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Powell 25's Homecoming

The Cable Railway Company's System of Traction Railways for Cities and Towns

Cable Railways: Their History, and Use in America

Cable Tramways

EDINBURGH NORTHERN CABLE TRAMWAYS

Patent 100,140

Henry Root

Cable Car Models

Australia/New Zealand development

UK development

Cable Car Video Roster

Tales From the Grip (dev)

19th Century Magazine Articles

Miscellaneous Articles About Cable Cars

Other Cities

• Birmingham - Birmingham Central Tramways Company
• Matlock - Matlock Tramways Company, Ltd
• Paris - Tramway Funiculaire de Belleville
• Providence, Rhode Island - Providence Cable Tramway
• Saint Paul, Minnesota - Saint Paul City Railway
• London, England - The Tower Subway

Northern California Funiculars

The San Diego Trolley

The Phantom Cable Car Line

Private Funiculars

Gravity Power

San Francisco, 1906

Doppelmayer

• Feinstein, Dianne
• Root, Henry

Cable Car Miscellany

• Cable Car Kitsch
• Cable Car Destinations
• Before Hallidie (and Brooks)

Excerpt from Travels with Jottings by Edward D Holton

Excerpt From "Their Silver Wedding Journey" by William Dean Howells

Excerpts from Blix by Frank Norris

Excerpt from White Fang by Jack London

Cable-Driven Automated People Movers

Frequently Asked Questions

Messages

Anniversary development

Car 38, Lakeport, California

Photos by Gordon Miller

O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car 38 leaves the shelter which covered it for many years. Decorations include a banner from the Lake County Historical Society. Gordon Miller photo. All rights reserved.

In 1958, the Municipal Railway sold California Street Cable Railroad O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car 38 to "A party in Lakeport, California." (Inside Muni, McKane and Perles). The car was on display for many years at the Lake County Fairground.

Despite being in the open air under a small open-sided shed, the car was in remarkably good shape. In 2005, Muni Gripman Val Lupiz reported that "Interestingly, the track brake shoes are still intact, the brake handles are still operational, and the interior is in very good condition."

Gordon Miller is a Muni gripman whose father was a California Street Cable Railroad gripman. On 03-August-2007, Gordon travelled north to see car 38 move for the first time in many years. The Lake County Historical Society moved the car inside for renovation and a more accurate paint job. Gordon sent them photos of O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car 42 as a reference.

Looking towards car 38 from the winch which is hauling it up onto the trailer. Gordon Miller photo. All rights reserved.

Car 38 climbs an incline for the first time in many years. Gordon Miller photo. All rights reserved.

O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car 38 rides down a street in Lakeport. Gordon Miller photo. All rights reserved.

A broadside view of car 38 on the trailer, in beautiful Lake County. Gordon Miller photo. All rights reserved.

38 climbs a real hill. Gordon Miller photo. All rights reserved.

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Powell 25's Homecoming/New Car Delivered

Car 25 is arrives from the Woods Shops on a transport trailer. Taken at the Washington/Mason barn. 26-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

On the morning of 26-February-2008, Val Lupiz was excited to see Powell Street cable car 25, which had been away at Woods Shops for refurbishment and rebuilding for at least two years, arrive back at the carbarn at Washington and Mason.

"It has a new roof, front and rear ends, cabin sides, and running boards. The bulkheads and chassis seem to be original. I didn't get a chance to get a closer look but it seems to be nearly 80 to 90% new. It's sitting a couple of rows over from the Sac-Clay 19. It needs paint and brake rigging, but that won't take too long. The shop plans to have 25 back to work by late summer."

Car 25 is lowered from the transport trailer at the Washington/Mason barn. 26-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Car 25 rides the rails at the Washington/Mason barn again after being away for two years or more. 26-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

The interior of car 25 after delivery, looking forward from the back platform. 27-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Car 25's number painted over the cabin door. 27-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

On 27-February-2008, Val found that a new Bombay roof car had been delivered. It has not been officially assigned a road number, but it may be the new Number 15. Val points out that both cars look beautiful in bare metal.

A rear view of the new Bombay roof car at the barn after delivery. 27-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

The open section of the new Bombay roof car at the barn. 27-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Looking back from the open section of the new Bombay roof car at the barn. 27-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

The new Bombay roof car with Car 25. 28-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

A rear view of the new Bombay roof car with Car 25. 28-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

The front ends of the new Bombay roof car and Car 25. 28-February-2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

In March, Val reported that shopmen were working on Car 25 to get it ready for service, and that the new car had been moved to a quiet track between wreck-damaged California Street Car 55 and O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42.

New car 15 between wreck-damaged California Street Car 55 and O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42. The windows behind the cars look out on Mason Street. March, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

New car 15 with two preserved historic cars: O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42 and Sacramento/Clay car 19. March, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Val called Sacramento/Clay car 19 and O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42 "hangar queens." 19 may not be able to make the turn to leave the barn. 42 does not have end-doors to allow grips to be changed, so it is not used in normal operations. March, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Val took this photo of car 25 in late March after it had been painted a startling shade of red. Val wondered if it had joined the San Francisco Fire Department. Engine 25 is stationed at Third Street and Cargo Way. March, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Another view of 25 in its vibrant new color. March, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Val took this unique view of new car 15 through the headlight hole. April, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved. May, 2008 Picture of the Month.

The United Railroads of San Francisco color scheme is beginning to take shape. April, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Another view of the United Railroads of San Francisco color scheme. April, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

In early May, Val found that shop crews had "moved Powell 25 to the shop pit track for installation of brake rigging gear (which also, incidentally, allowed me to get a much better shot of the car from an overhead stairwell)". May, 2008. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

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2008 Anniversaries

124 years ago - 1883
May 01 - The new New York baseball club (not yet called the Giants) played 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.
Jul ?? - The National Cable Railway Company was formed.
Aug 03 - The first train ran on the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway.

New York National League club (not yet Giants) record: 46-50, 6th place. Manager: John Clapp.

99 years ago - 1908
Jun 08 - Cable car service was restored on the revised Sacramento/Clay line
Dec 11 - Abe Ruef was convicted of brbing a supervisor on behalf of the URR

New York Giants record: 98-56, tied for first place with the Chicago Cubs. Lost a one-game playoff which included the infamous "Merkle boner". Manager: John McGraw.

74 years ago - 1933

New York Giants record: 91-61, 1st place. Manager: Bill Terry. The Giants defeated the Washington Senators in the World Series, 4 games to 1.

49 years ago - 1958
Apr 15 - The new San Francisco Giants won their first game against the new Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-0. Headlines read "We Beat the Bums".
Apr 20 - The last Key System trains ran on the Bay Bridge

San Francisco Giants record: 80-74, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Rigney.

24 years ago - 1983

San Francisco Giants record: 79-83, 5th place. Manager: Frank Robinson.

Anniversaries Archive

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butte coc

montana magazine

montana hs

uw digital collections
Trolley Folly By Brennen Jensen Baltimore City Paper February 21 - February 27, 2001

http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=feat_tram THE RISE AND FALL OF THE DUNEDIN TRAM

http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/new_zealand/about_destin/dunedin/dunedin. html

"Taming the hills: The hills that rise so sharply from the waterfront were in time conquered by the first cable tramway to operate outside the United States. Suggested in 1879 by a 27-year-old engineer, George Smith Duncan, the pioneer line was built by a company he founded. The line ran up Rattray Street and curved to the left at St Joseph's Cathedral, the curve being overcome by a "pull curve" - a number of small wheels that eased the wire rope round the curve but still allowed the cablecar to grip. The innovation was later adopted by major cable systems throughout the world.

"A continuously running endless cable ran beneath the roadway and was gripped by a projecting arm when the passenger car was to move. Each car had a brakeman who could grip the cable at will and who also had a variety of brakes to hold the car still when it was not engaged to the cable. The cablecar system, based on the design of the world's first (San Francisco, 1873), became a landmark. By the turn of the century three private companies were operating services to Roslyn, Mornington, Maryhill and Kaikorai. Duncan later crossed the Tasman to design a cable tramway for Melbourne; this was later reputed to be the best laid out in the world. The cars trundled up and down the hills of Dunedin for three-quarters of a century. One by one the lines closed, and finally the Mornington cars made their last journeys in 1957. The decision to abandon the system evoked much opposition, as the city was hard to imagine without the quaint cars. (A cablecar from the Maryhill line is in the Early Settlers' Museum. The Guinness Book of Records accords Baldwin St (1:1.266) as being the world's steepest.)"

http://www.sligofamily.com/Alexander.htm

"He was also a Director of the Roslyn and Kaikorai Tramway Company and a Director in several other public companies."

http://www.kaiser.aix.de/global/cablecar.html

The Wellington Cable Car

"The design of the cable cars would appear to have been based on that of the Mornington Cable Cars and the Kaikorai Trams, both of Dunedin, which first ran in 1883. Plans of the original cars state the builder as Mark Sinclair of Dunedin and the year of construction as 1901."

http://www.tramarchives.homestead.com/Page1.html

Maryhill tram in color

"The Tramway Classics range features popular trams seen on the streets of Great Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century."

VALLEY CITY STREET AND CABLE RAILWAY.

November 10, 1884, a report made in the Common Council recommended that permission be given for the construction of a cable railway in Lyon, Union and East Bridge streets, and an ordinance was passed February 16, 1885, granting a franchise with conditions. Some efforts toward starting the work were made in the following year, without much progress. The Valley City Street and Cable Railway was incorporated June 6, 1887 - President, Wm. P. Innes; Secretary and Treasurer, Robert W. Innes; Engineer, Wm. Phenix. Their first cable line was in Lyon street, from the foot to Grand avenue; and horse-car lines in connection were constructed from the foot of Lyon to Waterloo and down Grandville avenue to the south city line, also across Fulton street bridge and to the west city line, and one north from Lyon on Barclay street. The company began work in August, and the horse-car branches were running in October. The cable in Lyon street was drawn to place April 13, 1888, grip cars ran on the 16th, and soon began their regular trips. The power house is by the Lyon street and Grand avenue corner, where very powerful steam machinery is placed to operate the line. The lines in the early part of 1890 are:

Lyon and Bridge street (cable), from the corner of East Fulton and East streets over Fulton, Union, Lyon, Canal, and East Bridge streets and Grand avenue. Ottawa street (cable), from the City Hall by the way of Canal and East Bridge streets to Ottawa, and over North Ionia and Taylor streets to the north city line at Sweet street. West Third ward line (cable), from Pearl street and business center to city limits by Louis, Spring, Wealthy avenue, Sheldon, Wenham avenue and Lafayette streets. Grandville avenue line (horse), from Canal street and business center to city limits south on Grandville avenue. West Fulton street line (horse), Fulton, Straight, Jackson, Pine and Bridge and business center. Barclay street line (horse), Coit, Trowbridge and Clancy to D., G. H. & M. track. Ionia street line, south on Ionia to and beyond the city limits.

Some seven miles of roadway are completed, or nearly so. A central power house plant is in the course of development and construction, at the foot of Lyon street, between Campau street and the river. Twenty-five passenger and twenty-three grip (cable) cars are in use, also fifteen passenger cars drawn by horses. The capital invested is near half a million dollars. There has been some change of officers and management. Directors chosen July 3, 1889: A. J. Bowne, James Blair, John W. Blodgett and A. D. Rathbone, of Grand Rapids; W. S. Crosby and John M. Hagar, of Chicago; H. P. Breed, of Minneapolis - President, A. J. Bowne; Vice President, J. W. Blodgett; Secretary, W. S. Crosby; Assistant Secretary, Accountant and Purchasing Agent, H. P. Baker; Treasurer, James Blair.

St. Louis City Revised Code Chapter 8.92

8.92.100 Rules and regulations for running streetcars.

D. Vigilant watch to be kept. The conductor, motorman, gripman, driver or any other person in charge of each car shall keep vigilant watch for all vehicles and persons on foot, especially children, either on the track or moving towards it, and on the first appearance of danger to such persons or vehicles, the car shall be stopped in the shortest time and space possible. (1948 C. Ch. 63 § 9: 1960 C. § 595.020.)

8.92.110 Regulations when tracks intersect with railroad and other streetcar tracks.

At all points where the streetcar track may intersect or cross any steam railroad track, every streetcar shall be brought to a full stop not less than ten or more than twenty-five feet from nearest point of intersection, and shall not proceed to cross the railroad track until, upon sufficient investigation, the conductor, or other proper agent appointed by the company for that purpose, is assured there is no danger of collision, whereupon the person in control of the car shall be signaled to proceed. At all points where the street railway track intersects or crosses other street railway tracks, the car shall be stopped immediately before crossing the same, so as to avoid danger of collision. The car going in an eastwardly or westwardly direction over, on or crossing any intersecting street upon which other streetcars are run shall be entitled to the right-of-way to pass before any car going in a northwardly or southwardly direction at the point of intersection of the streets. It shall be the duty of the conductor, motorman, gripman, driver or any other person in charge of the car going in a northwardly or southwardly direction to run the car when approaching the intersection of other street railways so as to stop in due time and give the right-of-way to the car going in an eastwardly or westwardly direction on the intersecting line. In no event shall this clause be so construed as to sanction or allow a wilful or wanton collision by the conductor, motorman, gripman or driver of a car running in an eastwardly or westwardly direction. (1948 C. Ch. 63 § 10: 1960 C. § 595.030.)

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Centennial History of the City of Washington, D. C.: With Full Outline of ... 1892

By Harvey W. Crew, William Bensing Webb, John Wooldridge

p 342-343

The Seventh Street road was changed to a cable road May 1, 1890. The plant by which the cable is propelled is situated on Square No. 504, between Water and Four and a Half streets, and fronting on the Arsenal. In this power house are two engines, each of two hundred and fifty horse-power, but capable of five hundred horse-power each. The legislation under which this cable road was built was permissive only, but in 1890 Congress passed a supplemental act requiring the entire system of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad to be operated by cable or electricity, and the change to be completed within the time required by law, which expires August 6, 1892. The power house in which the machinery will be located is being erected on Square No. 255, between Thirteen and a Half and Fourteenth streets, and D and E streets Northwest. The estimated cost of the machinery to be erected in this building is $150,000. There will be two seven hundred and fifty horse-power engines, and eight one hundred and eighty-four horsepower boilers. The total length of the cable road belonging to the company will, when completed, be eleven miles of double track, and the the entire cost of the change is estimated at $3,500,000.

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The Washington Electrical Hand-book: Being a Guide for Visitors from Abroad ... - Page 101-103

Electric industries - 1904

THE SYSTEM OF THE CAPITAL TRACTION CO.

The first street car service in Washington was begun in July, 1862, when the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company ran its first horse cars on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Pennsylvania Avenue line has been operated without interruption since, and as the public's need for service in other sections were manifested, they have been met by the other lines and various extensions.

When it became apparent that the horse car was not adequare, in the later '80's, the company considered what form of mechanical system would best meet the condifions. The overhead trolley system, then just beginning to be generally used, was properly not allowed in Washington, and the cable, the only other successful method of propulsion then available, was adopted. The Seventh Street line was first equipped, and immediately after that was put into operation, in 1890, work was begun on the other lines, so that August, 1892, found all the Washington and Georgetown Railroad's system operated by cable. This system continued to give satisfactory service until September, 1897, when the burning of the company's large central power station, at Fourteenth street and Pennsylvania Avenue, put all the lines except Seventh Street out of commission. The fire occurred after 11 at night, but the disabled cable cars were hauled off the street and the trail cars started out with horse power on a regular schedule the following morning.

In the meantime, the conduit electric system had been developed and proven satisfactory on the Metropolitan Railway Company's lines in Washington and also in New York, so the company's directors decided not to rebuild the cable power station, but to equip the entire road with that system. Fortunately the concrete cable conduit was well adapted to the electric system, and work was soon begun on the track, power station and cars so that both the Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourteenth Street lines were electrically operated from the company's own power station in April, 1898. Parts of the lines had been run some months before that time.

The Seventh Street cable road was also rebuilt, the work being done without interruption to the cable system, which was driven by a separate station, now abandoned.

In September, 1895, the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company and the Rock Creek Railway Company were consolidated under the name of the Capital Traction Company.

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Horse Car - 175 Years 26-November-2007 marks the 175th birthday of the Horse Car. Read a new article on its history and an 11-March-1906 newspaper article about Michael Houlihan, who drove the URR's franchise-protecting horse car line on California Street

The Sutter Street Railway - San Francisco's Second Cable Car Line Read Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria's illustrated article "The Sutter Street Railway - San Francisco's Second Cable Car Line"

125 Years - Beginning of Cable Traction in Chicago - 125 Years 28-January-2006 marks the 125th anniversary of the beginning of cable traction in Chicago, Illinois, when the Chicago City Railway's State Street line converted to cable traction.

1906 Earthquake and Fire - 100 Years 18-Apr-2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. 21-Jun-2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the return to service of the Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railway, the first cable car line to return to service after the Earthquake and Fire. 17-Aug-2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the return to service of the California Street Cable Railroad after the Earthquake and Fire.

125 Years - Beginning of Cable Traction in Chicago - 125 Years 28-January-2006 marks the 125th anniversary of the beginning of cable traction in Chicago, Illinois, when the Chicago City Railway's State Street line converted to cable traction.

100 Years - End of Cable Traction in Chicago - 100 Years 21-October-2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of cable traction in Chicago, Illinois, when the former Chicago City Railway's Wabash Avenue line and the North Chicago Clark and Lincoln lines converted to electric traction.

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest The 45th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 12-Jul-2007 at noon in Union Square.

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest The 44th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 13-Jul-2006 at noon in Union Square.

Contest: San Francisco Without Cable Cars See the winning entries in our 2006 Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has generously provided the prizes.

Contest: San Francisco Without Cable Cars See the winning entries in our 2006 Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has generously provided the prizes.

2006 Contest Please participate in our Contest, "San Francisco With a $5 Cable Car Fare", conceived by Walter Rice, who has generously provided the prizes.

2006 Contest See the winning entries in our Contest, "San Francisco With a $5 Cable Car Fare", conceived by Walter Rice, who has generously provided the prizes.

2006 Contest Please participate in our 2006 Contest, conceived by Walter Rice, who has generously provided the prizes.

First Cable Tram Outside of San Francisco - 125 Years 24-Feb-2006 marks the 125th anniversary of the first cable tram to run in Dunedin, NZ, on the Rattray Street line.

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

Last Sydney Cable Tram - 100 Years 14-Jan-2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the last cable tram to run in Sydney, on the King Street line.

Pacific Avenue Abandonment - 75 Years 17-Nov-2004 marks the 75th anniversary of the abandoment of the Pacific Avenue remnant of the Sutter Street Railway. See Walter Rice's article "The Sutter Street Railway", which focuses on the technical innovations of the Sutter Street company.

Upper Douglas Cable Tramway Abandonment - 75 Years 19-Aug-2004 marks the 75th anniversary of the abandonment of the Upper Douglas Cable Tramway on the Isle of Man. Walter Rice kindly provided two articles he wrote about the Isle of Man Railway and the Manx Electric Railway.

Jones Street Shuttle Abandonment - 50 Years 06-Feb-1954 marks the 50th anniversary of the California Street Cable Railroad's Jones Street Shuttle. I have collected some contemporary newspaper articles.

Cable Car Senior Luncheon Raffle Tickets How can you buy a raffle ticket to support the senior citizen luncheon put on by the people of the Cable Car Division? Read the News.

San Francisco Municipal Railway/Cable Car Division 25th Annual Senior Citizen's Holiday Luncheon See the News for an important announcement about the San Francisco Municipal Railway/Cable Car Division 25th Annual Senior Citizen's Holiday Luncheon.

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest The 40th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is scheduled for Thursday, 16-Oct-2003.

Great Orme Tramway - 100 Years 08-Jul-2003 marks the 100th anniversary of the upper section of the Great Orme Tramway

New: Tales From the Grip I am proud to be the host of gripman Val Lupiz's new quarterly column: the Tales From the Grip.

California Street - 125 Years 10-Apr-2002 marks the 125th anniversary of the California Street Cable Railroad. Visit the San Francisco Cable Car Museum site for Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria's article "A Century and a Quarter of Cable Car Service on California Street".

Go Giants

Go Giants

Go Giants

Go Giants

Go Giants

Go Giants

Great Orme Tramway - 100 Years 31-Jul-2002 marks the 100th anniversary of the lower section of the Great Orme Tramway

Wells Fargo - 150 Years 18-Mar-2002 marks the 150th anniversary of Wells Fargo

Sutter Street - 125 Years 27-Jan-2002 marks the 125th anniversary of cable traction on the Sutter Street Railway. Visit the San Francisco Cable Car Museum site for Walter Rice's article "Celebrating 125th Anniversary of San Francisco's Second Cable Car, The Sutter Street Railroad - History & Technology".

Geary Street - 125 Years 16-Feb-2005 marks the 125th anniversary of cable traction on the Geary Street Park and Ocean Railway. Read Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria's article "When Steam Ran on The Streets of San Francisco," about steam street railway operations, including the Geary Street company's steam dummy line to Golden Gate Park.

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

Happy Holidays Do you remember when Santa arrived at the Emporium by cable car? Read Joe Lacey's "Christmas on the Cables" to find out more. Read more about decorated cable cars, a living holiday tradition.