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The Cable Car Home Pageby Joe Thompson |
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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 |
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03-June-2013 marks the 100th birthday of the last San Francisco horse car in regular service. |
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28-December-2012 was the 100th birthday of the San Francisco Municipal Railway. Please visit my new page on the 100th birthday |
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Tales From the Grip 10 Years 2003-2013: "Maybelle the Cable Car" I am proud to be the host of gripman Val Lupiz's column: Tales From the Grip. Special Update, December 2011: Maybelle the Cable Car. |
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Reflections on Life at the San Francisco Cable Car Division I can highly recommend Nick Tomizawa's dvd The Feel of the Rope: "a tribute to the men and women that carry on a San Francisco tradition that has continued for over 130 years. Through the words of employees past and present representing two generations of operators, managers, maintainers, trainers, and car builders, you will get an insider's look at what makes the cable cars the most unique transit system in the world." Read my Review. Read about or see some other Cable Car Videos. |
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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. |
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Toy cable car 514 has an interesting variety of passengers. 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-Nov-2012)
- Where and when did cable cars operate? (updated 01-May-2011)
- San Francisco (updated 01-Jun-2013)
- Other California Cities
- Los Angeles (updated 01-Nov-2011)
- Oakland (updated 01-Jul-2009)
- San Diego (updated 01-Jun-2009)
- Chicago (updated 01-Mar-2012)
- Kansas City (updated 01-Aug-2008)
- New York/New Jersey (updated 01-Dec-2012)
- Hoboken (updated 01-Jan-2012)
- Newark (updated 01-Mar-2012)
- Binghamton (updated 01-Apr-2012)
- Brooklyn (updated 01-Jun-2012)
- New York (updated 01-Nov-2012)
- Ohio (updated 01-May-2012)
- Cleveland (updated 01-May-2012)
- Cincinnati (updated 01-Sep-2011)
- Pennsylvania (new 01-Aug-2010)
- Philadelphia (updated 01-Aug-2010)
- Pacific Northwest (updated 01-Jun-2013)
- Australia/New Zealand (updated 01-Apr-2013)
- UK (updated 01-Feb-2012)
- Birmingham (updated 01-Feb-2012)
- Douglas, Isle of Man (updated 01-Jul-2011)
- Edinburgh (new 01-Jun-2010)
- Glasgow (updated 01-Oct-2011)
- Liverpool (new 01-Oct-2001)
- London (updated 01-Dec-2010)
- Matlock, Derbyshire (new 01-May-2010)
- Other Cities
- Providence, Rhode Island (updated 01-Mar-2011)
- Denver (new 01-Nov-2012)
- Paris (new 01-Nov-2003)
- Who Was Important in the History of the Cable Car? (updated 01-Jun-2012)
- Why do I Maintain This Site? (updated 01-Nov-2011)
- News (updated 01-Jun-2013)
- 2013 Anniversaries (updated 01-Jan-2013)
- Thanks/Links (updated 01-Feb-2013)
- What's New (updated every month)
- Ten Years Ago (updated every month)
- San Francisco Cable Car Chronology by Walter Rice and friends (updated 01-Apr-2013)
- Miscellany (updated 01-Jun-2013)
- Site Map (updated 01-Apr-2011)
- Bibliography (updated 01-May-2013)
- 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
How to Ride Cable Cars - 30-May-2013
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A screen capture of "How to Ride Cable Cars" on the revised SFMTA site. |
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) released the revised version of its site this day. It includes a page on "How to Ride Cable Cars." It gives some good advice, particularly "Follow the Crew's Instructions."
Cable Cars Named One of the Most Dangerous Forms of Mass Transit - 30-May-2013
An article by Amy L entitled "Cable Cars Named One of the Most Dangerous Forms of Mass Transit" appeared on the blog of
The Law Offices of Nelson C Barry III. Despite the title, which seems inflammatory, the article takes an even-handed
approach. I give them credit for allowing me to present the other side. I pointed out that:
1. They operate in some of the most congested streets in the city.
2. Since the cable cars are unfamiliar to most riders, the passengers often fail to pay enough attention to what they are doing, so they don’t hold on or they lean out too far when they are hanging on the sideboards. They also jump off before the car has come to a stop. The crew tries to get them behave, but at times it can be like herding cats.
3. The cable cars represent late 19th Century technology on the streets of the 21st Century. They can’t stop as quickly as a bus, especially when the tracks are wet. If they get cut cut off going up a hill above a certain gradient, they have to back down.
I did not ask them to call me "one of the world’s foremost leading experts on the past and present of cable cars."
The Law Offices of Nelson C Barry III
Cable Cars Named One of the Most Dangerous Forms of Mass Transit
Secret San Francisco - 14-May-2013
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The Balboa Theater on the night of the first "Secret San Francisco" show. |
I went to the Balboa Theater for the first presentation of "Secret San Francisco", a collection of short films about San Francisco put together and presented by Woody LaBounty and David Gallagher of the Western Neighborhoods Project. They encouraged audience participation. The show started late because it was sold out and there was a line out the door waiting to get in at 6:30pm. The first part was a trivia quiz with prizes. Then they showed several short movies and clips from movies. I had seen some, like the films of Sutro Baths burning, but I had not seen many of the others. The audience was fascinated by the Playland films. The auction after it closed was sad. The demolition of the Fox Theater depressed everyone. Blackie the Wonder Horse, who swam the Golden Gate towing Shorty Roberts of Roberts-at-the-Beach cheered everyone up.
There were many views of cable cars. Woody LaBounty made a comment that we were going to be seeing lots of Powell and Market. Amoung the scenes was a nice overhead shot from the 1930s. I remember when people would jump on the car while it was on the turntable. There were also views of California Street cable cars and one shot of a Sacramento/Clay car.
It was a wonderful show and I was happy when they announced at the end that they were going to repeat it because of the great demand.
Vampire Cable Cars - 24-April-2013
The San Francisco Weekly published Joe Eskenazi's article Running of the Bull: Cable Cars Are Trundling Money Away From the Transit You Actually Use. Eskenazi, inspired by a recent Associated Press article on how much cable cars cost the city in accident-related damage awards, says that they cost the cities in other ways. He feels that the Municipal Transportation Agency, which is always low on funds, should not be forced to subsidize the cable cars, which are mostly used by visitors, the same way it subsidizes other bus and rail services which are mostly used by working San Franciscans. He says "Maintaining cable cars for city tourists while struggling to provide core transit service is a bit like polishing the heirloom china for the guests while sending the kids to school with no shoes. But no amount of cold-hearted empirical analysis will sever city residents' emotional attachment to the cable cars. (It would also take a citywide election to scrap the cars.)"
Perhaps the cable cars should receive more funding from other sources. Perhaps the Municipal Transportation Agency should, too.
San Francisco History Expo #3 - 02-March-2013
I attended the third annual San Francisco History Expo at the Old Mint. There was a good crowd. There were some new exhibitors this year, including ThinkWalks. It was nice to meet with Joel Pomerantz in person.
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Don Holmgren and Mike Phipps pose in front of the world's largest cable car bell. |
At the Cable Car Museum display, I had nice chats with José Godoy and with Don Holmgren and Mike Phipps, co-authors of the excellent book Watermusic in the Track. The exhibit included models, pieces of cable, photos and the world's largest cable car bell, created by José 's dad, Gilberto Godoy. I heard Mike Phipps talk about "The Geary Street, Park and Ocean Cable Car Company, 1880-1912: The Premier Line of the New Municipal Railway."
At the Western Neighborhoods Project display, I talked to Woody LaBounty and got to meet David Gallagher. I'm looking forward to Woody's new book about Ingleside Terrace.
The Market Street Railway had a huge exhibit where I met retired Muni inspector Art Curtis, whom I have corresponded with for years.
There was an auction which involved placing tickets in boxes on the tables of various exhibitors. I won second place from the Presidio Historical Association, a one-year membership. I am looking forward to it.
Wells Fargo, which sponsored the expo, had a nice exhibit.
Water Main Break Cable Car - 20-February-2013
An early morning water main break at Filbert and Mason delayed Powell/Mason service till noon.
Cable Car Accident - 06-February-2013
Powell Street car 25, outbound on the Powell-Hyde line between Washington and Jackson hit a large bolt apparently jammed in the slot or the conduit. This caused the car to stop suddenly, injuring seven people, including both crew members. Service was stopped for about 3 1/2 hours. Preliminary findings indicate that the bolt came from a hatch in the conduit.
Cal Cable Inner Terminal Surrounded
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California Street cable car 52 at the California and Drumm terminal, surrounded by sewer work. |
I was walking along Market Street one day this week and I noticed that I could barely see the California Street cable car terminal at California and Drumm. It was surrounded by board and plastic fencing. I think the crews are doing sewer work.
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I found a sign that explained that there was indeed a sewer project going on. |
Model: Wurlington Bros Press Cable Car - 18-January-2013
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California Street car 60 by Wurlington Bros. All rights reserved. |
The Wurlington Bros Press produces a series of postcards which can be cut and folded to produce models of landmarks and vehicles. One of their models represents California Street cable car 60. Another is a BART car. Their site is worth a visit.
BART Cable Shuttle to the Oakland Airport - 02-January-2013
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CLS MGM CityCenter Shuttle in Las Vegas. Doppelmayr photo. All rights reserved. |
Articles in various sources reported on the erection of columns along Hegenberger Road which will support the 3.2 mile automated people mover (APM) which will shuttle passengers from the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART Station to the Oakland Airport. The APM will use Doppelmayr's CABLE Liner Shuttle system. The system is currently used on the CLS MGM CityCenter Shuttle in Las Vegas and in other cities. The CABLE Liner Shuttle uses an endless cable and an automatic grip in each car which allows the cars to stop and start at the stations.
Book: Watermusic in the Track by Mike Phipps and Don Holmgren - 29-December-2012
The Friends of the Cable Car Museum have published a new book, Watermusic in the Track by Mike Phipps and Don Holmgren. The authors have done an excellent job of explaining the history of the cable cars and how they fit into the broader history of San Francisco, and how cable cars work. The diagrams which illustrate the lines of the various companies and how various aspects of the technology work are really excellent. You can order the book on the Friends website.
The title comes from an Al Tolf cartoon.
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Cable Car 26 Dedicated - 14-November-2012
As part of Muni's 100th anniversary celebration, Powell Street car 26, built in 1890 by the Ferries & Cliff House Railway, was dedicated when it returned to service after a thorough renovation. I was stuck at work.
Cable Car Clothiers Moved - 16-October-2012
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The new location. October 2012. |
Cable Car Clothiers has opened in its new location on Sutter Street.
No No No No No - 14-October-2012
Fox announcer Joe Buck worked the 49 game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park (the 49ers lost) and then the San Francisco Giants' National League Championship Series game against the Saint Louis Cardinals at AT&T Park (the Giants lost). He rode a motorized cable car between the gigs. Fox showed an overhead view of the car making slow progress and an idiot in the studio called it a "trolley bus." No No No No No.
2012 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 06-September-2012
The 49th annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest ended in an unprecedented tie. A ring-off between defending champion Leonard Oats and Trini Whittaker resulted in Trini Whittaker taking the title.
Cable Car Clothiers Moving - 31-August-2012
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A sign announces the moving sale. August 2012. |
I spotted a sign saying that Cable Car Clothiers was having a moving sale. The store was leaving its location at Bush and Sansome to return to Sutter Street. I went in and bought a wonderful cap for 30% off.
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My cap. August 2012. |
Icons of San Francisco - 11-March-2012
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The San Francisco MTA exhibit at Icons of San Francisco in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. March, 2012. |
I stopped by the Hyatt Regency on my way to give a walking tour and I found a series of exhibits in the lobby. Icons of San Francisco, on display from 19-January-2012 through 31-March-2012 included a Beach Blanket Babylon hat, a section on the 160th anniversary of Ghiradelli Chocolates, and a reproduction of a California Street cable car from the San Francisco MTA. The exhibit included photos, text and samples of cable.
Testing Car 26 - 04-February-2012
Powell Street car 21 was temporarily decorated with New York Giants pennants and signs. Mayor Ed Lee of San Francisco had made a bet with Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York on the result of the NFL National Conference championship game played at Candlestick Park on 22-January-2012. If the 49ers had won, 49th Street in Manhattan would have been temporarily renamed "49ers Street". The New York Giants won 20-17, so cable car 21, which was already in a close approximation of New York's red and blue colors, got decorated.
Testing Car 26 - 18-January-2012
Newly rebuilt Powell Street car 26 made a test run this morning. The car is painted in Muni's 1950s green and cream livery.
Go to top of page.
2013 Anniversaries
225 years ago - 1788
Jun 25 - The Constitution was approved by the ninth state Virginia, allowing it to take effect.
150 years ago - 1863
Jan 01 - Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation
Jan 09 - The Central Pacific Railroad broke ground in Sacramento
Mar 03 - The Union Congress enacted a draft
May 01 - The four-day Battle of Chancellorsville began. Lee's Confederates defeated Fighting Joe Hooker's Union Army. "I just lost confidence in Joe Hooker" explained Hooker. General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by Confederate "friendly fire"
Jun 03 - Lee began his second invasion of the north, marching into Pennsylvania
Jul 01 - The three-day Battle of Gettysburg began. The Union under General Meade turned back the Conferderates
Jul 04 - General Grant took Vicksburg, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River
Jul 13 - Three-day draft riots in New York City kill over 120
Jul 18 - Union African-American soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts attacked Fort Wagner, South Carolina and suffered 50% casualties
Aug 05 - Rear Admiral David Farragut's Union fleet forced the surrender of blockade-running port Mobile, Alabama. ""Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" was Farragut's cry to encourage his ships forward
Aug 21 - Confederate guerilla William C. Quantrill and his followers massacred 182 people in Lawrence, Kansas
Nov 19 - Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address
Dec 02 - The Union Pacific Railroad broke ground in Omaha, Nebraska
125 years ago - 1888
Jan 10 - The Philadelphia Traction Company revised its Fairmount Park line
Jan 28 - The Edinburgh Northern Cable Tramways started service on its Trinity line
Feb 02 - Frank J Sprague's Richmond Union Passenger Railway electric installation in Richmond, VA opened.
Feb 09 - Cincinnati's Vine Street Cable Railway extended its Vine Street line
Feb 27 - The Market Street Cable Railway opens the Castro cable line from the Ferry via Valencia and Market to 26th and Castro
Mar 06 - Newark's Essex Passenger Railway/Newark and Irvington Street Railway started service on its experimental line using the Rasmussen "chain pump" non-grip
Mar 13 - Cincinnati's Mount Auburn Cable Railway started service on its Sycamore Street line
Mar 24 - The Birmingham Central Tramways Company began service on its Colmore Row line
Mar 26 - The North Chicago Street Railroad begins service on its Clark and Wells Street lines
Mar 28 - The Ferries and Cliff House Railway begins service on Powell Street from Market to Jackson
Apr 05 - The Ferries and Cliff House Railway Company begins service on the Powell/Mason line to Bay and Taylor and the Washington/Jackson line via Powell line from Powell and Market to Central (now Presidio) Avenue and California Street via Jackson outbound and Central Avenue, Jackson, Steiner, Washington and Powell inbound
Apr 07 - Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway began service on its 12th Street line
Apr 13 - The Valley City Street and Cable Railway (Grand Rapids, MI) started cable service.
Apr 24 - Kansas City's Inter-State Consolidated Rapid Transit Company began service on its elevated line
May 22 - Kansas City's Inter-State Consolidated Rapid Transit Company began service on its Riverview line in Kansas City, Kansas
May 29 - Kansas City's Peoples' Cable Railway began service on its Brooklyn Avenue line
Jun 27 - Cincinnati's Mount Auburn Cable Railway extended its Sycamore Street line
Aug 06 - Kansas City's Peoples' Cable Railway revised its Brooklyn Avenue line
Sep 08 - The pioneering Clay Street Hill Railroad was purchased by the Ferries and Cliff House Railway
Sep 19 - The Ferries and Cliff House Railway begins service on the Sacramento line, from the Ferry via Sacramento to Powell, Jackson to Central Avenue (now Presidio) and California. Return via Central Avenue, Jackson, Steiner, Washington Streets, Stockton, Clay to the Ferry. The Eastern terminal of the former Clay Street Hill Railroad was cut back to Powell from Kearny with transfer privileges to the Sacramento line and both Powell lines
Sep 27 - The Seattle City Railway started service on its Yesler Way line
Oct 11 - The Melbourne Tramways & Omnibus Company started service on its Brighton Road line
Oct 23 - Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway began service on its 18th-19th Streets line
Oct 26 - The Melbourne Tramways & Omnibus Company started service on its Prahran line
New York Giants record: 84-47, 1st place. Manager: James Mutrie. The Giants defeated the American Association champion Saint Louis Browns in the post season Temple Cup series.
100 years ago - 1913
Jan 16 - Professor Thaddeus S C Lowe, who built the Mount Lowe Incline, died
Jun 03 - The last horse car ran in San Francisco
Oct 13 - The last cable car ran in Kansas City, on the Metropolitan Street Railway's 12th Street line.
New York Giants record: 101-51, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series 4 games to 1.
75 years ago - 1938
Apr 08 - The cable car line of the former Tacoma Railway and Motor Company made its last run
New York Giants record: 83-67, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Terry.
50 years ago - 1963
San Francisco Giants record: 88-74, 3rd place. Manager: Alvin Dark.
25 years ago - 1988
Mar 28 - A parade and a festival at Union Square mark the 100th birthday of the Powell Street cable lines
San Francisco Giants record: 83-79, 4th place. Manager: Roger Craig.
Go to top of page.
What's New
- 01-June-2013
- Picture of the Month: In an editorial cartoon from the 04-June-1913 San Francisco Call, Mr Public apparently operates a Sutter Street electric car to the Ferry and bids G-o-o-d Night to the horse car as it makes its way to the junk pile
- On the Horse Car Home Page: 03-June-2013 is the 100th anniversary of the last schedule horse car to run in San Francisco. Includes a contemporary newspaper article, with illustrations, on the event
- On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page: More about the Butte City Street Railroad, including selected articles from The Street Railway Journal.
- On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: Thanks to Tony Turrittin, added I Remember Mama. Also added a poster and a photo of Paulette Goddard and Sonny Tufts on a cable car to I Love a Soldier
- Added News items about Secret San Francisco, a film show that included many cable car views, an article about cable cars being dangerous, and the revised SFMTA website, which includes a page on How to Ride Cable Cars
- Archived March 2013 What's New
- 01-May-2013
- Picture of the Month: Cable car crewmen hold trays with the rings as a motorized cable car rolls down the third base line
- On the Motorized Cable Cars page: The San Francisco Giants' 2012 World Series Ring Ceremony.
- On the Cal Cable page: Transit historian Ray Long shares his memories of more than 60 years of Cal Cable
- On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page: More about the Spokane Cable Railway, including selected articles from The Street Railway Journal.
- Added News and Bibliography items about cable cars taking funding away from other transporation
- Archived February 2013 What's New
- 01-April-2013
- Picture of the Month: A pin which commemorates the San Francisco Giants' defeat of the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series.
- On the Kitsch page: A Powell Street centennial commemorative coin; a 2012 World Series commemorative pin; a pin for the Giants 1987 National League West championship; a tin cable car with its original box; a 1957 cachet with a State Street Chicago cable car; a 2011 stamp from Malaysia showing the Penang Hills Funicular Railway a program from the 1967 Cable Car Classic basketball tournament; a Christmas ornament with Woodstock sitting on a cable car; a 2009 Hard Rock Cafe pin; a new section for San Francisco Giants Cable Car Items
- Changed toy cable car picture on the main page to Number 514.
- Added News item about water main break that affected cable service
- Added News item about the third annual San Francisco History Expo
- Archived January 2013 What's New
Go to top of page.
Ten Years Ago
- 01-Jun-2003
- Move to new domain: www.cable-car-guy.com
- Picture of the Month: Butte cable car
- Add the Butte City Street Railroad to the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page.
- Added more photos to my illustrated article about the California Street Cable Railroad 125th anniversary.
- Added News items about the Carnaval Parade, with a photo by Val Lupiz, who drove car 62, and a serious accident on the California Street cable line.
- Archive March 2003 What's New.
- 01-May-2003
- Added Val Lupiz's new quarterly column, Tales From the Grip to the San Francisco Miscellany page. Thanks to Val for choosing to host his column here.
- Picture of the Month: South Spokane cable car
- Add the Spokane Cable Railway to the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page.
- Added an illustrated article about the California Street Cable Railroad 125th anniversary. Also added Bibliography items about the party.
- 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.
- Archive February 2003 What's New.
- 10-Apr-2003
- Add News item about the California Street Cable Railroad 125th anniversary.
- 01-Apr-2003
- Picture of the Month: Cal Cable centennial cachet
- California Street Cable Railroad 125th anniversary. More pictures on the More Cal Cable Pictures page.
- Add more items, especially special Muni passes and Lefton models to the Kitsch page.
- Add excerpt from book Travels With Jottings, which describes an 1880 trip on the California Street Cable Railroad
- Add information about new car 60 to the roster page
- Add News items about anti-war protests
- Change toy cable car picture on the main page to wood and metal Cal Cable 4.
- Archive January 2003 What's New.
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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.
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since 01-April-1998.