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.
Table of Contents
NewsVal 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 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. Go to top of page. 2008 Anniversaries
125 years ago - 1883
New York National League club (not yet Giants) record: 46-50, 6th place. Manager: John Clapp.
100 years ago - 1908
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
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. Go to top of page.
What's New
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Ten Years Ago
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If you have comments, suggestions, or kvetches email me at cable_car_guy@hotmail.com
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since 01-Apr-1998.
Copyright 1996-2008 by Joe Thompson. All rights reserved.
Last updated 01-July-2008