fairly sparse month because of work and home commitments.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows a combination car of Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway.
2. On the new Kansas City page: On the new Kansas City page: The Grand Avenue Railway
3. On the Sutter Street Railway page: "The Sutter Street Railway - San Francisco's
Second Cable Car Line" by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria, a greatly revised and
expanded illustrated article
4. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: A photo of car 13. More Christmas 2006 photos coming next month.
5. On the San Francisco page: Moved Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars to a
separate page. Thanks to Jack Tillmany, I added "A Gathering of Eagles". Thanks to Steve
Hill, I added screen captures of the titles of many of the movies.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in April, 2007: Many new items on the Kitsch page (more Kansas City in May)
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Mar-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) February, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the February, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
This is another fairly sparse month because of work and home commitments.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows two trains passing at the top of the bridge used
by Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway to reach Union Depot in the West Bottoms.
2. The results of the Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has also generously provided
the prizes: "San Francisco With a $5 Cable Car Fare".
3. On the new Kansas City page: Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway. This company's lines
served both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. The company wound up controlling almost
every cable car line in Kansas City, Missouri
4. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: A photo of car 3. More Christmas 2006 photos coming next month.
5. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany, information about the 1959 movie "Crime of Passion."
6. On the Kitsch and Interview with Mrs. Barbara Kahn Gardner pages: Walter Rice has
written about Kitty Margolis, a jazz singer who is Samuel Kahn's granddaughter.
7. Added News and Bibliography items about reconstruction work on Angel's Flight in
Los Angeles. It may reopen this summer
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in March, 2007: Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Feb-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) January, 2007 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
Happy New Year, everyone. I wish you a happy and peaceful 2007.
I just put the January, 2007 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
This is a fairly sparse month because of work and home commitments.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows the Kansas City Cable Railway's 9th Street
trestle.
2. On the new Kansas City page: The Kansas City Cable Railway
3. Entries to the Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has also generously provided
the prizes: "San Francisco With a $5 Cable Car Fare". The results will be announced soon.
4. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: A list of the cable cars decorated for Christmas,
2006. Photos coming next month.
5. Added an article about cable traction engineer Robert Gillham to the Who page
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
28-January-2007 marks the 125th anniversary of the beginning of the first US cable car line outside of San Francisco, the Chicago City Railway's State Street line.
30-January-2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of cable service on Powell Street after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Cars ran from Market to the powerhouse at Washington and Mason.
Coming in February, 2007: Kansas City Missouri's Metropolitan Street Railway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jan-2007)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) December, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the December, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month, thanks to Wayne Miller, shows Market Street cable car
133 as it sits on Castro Street on 08-May-1941, waiting to be towed to the scrapper.
2. Try the new Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has also generously provided
the prizes: "San Francisco With a $5 Cable Car Fare"
3. Added photos from Wayne Miller's collection:
- Market Street cable car 133, on its way to the scrapper
- Market Street Railway sand car 0603, converted from an Omnibus cable car
4. On the Old-Time Radio Shows Which Feature Cable Cars, added an 03-May-1953
episode of The Jack Benny Show. Frankie Remley mistakes the Powell/Market turntable
for a record player
5. With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit Joe Lacey's article Christmas
on the Cables, and the Decorated Cable Cars page.
6. Added News and Bibliography items about a hit piece of "investigative" journalism
from KGO Channel 7
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in January, 2007: The Kansas City Cable Railway
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Dec-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) November, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the November, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
November, 2006 marks the tenth anniversary of my Cable Car Home Page. Thanks to all the people who have visited and all those who have helped me with information and suggestions.
It includes some new items:
1. The pictures of the month are a photo of Car 10 (naturally) and a special tenth anniversary dash sign by Val Lupiz
2. Tenth Anniversary - November, 1996 - November, 2006
3. On the Who page: Ten Years After -- what has changed since I started this site
4. On the San Francisco page: A new page on Old-Time Radio Shows Which Feature Cable Cars,
with episodes of "Candy Matson" and "Jack Benny"
5. Added News and Bibliography items about a repeated shutdowns, and an obituary for mechanic Rick Fong
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in December, 2006: Some cool photographs of historic cable cars
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Nov-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) October, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the October, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a photo of Joe Lacey posing with Cal Cable Car 50 at California and Drumm, about 1971
2. Joe Lacey has been scanning items from his collection. Thanks to Joe for sharing them.
- On the More Muni Photos page: A new Muni People section, with a photo of Joe Lacey and one of him and a group of other Cable Car Division men in 1971, modelling new uniforms designed by Bill Blass.
3. On the San Francisco page: A new page about Cable Car Businesses. I welcome suggestions about and pictures of other businesses
4. On the Market Street Cable Railway page, thanks to Emiliano Echevarria, a 1905 United Railroads floor plan of the McAllister Powerhouse
5. On the Chicago page: 21-October-2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of cable traction in Chicago, when the former Chicago City Railway's Wabash Avenue line and the North Chicago Clark and Lincoln lines converted to electric traction. Added a photo of a North Chicago cable train.
6. Rolled out a new Advanced Search page
7. On the New York/New Jersey page: A newspaper article about the second cable car line in Brooklyn, New York, the Brooklyn Heights Railroad.
"IN THE CONDUIT/Final Preperations for the Montague Street Line", which describes the line's first cable being threaded. I would like to know the name of the poor kid who had to crawl both ways through the blind conduit
8. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice for a review of "Woman on the Run", a
movie which includes some nice scenes of San Francisco cable cars, electric streetcars, and
trolley buses
9. Thanks to Walter Rice and Val Lupiz. A new Chronology item and roster updates on Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco
10. Added News and Bibliography items about a complete shutdown, an accident on California Street, and a drop in ridership because of the five dollar fare
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in November, 2006: The tenth anniversary of The Cable Car Home Page
My Park Trains website now covers Park Trains and Tourist Trains. I added an article about the 2006 Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm, which featured a former Oakland horsecar, and one about a visit to Santa Cruz. The new url: http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Oct-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 30-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) September, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the September, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is the neon sign of Tony's Cable Car, a tiny hamburger stand at Geary and Lyon in San Francisco
2. On the San Francisco page: A new page about Cable Car Businesses. I welcome suggestions about and pictures of other businesses
3. Joe Lacey has been scanning items from his collection. Thanks to Joe for sharing them.
- On Walter Rice's "A Photo Album of 1970s Cable Car Supporters": A certificate issued to those who attended the 100th anniversary celebration at Portsmouth Square in 1973. Another certificate issued to those who walked the Clay Street Hill route with Margot Patterson Doss on the following Sunday. A picnic invitation issued to the people of the Cable Car Division by Mayor Joe Alioto and the San Francisco Cable Car Centennial Committee.
- On Walter Rice and Val Lupiz's "The Cable Car Lady & the Mayor": A certificate from the 1947 Citizen's Committee to Save the Cable Cars, signed by Mrs Friedel Klussmann. Also a new section on 1971's Proposition Q, with signs and a letter from the Cable Car Committee, which included Mrs Klussmann.
- On the Muni page: A 1967 want ad for cable car crew members.
- On the Cable Car Transfers, Tickets, Tokens and Signage, a new section with several of Joe's items
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: An 1891 newspaper article about the plans for building the second cable car line in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Heights Railroad. It mentions a snow sweeper "operated by the cable". I'd like to see how that worked
5. Added Bibliography item: obituary of gripman Elwood F Nestler
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in October, 2006: A new advanced search page
My Park Trains website now covers Park Trains and Tourist Trains. I added an article about recent visits to Disneyland and the battery tram at the Los Angeles Farmers' Market. The new url: http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
An important anniversariy in September:
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Sep-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 31-Aug-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) August, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the August, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows car 24, the only piece of California Street
rolling stock to survive the earthquake and fire. 17-Aug-2006 marks the 100th
anniversary of the return to service of the California Street Cable Railroad
2. On the San Francisco in 1906 page: Three 1906 newspaper articles describing the
return of the California Street cable cars
3. On the New York/New Jersey page: One newspaper articles about a runaway accident
on the second cable car line in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Heights Railroad.
4. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Cable cars in the 2006 San Francisco Carnaval Parade
5. Added Bibliography items about the 2006 Bell Ringing contest. The stories have links to a podcast of the event.
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in September, 2006: A fund-raising pamphlet from the 1982-1984 Great Rebuilding
Ken Lunardi won the 44th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest on Thursday, 13-Jul-2006 at Noon in Union Square.
My Park Trains website now covers Park Trains and Tourist Trains. I added an article about a recent steam-hauled trip on the California Western, and moved to a new url: http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Some important anniversaries in August:
This month's San Mateo County Fair celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of San Mateo
County:
http://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Aug-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (new url) (updated 31-Aug-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html
Subject: (tan) July, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the July, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows Powell Street car "715", created by Walter Rice, to celebrate
Barry Bonds moving past Babe Ruth into second place on the all-time home run list, behind only
Hank Aaron.
2. On the Muni page: A 1974 Powell/Mason schedule
3. On the new Inexplicable Cable Car Items section on the Kitsch page: Walter Rice
found a souvenir magnet showing Sóller, Mallorca's famous Hyde Street cable car.
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: Three newspaper articles about the second cable car line in
Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Heights Railroad. Also one more 1886 newspaper article about the
first cable car line in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Cable Company
5. Added a News and Bibliography items about cable strand trouble
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in August, 2006: August 17, 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the return of the California Street Cable Railroad
The 44th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 13-Jul-2006 at Noon in Union Square.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jul-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) June, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the June, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month shows Geary Street cable cars running among the ruins in 1906
2. Results of the 2006 Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has also generously provided the prizes
3. On the San Francisco in 1906 page: Five 1906 newspaper articles describing the return of
the Geary Street cable cars, work on the California Street lines, and the replacement of
United Railroads lines with electric traction
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: Five 1872-1899 newspaper articles about the West
Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-operated elevated railroad
5. Added a Bibliography item about a California Street shutdown
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in July, 2006: Newspaper articles about the Brooklyn Heights Railroad, the most successful street-running cable car line in the East
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - (updated 01-Jun-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2006)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) May, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the May, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Powell-Mason car 509 on the turntable at Powell and Market,
scanned by Walter Rice from a magazine ad.
2. Try the new Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has also generously provided the prizes:
"San Francisco Without Cable Cars"
3. On the San Francisco page: A new page of Cable Car Advertising Images, scanned by Walter Rice
4. Also on the San Francisco page: Added a 1951 Collier's Magazine image to The Cable
Car Lady & the Mayor by Walter Rice and Val Lupiz, showing Mrs Friedel Klussmann and
other cable car supporters.
5. Walter Rice scanned Samuel Kahn's signature from a stock certificate as
part of his article "An Interview With Mrs. Barbara Kahn Gardner, Daughter of Market
Street Railway Executive Samuel Kahn"
6. On the New York/New Jersey page: Five 1870 newspaper articles about the West Side
and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-operated elevated railroad and the Beach Pneumatic
Subway
7. Added a News item about the 18-April-2006 celebrations
8. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in June, 2006: A contest, with cool prizes. Also, cable car images from magazine ads
Two big 100 year anniversaries in May:
May 22 - A generous bribe from the URR, arranged by Abraham "Boss" Ruef, persuaded the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Eugene E Schmitz to allow trolley wires on Market Street
May 23 - The San Francisco Seals played the first Pacific Coast League game in the Bay Area after the Fire and Earthquake, defeating Fresno 5-4
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-May-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Dec-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) April, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the April, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is the headline of the 19-April-1906
Call=Chronicle=Examiner, printed on the presses of the
Oakland Tribune by a combination of three of San Francisco's major
newspapers.
2. On the San Francisco page:
A new page about San Francisco in 1906, describing
the effect of the earthquake and fire on the city's cable car lines.
3. Also on the San Francisco page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany, a detailed
review about the movie "I Love a Soldier", which featured Barry Fitzgerald
as a gripman
4. On the kitsch page: A Bachman ho cable
car under the Christmas tree. 1954 and 1960 Bank of America magazine ads
5. On the New York/New Jersey page: Three 1869 newspaper articles about the
West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-operated elevated railroad
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in May, 2006: A contest, with cool prizes. Also, cable car images from magazine ads
April 18th is the 100th anniversary of the Earthquake and Fire. I hope to make it to the celebration at Lotta's Fountain.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Apr-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Dec-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) March, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the March, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Denver Tramway Company Car 40, preserved
at the Forney Transportation Museum
2. On the Other Cities page:
A little bit about the Denver Tramway
3. On the Australia/New Zealand page: Thanks to Stuart James, a
photograph of his great-grandfather in a Melbourne engine house,
and some family stories
4. On the San Francisco page: An update to the second edition of Of
Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco, by Robert Callwell & Walter E. Rice. New information about the powerhouse
5. Added News and Bibliography items about a new book about the
history of public transit in Penang, Malaysia
6. On the New York/New Jersey page: Four 1868 newspaper articles about the
West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-operated elevated railroad
7. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in April, 2006: The 100th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire
I also wanted to take the opportunity to mention again that there is a new website for the group in Pacifica that is restoring a coach from the Ocean Shore Railroad. There are some nice photos: http://www.oceanshorerailroad.com/
After a heavy burst of work the last few weekends, the car is now under a roof.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Mar-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Dec-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) February, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the February, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Roslyn cable tram in Dunedin, New
Zealand
2. On the Australia/New Zealand page: 24-February-2004 marks the 125th
anniversary of Dunedin, New Zealand's Roslyn Tramway, the first
Hallidie-type cable tram line outside of San Francisco. I also updated
the small article on Wellington's Kelburn Cable Car to mention that the
museum has just received grip car 3 restored to its 1905 appearance
3. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice, "San Franciscans
Fight to Keep Historic Cable Cars", a 1947 Life Magazine article about the
beginning of the rebellion against Mayor Roger Lapham's plan to get
rid of the Powell Street cable cars. Also "City I Love", a 1946 Time
Magazine profile about Mayor Roger Lapham
4. On the Cable Car Transfers, Tickets, Tokens and Signage page:
Thanks to Val Lupiz, a sign warning riders about the California Street line
turnback on New Year's Eve, 2005
5. Added News and Bibliography items about the mayor accusing crewmen
of skimming fares and a fatality on Mason Street
6. On the New York/New Jersey page: Ten 1867-1868 newspaper articles about the
West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-operated elevated railroad
7. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in March, 2006: A preserved cable car from the Denver Tramway
I also wanted to take the opportunity to mention that there is a new website for the group in Pacifica that is restoring a coach from the Ocean Shore Railroad. There are some nice photos: http://www.oceanshorerailroad.com/
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Feb-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Dec-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) January, 2006 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the January, 2006 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Car 507 at Washington/Mason in the 1920's
2. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice, "The Song of the Powell
Street Grip", with a recorded reading by Craig Hulsebos of KEAR
radio.
3. On the Muni page: Links to live map's of Muni's cable car lines from NextBus
4. Added News items about Cal Cable rope unstranding, a new cable car dvd by Nick Tomizawa, and a new cd from Val Golding with historic streetcar photos
5. On the New York/New Jersey page: An 1887 newspaper article about the first cable car
line in Brooklyn, New York. "WON’T BE RASH" which talks about how William Richardson got rooked by the cable people. It proves
that the cable system was abandoned before 20-July-1887.
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in March, 2006: The 125th anniversary of the first cable tramway outside of San Francisco, the Roslyn Tramway in Dunedin, New Zealand
January 3rd is the 100th anniversary of the Mount Lowe incline reopening after a fire.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Feb-2006)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Dec-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) December, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the December, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is an invitation which Val Lupiz designed for the
Cable Car Division's 2005 luncheon for Senior Citizens
2. On the San Francisco page: A new page about
Motorized Cable Cars. Notes from Walter Rice and Val Lupiz on Cal Cable
61/62. I hope to expand this page over time
3. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Jack Tillmany, item about the movies
Fools, part of which was shot in the cable car barn, and
Fog Over Frisco, a 1934 movie with glimpses of cable cars.
4. On the Muni page: Thanks to Ray Long, a photo of 524 running on Broadway in Los Angeles for
a 1949 Shriners parade
5. On the More MSR Photos page: Val Lupiz found a postcard of an MSR cable RPO car
6. On the Cable Car Transfers, Tickets,
Tokens and Signage page: Thanks to Walter Rice, a TWA poster
7. On the New York/New Jersey page: Two 1886 newspaper articles about the first cable car
line in Brooklyn, New York. "WANTS TO USE THE CABLE", about a request for permission to use
cable traction and "CABLE ROAD/The Aldermen Inspect the New York Variety", about a junket to
inspect a Manhattan line. Also an 1893 article, "The Passing of Richardson", about the death of
Brooklyn Cable Company promoter William Richardson
8. News items about a major meltdown on Hyde Street, a book signing,
and a photo of Cal Cable 59 in New Orleans, thanks to Nick Kibre
9. On the Bibliography page: Obituaries for Grimes Poznikov, Chester
Smith, and Guillermo P Mendoza, Sr. Also a report of a 1980 publicity stunt
10. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in January, 2006: More newspaper items about New York cable cars
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Dec-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) November, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the November, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a photo of a Valencia Street cable car in 1903
2. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice: "San Francisco Cable Car Service,
1903" -- based on the "San Francisco Official Street Railway Directory, 1903".
Also "A Photo Album of 1970s Cable Car Supporters" by Walter Rice
3. On the More MSR Photos page: Valencia Street 1903 photo
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: 1886 newspaper articles about the first cable car line
in Brooklyn, New York. "MR. RICHARDSON'S CABLE ROAD", about the initial request for
permission and "TO ADOPT JOHNSON'S SYSTEM", about the choice of the ladder cable system
5. News item about new Powell Street cable car book
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in December, 2005: Motorized cable cars
17-November-2005 is the 150th anniversary of gambler Charles Cora, fatally shooting Marshall William Richardson. This led to the formation of the 1856 Committee of Vigilance
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Nov-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) October, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the October, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a photo of Powell and Market at 7am
2. On the San Francisco page: Traffic code items about cable cars
3. On the More Muni Photos page: Powell Street photos
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: 1886 newspaper articles about the first cable car line
in Brooklyn, New York. "BUILDING THE CABLE ROAD", about early work on the road, "The Cable
System Authorized on Park Avenue", about the legal groundwork for the road, and THE CABLE
ROAD/Names of its Seven Directors and its Stockholders", about the organization of the company
5. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in November, 2005: Thanks to Walter Rice: San Francisco Cable Car Service, 1903 -- based on the San Francisco Official Street Railway Directory, 1903.
29-October-2005 is the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Maryhill Tramway in Dunedin, NZ
Don't forget, the Market Street Railway's annual open house is Sunday, 02-October-2005 at Market and Duboce
Visit my Park Trains page for photos of the Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm, featuring steam and horsedrawn trains.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Oct-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) September, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the September, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Peter Ehrlich photo of Dunedin, NZ cable tram 95
2. On the Australia/New Zealand page: Peter Ehrlich's photos of a Dunedin cable tram
3. On the San Francisco page: Part Four of Walter Rice and Emiliano Echevarria's "When Steam Ran on the Streets of San Francisco: The Ocean Shore Railroad"
4. Added News and Bibliography items about accidents at Powell and California and California and Drumm. Also news items about the abusive $5 fare and the presentation of a cable car bell to the outgoing Archbishop
5. On the New York/New Jersey page: More 1887 newspaper articles about the first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York. The Rope Broke, about a rope break, and DISSATISFACTION ON THE CABLE ROAD, about labor unrest and a possible shutdown
6. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Cable cars in the 2005 San Francisco Carnaval Parade.
7. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in October, 2005: Sections of San Francisco's vehicle code covering cable cars.
Visit my Park Trains page for photos of Disneyland's 50th anniversay, including the golden horsecar.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Sep-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Aug-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) September, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the September, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Peter Ehrlich photo of Dunedin, NZ cable tram 95
2. On the Australia/New Zealand page: Peter Ehrlich's photos of a Dunedin cable tram
3. On the San Francisco page: Part Four of Walter Rice and Emiliano Echevarria's "When Steam Ran on the Streets of San Francisco: The Ocean Shore Railroad"
4. Added News and Bibliography items about accidents at Powell and California and California and Drumm. Also news items about the abusive $5 fare and the presentation of a cable car bell to the outgoing Archbishop
5. On the New York/New Jersey page: More 1887 newspaper articles about the first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York. The Rope Broke, about a rope break, and DISSATISFACTION ON THE CABLE ROAD, about labor unrest and a possible shutdown
6. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Cable cars in the 2005 San Francisco Carnaval Parade.
7. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in October, 2005: Thanks to Walter Rice: San Francisco Cable Car Service, 1903 -- based on the San Francisco Official Street Railway Directory, 1903.
Visit my Park Trains page for photos of Disneyland's 50th anniversay, including the golden horsecar.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Oct-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) August, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the August, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Walter Rice photo of Powell Street car 25 with the round dash signs it
sported until 1982
2. On Cable Car Transfers, Tickets, Tokens and Signage page: Thanks to Walter Rice and Val Lupiz, a collection of Powell Street dash signs. Also an
1898 Cal Cable dividend check
3. On the San Francisco page: Walter Rice has two more stories about
Samuel Kahn, Market Street Railway's principal owner: "Samuel Kahn Paints a
Streetcar White," about private party car San Francisco, and "Samuel Kahn,
Inventor," about the creation of the White Front Car, with a copy of the
patent
4. Also on the San Francisco page: Thanks to Phil Hoffman, an item
about the movie "I Love a Soldier", which featured Barry Fitzgerald as a
gripman. Also thanks to Phil Hoffman, an update to the item about the movie
"In Harm's Way".
5. On the New York/New Jersey page: More 1887 newspaper articles about the
first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York, including a
pedestrian injury and plans to extend the technology
6. Thanks to Phil Hoffman, a chronology item about Adlai Stevenson
campaigning from the back platform of 504 in 1956, and a photo of the
event in the article about the car in its new residence at Pac Bell Park
7. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in September, 2005: More about cable trams in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Visit my Park Trains page for a new photo of Little Puffer at the SF Zoo.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Aug-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Jul-2005)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) July, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the July, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Jim Walker photo of Cal Cable O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde
car 42, at a feed lot in Betteravia, California
2. On Cable Car Transfers, Tickets, Tokens and Signage page: Thanks to Walter Rice,
a Muni employee pass, a transit union card, and a menu from a restaurant near the Bay and Taylor turntable.
3. On the San Francisco page: Walter Rice has more stories about
Market Street Railway's principal owner, Samuel Kahn
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: More 1887 newspaper articles about the
first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York, including a
fatality, complaints from horse owners, and a cable break
5. Added News items about the return of car 42 and the upcoming
bell ringing contest
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in August, 2005: More 1887 newspaper articles about the first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jun-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) June, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the June, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Val Lupiz photo of Cal Cable O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde
car 42, ready to return to the rails in San Francisco
2. On the San Francisco page: The Cable Car Transfers, Tickets, Tokens page is now the
Cable Car Transfers, Tickets, Tokens and Signage page. Thanks to Walter Rice and Val Lupiz,
added signs and posters from the 1982 rebuilding, the New Year's Eve 2004 shutdown, and
a sign directing patrons to the F Line from the Hyde and Beach turntable
3. On the Australia/New Zealand page: More information about and photos of the
Penang Hills Railway, a funicular
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: More 1887 newspaper articles about the
first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York, including intial testing, complaints, and a
fatality
5. Added News and Bibliography items about the return of car 42 and Cal Cable cars 62 and
46 at the San Franicso Carnaval parade
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in July, 2005: More 1887 newspaper articles about the first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jun-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) May, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the May, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Walter Rice photo of Powell Street cable car 9,
displaying its Market Street Railway-style white front colors
2. On the San Francisco page: Walter Rice's interview with Mrs. Barbara Kahn Gardner,
daughter of Market Street Railway's principal owner, Samuel Kahn
3. On the San Francisco page: The the May installment of Val Lupiz's quarterly column,
Tales From the Grip: "California, Here I Come"
4. On the New York/New Jersey page: 1887 newspaper articles about the
first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York, and 1854 articles about the
first horsecars in Brooklyn.
5. Added News and Bibliography items about a shutdown of the California
Street cable car line. Added bibliography items and updated news items
about the wildcat strike on 02-Mar-2005.
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in June, 2005: More 1887 newspaper articles about the first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York.
Also coming in June, 2005: On the Australia/New Zealand page: More information about and photos of the Penang Railway.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-May-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) April, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the April, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is the cover of the s10-Nov-1960 edition of Downbeat,
featuring a collection of jazz musicians, including Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson, and Vince
Guaraldi, posing on a cable car.
2. On the Kitsch page: More collectible junk, including the Downbeat magazine cover,
more Hard Rock Cafe pins, and an engraved matchbox commemorating the end of cable trams in
Melbourne.
3. On the New York/New Jersey page: A contemporary newspaper article
about the experimental non-grip line on the grounds of a lunatic asylum in Binghamton, New York
4. On the roster page: Thanks to Walter Rice, photos with early
examples of Blue and Gold and Green and Cream cars
5. On the Transfers, Tickets, and Tokens page: Thanks to Walter Rice,
another Sutro Railroad ticket and two current $3 collectors’ series tickets.
Thanks to Val Lupiz, a rare ticket from the pioneering Clay Street Hill
Railroad
6. News and Bibliography
items about the wildcat strike by Cable Car Division crews and the proposal to
drastically increase cable car fares
7. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in May, 2005: Walter Rice's interview with Mrs. Barbara Kahn Gardner, daughter of Market Street Railway executive Samuel Kahn. Also, contemporary newspaper articles about the first cable car line in Brooklyn, New York.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Apr-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) March, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the March, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is The cover of the second edition of "Of
Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco."
2. On the San Francisco page: The not-yet-published second edition of
"Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco," by Robert Callwell
& Walter E. Rice. Thanks to Bob and Walter for allowing me to carry this on
the site.
3. On the New York/New Jersey page: Contemporary newspaper articles
about cable cars in Manhattan, including the beginning of the Broadway
line in 1893 and the end in 1901. The company spent all that money on
infrastructure and operated it for less than ten years
4. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Thanks to Walter Rice, two photos
of car 504 decorated for a 1954 festival
5. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in April, 2005: More stuff on the Kitsch page. Also, on the New York/New Jersey page: a contemporary newspaper article about the experimental line on the grounds of a lunatic asylum in Binghamton, New York.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Mar-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) February, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the February, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Geary Street Park and Ocean steam
train at Central and Geary, in honor of February 16, the 125th anniversary of the
start of service on the GSPO
2. On the San Francisco page: Added "When Steam Ran on The Streets of
San Francisco," an article by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria
about steam traction in San Francisco.
3. Added News and Bibliography items about the destruction by fire of a Baltimore cable car powerhouse and barn
4. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in March, 2005: Contemporary newspaper accounts of cable car operations in Manhattan.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Feb-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) January, 2005 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
Happy new year, everyone.
I just put the January, 2005 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Clay Street grip car 8 and trailer 1 at the 1893
Columbian Exposition in Chicago. On the Chicago page: Some information from
Walter Rice about the equipment and its subsequent journey
2. On the San Francisco page: Added "When Stationary Steam Engines
Powered the Cable," an article by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria
about the Washington/Mason powerhouse.
3. Also on the San Francisco page: Updated the Decorated Cable Cars
article with photos of the 2004 batch from Val Lupiz and photos from the
1973 centennial from Walter Rice. Help us identify the photos of famous
San Franciscans on the Roos Atkins car
4. Also on the San Francisco page: Added newspaper articles from 1873
about the first test of the Clay Street Hill cable car line, and a series
of political attacks on Andrew S Hallidie, who was running for state senate
at the time
5. 15-January-2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the last cable tram to run
in Sydney, on the King Street line
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in February, 2005: "When Steam Ran on The Streets of San Francisco," an article by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria. Also the 125th birthday of the Geary Street, Park and Ocean cable car line.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jan-2005)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) December, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the December, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is Castro Street cable car 3 in the mid-1930s
2. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice, former Chair of
the Friends of the Cable Car Museum, I added two items.
"Market Street Railway's Efforts to Curtail Its Cable Car
System", two contemporary newspaper articles with an introduction by Walter Rice.
"Cable Car Concerto", Glen Hurlburt's 1947 composition that represents a ride on the Mason
Street line, with an introductory essay by Walter Rice
3. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in January, 2005: "When Stationary Steam Engines Powered the Cable", an article about the steam engines at Washington/Mason by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Dec-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) November, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the November, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Pacific Avenue cable train, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the abandonment of the line on 17-November-1929
2. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month, I added "The Sutter Street Railroad - History and Technology", an article by Walter Rice
3. Also on the San Francisco page: A new article by Walter Rice about the 1950 Broadway Tunnel Construction Project and how it caused the O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line to be temporarily replaced by Ford buses. Photos from Robert Townley and Walter Vielbaum.
4. On the Who page, a photo of Henry Casebolt's balloon car.
5. Added News and Bibliography items about shutdowns and an accident, including an eyewitness account
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in December, 2004: Contemporary newspaper articles about Market Street Railway's efforts to convert the Castro Street and Sacramento/Clay lines
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Nov-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Oct-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) October, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the October, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is the header of a Rider Alert card issued during the 2002 Powell/Market Turntable Replacement
2. On the San Francisco page: "When Push Comes To Shove", the October edition of "Tales From the Grip", by Val Lupiz
3. Also on the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month, I added "The Wire Rope Street Railways of San Francisco, California", an 1881 Scientific American article collected by Val Lupiz, with an introduction by Walter Rice
4. On the New York page: More about the Park Hill Elevator, a funiclar in Yonkers
5. Added News and Bibliography items about cable car shutdowns and the Bay/Taylor turntable replacement
6. New items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in October, 2004: In honor of the 75th anniversary of the abandonment of the Pacific Avenue cable line, "The Sutter Street Railroad", an article by Walter Rice
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Oct-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Aug-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) September, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the September, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a photo from Grant Dew, showing the East Cliff Lift in Hastings,
East Sussex, UK
2. On the UK page: Cliff lifts in the UK, featuring several Grant Dew photos of the East
and West cliff lifts in Hastings
3. On the More Muni Photos page: Photos of Car 44 (retired Powell Street
car 4) at Pac Bell Park, including a photo taken in August by Walter Rice,
and a photo I took in February of the car wrapped in tarps for the winter
4. Also on the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month, I added "Market Street Railway Company Past,
Present and Future", a 1925 article from the San Francisco News Letter,
with an introduction by Walter Rice.
5. Added News and Chronology items about Val Lupiz being named Muni's
Systemwide Operator of the Month for July, 2004. Congratulations, Val.
6. Other new items on the Chronology
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in October, 2004: "The Wire Rope Street Railways of San Francisco, California", an 1881 Scientific American article collected by Val Lupiz.
I updated my Park Trains page with photos from a recent visit to Disneyland. I got to see the monorail wrecker at work.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Sep-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Aug-2004)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) August, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the August, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a stamp showing former cable car 72/73 in Douglas, Isle of Man,
in honor of the 75th anniversary of the abandonment of the Upper
Douglas Cable Tramway, on 19-Aug-1929
2. On the UK page: Some new items:
Articles by Walter Rice about the steam-powered Isle of Man Railway and
the Manx Electric Railway
3. On the San Francisco page: Photos from the 2004 Bell Ringing
contest, including photos of all the finalists. Also added more information
about the contests from 1985 through 1994, and an article by Muni historian
Bob Callwell about the history of the contest: "The Annual Cable Car Bell-Ringing Contest -
A San Francisco Tradition". I added photos of Cal Cable's Alexander Nielsen,
who won the first contest in 1949, and Francesca Cresci, Miss Cable Car 1972
4. Also on the San Francisco page: Two 1892 magazine articles about the
end of the original Clay Street Hill Railroad, with and introduction by
Walter Rice
5. Also on the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month, I added "Proper Techniques and Body Positions for
Cable Car Gripmen", a 1972 ergonomic memo preserved by RT Murphy to the
page with the 1976 "Instructions for Cable Car Operations", also preserved
by Bob
6. On the Transfers and Tickets page, Walter Rice provided another
Sutro Railroad ticket
7. Several new items on the Chronology
8. New "Search This Site" function
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in September, 2004: Back to the UK: Cliff lifts in Hastings
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Aug-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) July, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the July, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Metropolitan Street Railway cable car, which ran on
Broadway in New York City
2. On the New York/New Jersey page: An 1893 newspaper article, "Cable Car Run Amuck",
about a Broadway cable car that ran away
3. Also on the New York/New Jersey page: A new article about the Park Hill Incline,
a funicular in Yonkers
4. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month,
"The Cable Car Lady & the Mayor" by Walter Rice and Val Lupiz, an article about the epic
battle between Mrs Friedel Klussmann and Mayor Roger Lapham. Also, on the UK page,
an article by Walter Rice about the Great Orme Tramway, the only street-running funicular in the UK
5. On the news and bibliography sections, articles about a party to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of the return of the cable cars after the Great Reconstruction
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in August, 2004: The 75th anniversary of the end of the Upper Douglas Cable Tramway, on the Isle of Man
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jul-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) June, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
Happy Memorial Day to all. This is the time to pause and remember the men and women who gave their lives so we could live in freedom.
I just put the June, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a program from a Union Square cermemoy marking the return of the cables in 1984
2. On the San Francisco page: A new essay by Val Lupiz and Walter Rice, "20-Years of Being Back and Building for the Future", about the
return of the cable cars after the Great Rebuilding in 1982-1984
3. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month,
"Cable Car Transfers, Tickets and Tokens" by Walter Rice, with a new 1970's child's ticket
and "Towed by Rail", an 1878 Saint Nicholas Magazine article about cable cars, from Tom
Ehrenreich's much-missed Railroad Extra site
4. On the San Francisco page: A new edition of Val Lupiz column "Tales From the Grip",
"Central, We Have a Problem..."
5. On the news and bibliography sections, articles about the passing
of Arnold Gridley, the motorized cable car man, and about a shutdown of the
California Street cable car line
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in July, 2004: An 1893 newspaper article about a runaway cable car on Broadway in New York City
Last month, on May 21, I forgot to wish Fats Waller a happy 100th birthday.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jun-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2004)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) May, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the May, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. 15-May-2004 marks the 50th anniversary of the abandonment of the O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line and the cutback to Van Ness Avenue of the California Street main line
2. The picture of the month is a car full of protestors at Hyde and Beach
3. On the San Francisco page: Newspaper articles about the decision to abandon most of the former Cal Cable system, the last days of the O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line, the cutback of the California Street mainline, and Proposition E
4. On the San Francisco page: A new essay by Walter Rice about Gellett Burgesss' poem "The Ballad of the Hyde Street Grip", with a recorded reading by Craig Hulsebos of KEAR radio
5. On the San Francisco page: A new essay by Walter Rice, Is It "Mahoney" or "Mahony?", about the builder's plate from car 524
6. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month Walter Rice's San Francisco Cable Car Chronology and Val Golding's essay "SAN FRANCISCO: that was THE CITY that was"
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in June, 2004: A new essay by Walter Rice and Val Lupiz about the 20th anniversary of the return of the cables after the 1982-1984 reconstruction
I'm disappointed that the Cable Car Museum website has chosen to remove the link to my site, and to remove all references to me. I will not reciprocate, hoping that they will someday have a change of heart.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-May-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) April, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the April, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a nice image of Powell and Market from an old ad
2. On the San Francisco page: A new edition of Val Lupiz' "Tales From the Grip"
3. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site: This month Bob Murphy's copy of Muni's "Instructions for Cable Car Operations "
4. On the Kitsch page: Several new pictures, including some items from the
1984 return after the Great Rebuilding. I also changed the toy cable car picture on the main
page.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in May, 2004: The 50th anniversary of the end of the O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line.
I also updated my ferryboat and park train sites with photos of Delta ferries and the Redwood Valley Railway in Tilden Park.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Apr-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) March, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the March, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a photograph of grips at Washington/Mason
2. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Walter Rice's kind offer and hard work,
I have started to migrate some articles from the Cable Car
Museum site, including the Cal/Hyde carbarn and powerhouse, a 1962 Road and Track road test
of a cable car, and the Historic American Engineering Record study of Washington/Mason
3. On the San Francisco/Municipal Railway page: More Muni pictures, including ones
taken during a December, 2003 tour of the barn.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in April, 2004: Updates to the Kitsch page
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Mar-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Nov-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) February, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the February, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a photograph of the crowd on the last day of the Jones Street Shuttle
2. On the San Francisco page: 1954 Newspaper articles about the last day of the Jones Street Shuttle and more information on the Cal Cable page
3. On the San Francisco page/Roster: Retirement of old car 28 and rollout of new 28
4. On the Other California Cities page: A turntable discovered at Mountian View Cemetery and a photo of the former Consolidated Piedmont powerhouse
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in March, 2004: On the San Francisco page: Photos from Washington/Mason
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jan-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Nov-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) January, 2004 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
Happy New Year, everyone.
I just put the January, 2004 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a postcard showing a car on the turntable at Geary and Kearney
2. On the San Francisco page: 1912 Newspaper articles about the last days of the Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railroad
3. On the San Francisco page: New illustrated page about Decorated Cable Cars
4. On the Who page: New article about Ray McCann
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in February, 2004: On the San Francisco page: In honor of the 50th anniversary of the abandonment of the Jones Street Shuttle on 07-Feb-1952, newspaper articles about the last day
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jan-2004)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Nov-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) December, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving
I just put the December, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Christmas tree decorated with cable cars
2. The December installment of gripman Val Lupiz's quarterly column, Tales From the Grip: "Rain, Rain Go Away"
3. On the San Francisco page: Take a look at Joe Lacey's classic article Christmas on the Cables.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
One big non-cable related anniversary coming on 18-Dec-2003, the 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright making the first powered, controlled flight
Coming in January, 2004: On the San Francisco page: Newspaper articles about the last day of the Geary Street, Park and Ocean cable line
There are several big anniversaries coming in 2004.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Dec-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Nov-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) November, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the November, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Paris grip car
2. On the Other Cities page, I added the Tramway Funiculaire de Belleville, the only Hallidie-type cable line in France
3. On the Miscellany page, I added my attempt at translating an 1890 magazine article about the Tramway Funiculaire de Belleville
4. On the bell ringing contest page, I added photos from this year's contest
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in December, 2003: On the San Francisco page: More Christmas-related items
Every December for about ten years, the men and women of the Cable Car Division have put on a holiday luncheon and entertainment for a large group of senior citizens from San Francisco retirement homes. They do this on their own, without financial support from Muni or the City.
In order to raise funds this year, they are having an auction. Prizes are expected to include three conductor's bells signed by champion bell ringers (Carl Payne, Ken Lunardi, Byron Cobb, Frank Ware, and current champ Ronald East), autographed Giants memorabilia, a charter ride on a decorated cable car, and a limousine ride chauferred by Carl Payne, with dinner for two.
If you want to buy tickets to support this worthy cause, please contact list member Val Lupiz.
I have a photo of one of the prizes with a news item on the raffle.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Nov-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Oct-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) October, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the October, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Belding Brothers silk thread ad, showing a Chicago cable train being pulled by its product
2. On the Chicago page, added poem by Franklin Pierce Adams about his youth in Chicago (including cable cars) and more photos of Chicago cable cars
3. On the Pacific Northwest page, added information and photos, kindly supplied by Ron Gates, about the booths from Steve's Cable Car room in Tacoma, now in an Italian restaurant in Sumner, WA
4. On the Cal Cable page, added information about car 45, which was offerred for sale on EBay
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in November, 2003: On the Other Cities page: Le Tramway Funiculaire de Belleville, the only Hallidie-type cable tram in France. Also my attempt at translating a contemporary article from the original French
The 40th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 16-Oct-2003, Noon at Union Square.
Go Giants.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Oct-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 30-Sep-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (tan) September, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the September, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is an atmospheric shot of a rainy day at Hayes and Van Ness in 1890
2. On the Market Street Cable Railway, More Market Street Photos, and "South of the Slot" pages, I thumbnailed the old photos and added some new ones, including a postcard of the Chutes amusement park on Fulton
4. Added new page about the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest
5. Added information about new fares, effective 01-Sep-2003 to the San Francisco page
6. Added 1903 phone numbers for several San Francisco companies
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in October, 2003: On the Chicago page: A poem by FPA
The 40th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 16-Oct-2003.
01-Sep-2003 marks the 100th anniversary of Kansas City's former Grand Avenue Railroad cable lines (15th Street, Holmes Street, Walnut Street) ceasing cable operation.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Sep-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Jun-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Jul-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (ot) August, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the August, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a postcard showing Second and Madison in Seattle
2. The August installment of gripman Val Lupiz's quarterly column, Tales From the Grip
3. On the Pacific Northwest page I added more about Seattle's cable cars and counterbalances. Thanks to Val Golding for lending me an excellent book on the subject
4. Added more photos of dash signs to the SF Muni page. Thanks to Val Lupiz for sharing photos of his collection
5. Added Disney pin and Italian Charm to the Kitsch page
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in September, 2003: On the Market Street Railway page, more photos
On my Park Trains page, I added an illustrated article about my July visit to the LA Farmers Market, where I rode the battery tram. I know it's not a park, but I had to put the article somewhere. I also updated my Disneyland page with more text and photos.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Aug-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Jun-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 31-Jul-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (ot) July, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date:
I just put the July, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a postcard of the Skagit Incline
2. On the Pacific Northwest page I added Seattle City Light's Skagit Incline, which still operates
3. I added more photos to my SF Muni page, and some highlights from
the draft 2003 Short Range Transit Plan. Thanks to Matt Lee for pointing out the plan
4. I added News items about an accident on Powell and a brief Cal Cable shutdown,
and about the retirement of Head Instructor Saddati Ahmad
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in August, 2003: On the Pacific Northwest page: More about Seattle cable cars, and three inclines which I recently learned about
The 40th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest will be held in Union Square on Thursday, 17-Jul-2003 at Noon. Look for a guy with a cable car tie and a rumpled Panama hat. I will try to post the results when I get home
08-Jul-2003 will be the 100th anniversary of the opening of the upper section of the Great Orme Tramway in Wales. See both my UK page the the Cable Car Museum site for articles about Great Orme
17-Jul-2003 will be the 125th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of Old Saint Mary's
23-Jul-2003 will be the 50th anniversay of the truce which ended the Korean War, at least until now
26-Jul-2003 will be the 100th anniversay of Layman's Castle at the top of Telegraph Hill burning to the ground. See my SF page for a photo of the Castle, with a car of the Telegraph Hill Railroad, a street-running funicular
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jul-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Jun-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 01-May-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: (ot) June, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 19:01:19 +0000
I just put the June, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server at my new url (a birthday present from my wife):
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
The old url will still work for a while, but if you have the site bookmarked or linked, please change it.
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a cable car in Butte, Montana. Most people, even in Butte, don't know that Butte had cable cars
2. On the Pacific Northwest page I added the Butte City Street Railroad, the pilot installation of a revolutionary shallow-conduit technology
3. I added more photos to my article about the California Street Cable Railroad's 125th anniversary party
4. I added a News item about San Francisco's Carnaval Parade, where gripman Val Lupiz
drove motorized Cal Cable car 62. Thanks to Val for the photo
5. I added a News item about a recent accident on California Street
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in July, 2003: On the Pacific Northwest page: The Skagit Incline
02-Jun-2003 will be the 100th anniversary of the "Peace Agreement" between the Kansas City, Missouri city government and the Metropolitan Street Railway, which allowed the company to convert its remaining cable lines to electricity. 16-Jun-2003 will be the 100th birthday of the Ford Motor Company. This was Henry Ford's third attempt at starting a company to manufacture autos.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page - new url - (updated 01-Jun-2003)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-May-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 01-May-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: May, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 19:28:23 +0000
I just put the May, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
It includes some new items:
1. I am proud to host gripman Val Lupiz's new quarterly column, "Tales
from the Grip". Look for the banner on the main page.
2. The picture of the month is a car from the south line of the Spokane Cable Railway
3. On the Pacific Northwest page I added the short-lived Spokane Cable Railway. Thanks to Don Galt for providing much information. This company was unique in using direct-drive hydro power
4. I moved my article about the California Street Cable Railroad's 125th anniversary party to a separate page and added some photos. More to come next month
5. I added Added News and Bibliography items about Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria's new book "San Francisco's California Street Cable Car/Celebrating a Century and a Quarter of Service"
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in June, 2003: On the Pacific Northwest page: Butte, Montana's Butte City Street Railroad, the pilot installation of a revolutionary shallow conduit grip.
29-May-2003 will be Bob Hope's 100th birthday.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-May-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 30-Apr-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (updated 01-May-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: April, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 19:28:23 +0000
I just put the April, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a first day cover issued to commemorate
the California Street Cable Railroad's 100th anniversary in 1978
2. To honor the California Street Cable Railroad's 125th anniversary, on 10-Apr-2003, I added some more photos to the More California Street pictures page
3. I added many new items to the Kitsch page, including a series of souvenir tickets isssued by Muni, Lefton models of cable cars, and other items. My favorites are a Citizens Federal Savings piggy bank and a poster for last year's Strictly Bluegrass 2 Festival.
4. On the San Francisco page, I added an excerpt from an 1880 book, "Travels with Jottings" by Edward D Holton, which describes an early ride on the California Street Cable Railroad.
5. I added news and bibliography items about the anti-war protests.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in May, 2003: On the Pacific Northwest page: Spokane, Washington's unique and short-lived system.
Don't miss Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria's new article "Cal Cable’s Hyde & California Street Car Barn & Powerhouse" on the San Francisco Cable Car Museum site:
http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/
04-Apr-2003 will mark the 150th birthday of the California Academy of Sciences.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-Apr-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-Mar-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (new url)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: March, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2003 16:31:23 +0000
I just put the March, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the
server:
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Tacoma, Washington cable car
2. On the Pacific Northwest page I added the Tacoma Railway and Motor Company.
Only two US cities had Hallidie-type cable cars after Tacoma
3. Also on the Pacific Northwest page: An article and photos about
Steve's Gay 90's, a restaurant which featured the Cable Car Room and a
motorized San Francisco cable car. I'd like to know what happened to the car.
4. I added news and bibliography items about the Chinese New Year's
parade and the next days' anti-war protest.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in April, 2003: The 125th birthday of the California Street Cable Railroad and new additions to the Kitsch page. I'll be back to the Pacific Northwest in May, with Spokane, Washington's unique system.
It's not cable-related, but 10-Mar-2003 will mark Bix Beiderbecke's 100th birthday.
Regards,
Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-Mar-2003)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 28-Feb-2003)
http://home.mindspring.com/~joethompson1/ferry.html
Park Trains (new url)
http://www.geocities.com/rollomcgurk/html/ptrain.html
Subject: February, 2003 Version of the Cable Car Home Page
Date: Sat, 01 Feb 2003 16:03:41 +0000
I just put the February, 2003 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the
server:
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html
It includes some new items:
1. The picture of the month is a Portland, Oregon cable car
2. On the Pacific Northwest page I added the Portland Cable Railway,
which was famous for a huge trestle that climbed Portland Heights. I have a
nice postcard which shows the trestle.
3. San Francisco page: Thumbnailed photos of the California Street Cable
Railroad. April will be the line's 125th birthday. Watch for new stuff
over the next few months.
4. I added news and bibliography items about the proposed fare hike from $2
to $3.
I have links to the new items directly from the What's New section on the main page.
Coming in March,