The Cable Car Home Page by Joe Thompson

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

Where Should I Go from Here? Visit the Map

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest Defending champ Leonard Oats won the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest on Tuesday, 03-June-2008.

Tales From the Grip: "California, Here I Come" I am proud to be the host of gripman Val Lupiz's column: Tales From the Grip.

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

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.

Tin cable car 504 is unusual because its riders are standing figures. In this detail view, I would guess the guy in blue is supposed to be the gripman, but he is standing outside of the bench. The guy with the glasses would not be allowed to stand where he is on a real cable car. I like the surrealistic look. See more collectible items on my Cable Car Kitsch page. See toys, magazine ads, and other new items.

Table of Contents

• What is a cable car? (updated 01-Sep-2005)
• How do cable cars work? (updated 01-Aug-2007)
• Where and when did cable cars operate? (updated 01-Jul-2008)
  • San Francisco (updated 01-Jul-2008)
  • Other California Cities
    • Los Angeles (updated 01-Jul-2008)
    • Oakland (updated 01-Jun-2008)
    • San Diego (new 01-Jun-1999)
  • Chicago (updated 01-May-2008)
  • Kansas City (updated 01-Aug-2007)
  • New York/New Jersey (updated 01-Nov-2007)
    • Hoboken (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Newark (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Binghamton (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Brooklyn (updated 01-Sep-2006)
    • New York (updated 01-May-2006)
  • Pacific Northwest (updated 01-Jun-2005)
    • Portland (new 01-Feb-2003)
    • Seattle (updated 01-Aug-2003)
    • Tacoma (new 01-Mar-2003)
    • Spokane (new 01-May-2003)
    • Butte (new 01-Jun-2003)
  • Australia/New Zealand (updated 01-Jun-2007)
    • Melbourne (updated 01-Dec-2001)
    • Sydney (new 01-Dec-2001)
    • Dunedin (updated 01-Sep-2005)
  • UK (updated 01-Sep-2007)
    • Douglas, Isle of Man (updated 01-Aug-2004)
    • Glasgow (new 01-Oct-2001)
    • Liverpool (new 01-Oct-2001)
    • London (updated 01-Jan-2001)
  • Other Cities
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (updated 01-May-2008)
    • Providence, Rhode Island (new 01-Jul-2008)
    • Denver (new 01-Mar-2006)
    • Paris (new 01-Nov-2003)
• Who Was Important in the History of the Cable Car? (updated 01-Jun-2008)
• Why do I Maintain This Site? (updated 01-Apr-2008)
• News (updated 01-Jul-2008)
  • News Archive
• 2008 Anniversaries (updated 01-Jan-2008)
  • Anniversaries Archive
• Thanks/Links (updated 01-Jan-2008)
• What's New (updated every month)
  • What's New Archive
• Ten Years Ago (updated every month)
• San Francisco Cable Car Chronology by Walter Rice and friends (updated 01-Jun-2008)
• Miscellany (updated 01-Apr-2008)
• Site Map (updated 01-Jul-2008)
• Bibliography (updated 01-Jul-2008)
• Guest Book (new 01-Sep-1998)
• Picture of the Month (updated every month)
• Search This Site (updated 01-Oct-2006)
• Legal Stuff (modified 01-Jul-2001)

News

Val Golding, RIP - 02-July-2008

San Francisco transit fan and historian Val Golding passed away in Seattle. He was a good guy and was always generous about sharing his knowledge. Val wrote a very good article about his memories of transit in San Francisco, "San Francisco: That Was the City That Was".

Explosion at California and Drumm - 24-June-2008

Manhole covers flew threw the year by the terminal of the California Street line, where I had been standing just the day before. Pacific Gas and Electric was trying to determine the cause. Cal cable service was interrupted for a while.

46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 03-June-2008

Defending champ Leonard Oats won the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. I think it was held on a Tuesday in June instead of a Thursday in July because of the APTA convention.

Rebuilt Car 25 Rolls out - 28-May-2008

Rebuilt car 25 went into revenue service after a complete rebuilding. This was to coincide with the APTA (American Public Transportation Association ) Rail Conference and International Rail Rodeo.

Movie Milk - 17-March-2008

Val Lupiz reports that the producers of Milk, a biographical film about assassinated Supervisor Harvey Milk, chartered Powell Street Car One, operated by bell ringing champion Byron Cobb.

Dunedin Cable Tram Revival - 11-December-2007

I heard from both Len Foley and Don Myers that a group in Dunedin, New Zealand has proposed rebuilding the Mornington cable tram line, which had been abandoned in 1957, in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. There are big obstacles before them, but I hope that it will work.

Mentioned in the Chronicle - 03-December-2007

A San Francisco Chronicle article by Rachel Gordon, Elite craftsmen keep S.F. cable cars in good shape, mentioned this website in a "To learn more about the history of the cable cars" box. The counter shot through the roof.

New Book: Let's Go By Cable Car - 01-Oct-2007

Let's Go By Cable Car, by Anders Hanson, is a children's book from a series of books on transportation from ABDO Publishing.

The book uses large, colorful photographs and graphics, and simple, clear text, to describe cable cars and the people who work on them and ride them. I enjoyed reading it.

California Cable Unstranded - 24-September-2007

Val Lupiz took this photo at California and Drumm after the cable unstranded and caught car 52, which rear-ended car 59, which rear-ended car 54. Fortunately, the cars were laying over at the end of the line and no one was hurt. 24-September-2007. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

Val Lupiz reports that he was laying over at California and Drumm when the cable unstranded and caught in the grip of car 52. 52 rear-ended Val's car, 59, and then pushed 59 into 54. No one was hurt, and the crews of 59 and 54 were able to throw the cable out of the grip and stop the procession. The cars were not damaged. The cable was down for the rest of the day. Val spotted hybrid bus 8409 on the replacment shuttle. He wished he could have ridden it to see how it handled the hill.

45th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 12-Jul-2007

First-time champion Leonard Oats, won the 45th annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco. See the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest for a report from Val Lupiz.

News Archive

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2008 Anniversaries

125 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.

100 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.

75 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.

50 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.

25 years ago - 1983

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

Anniversaries Archive

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What's New

• 01-July-2008
  • Picture of the Month: A diagram showing the screw-operated grip used on Rhode Island's Providence Cable Tramway.
  • On the Other Cities page: The Providence Cable Tramway, a short-lived line which was replaced by a counterbalance
  • Added a new Chronology page: 2008-Today
  • 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
  • Added a photo of the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest
  • Added News and Bibliography items about an explosion at California and Drumm
  • Archived April 2008 What's New and January-June 2007 news items
• 03-June-2008
  • Added results and videos of the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest
• 01-June-2008
  • Picture of the Month: A Val Lupiz photo of recently rebuilt Powell Street Car 25.
  • 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.
  • Added News and Bibliography items about an car 25's return to service
  • 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
  • On the Miscellany page: More excerpts from Poor's Directory of Railway Officials, 1887.
  • 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
  • Archived March 2008 What's New
• 01-May-2008
  • Picture of the Month: A Val Lupiz photo of new Powell Street Car 15, taken from a unique angle.
  • On the Miscellany page: A new article: Excerpts from Poor's Directory of Railway Officials, 1887. Also put items about particular transit companies on their pages.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Added a News item about the date of the bell ringing contest
  • 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
  • Added a banner and a review plugging Nick Tomizawa's excellent video The Feel of the Rope
  • Added a favicon.ico to the site
  • Archived February 2008 What's New

What's New Archive

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Ten Years Ago

• 01-July-1998
  • Picture of the Month: Melbourne cable tram.
  • Roll out Other Cities page featuring Melbourne, Australia
  • Add News previews about bell ringing contest & 125th anniversary party
• 01-June-1998
  • Picture of the Month: Washington & Mason.
  • Move SF Muni to separate page. Add more information about the company. Add inline W/M picture & move Hyde St Hill picture from roster page.
  • Add excerpt from Chapter One of McTeague to SF detail page.
• 01-May-1998
  • Picture of the Month: Powell & Post.
  • Move Ferries & Cliff House Railway to separate page. Add more information about the company and its steam dummy operations. Add Powell/Post, Powell/Geary & steam dummy pictures.

Ten Years Ago Archive

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Guest Book

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Legal Stuff

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

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

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

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