Cable Car Videos

by Joe Thompson

If you came to this page from an outside link, you may want to see the Picture of the Month and visit my main page.


Background

I received a digital camera that can take video clips, so in March, 2007 I started posting them on YouTube and this site. I hope to use them to illustrate how cable cars work, and to document the system the way it is today. Back in the mid-1970's, I had a Super-8 camera, but I didn't take many pictures of the cable cars, because I thought they never changed. I was wrong.

Read about other peoples' Cable Car Videos.


Powell Street Lines

Powell/Market Turntable

This video, taken on 24-January-2007, shows car 21 rolling onto the turntable at Powell and Market, being turned, and being pushed off. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 12-June-2007, shows car 2 rolling onto the turntable at Powell and Market, being turned, and being pushed off. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 01-August-2007, shows car 7 rolling onto the turntable at Powell and Market, being turned, and being pushed off. This view looks across the turntable early in the morning. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

I took this video on 15-August-2007, riding car 11 onto the turntable at Powell and Market. This was the first time I got to ride a car onto the turntable. I hope I didn't make the car too heavy. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 13, decorated for Christmas, rolls onto the turntable at Powell and Market. The car is in green United Railroads of San Francisco colors. Taken on 16-December-2008. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

I took this video on 22-June-2009, showing brand new car 15 in its bright yellow paint at Powell and Market. It had made its debut two days before. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Wrecker 665 tows away car 17. The gripman gives a nice exhibition of bell ringing while he waits for the light to change at Ellis. Taken on 08-September-2007 during a cable stoppage. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.) See more videos on my Cable Car Video page.

Wrecker 665 tows away car 3. Taken on 08-September-2007 during a cable stoppage. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.) See more videos on my Cable Car Video page.

Powell Street Outbound

I took this video on 14-July-2009, showing brand new car 15 in its bright yellow paint at Powell and Market. It is outbound from Ellis to O'Farrell. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 22-March-2007, shows car 17, built in 1887, running outbound from Geary to Post, passing the Saint Francis Hotel. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 22-April-2009, shows bright red car 25, built in 1890, and rebuilt and repainted in 2008, running outbound from Geary to Post, passing the Saint Francis Hotel. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell/Mason Outbound

This video, taken on 30-April-2007, shows car 28, built in 2002, at the outbound switch at Powell between Washington and Jackson. The conductor crosses in front of the car and pulls the lever so the Powell/Mason car can switch on the right-hand set of gauntlet tracks. The car pauses so the conductor can reboard and the gripman can pick up the Mason Street cable. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 08-August-2009, shows car 9, built in 1997, rounds the corner from Powell into Jackson and climbs the hill towards Mason. The car is in Market Street Railway white front colors (DSCN4512). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell/Hyde Outbound

This video, taken on 08-August-2009, shows car 11, having dropped the cable four blocks up the hill at California, picks up the Hyde Street cable and is pulled around the corner from Powell into Jackson Street. The car stops suddenly because of a badly parked auto (DSCN4507). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 15-August-2007, shows car 11, gripped by Val Lupiz, rolling around the corner at Hyde and Beach, into the private right of way in Acquatic Park. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 15-August-2007, shows car 11, gripped by Val Lupiz, rolling onto the turntable in Acquatic Park. This was my second ride on a turntable. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell/Mason Inbound

This video, taken on 08-August-2009, shows Powell Street cable car 1, built in 1973, waiting for a Powell/Hyde car to cross Mason Street, then running from Jackson towards Washington and turning left into Washington Street. The car is in a special color scheme designed for the 1973 centennial (DSCN4515). Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street Inbound

Powell Street cable car 12, built in 1993, takes the pull curve inbound from Washington to Powell. Car 16, built in 1893, passes going outbound. It is painted in Muni's old blue and gold colors. Taken on April 30, 2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 28, inbound on Powell, crosses the California Street line. Powell Street cars have to drop the cable and coast across the California Street tracks. Inbound cars have to stop at the yellow line and pick up the cable before proceeding down the Powell Street hill. Taken on 19-June-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 16-April-2007, shows car 18, built in 1962, running inbound from just below California to Post, down the Powell Street Hill on a very windy day. There is an interesting variety of traffic on Powell and Post Streets, including a 2 Clement bus. Jerry McLilly, Mister Smiley, is just visible and audible on the corner at the right. He sings and makes people smile nearly every day. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 13-March-2009, shows car 5, built in 1897, running inbound on Powell from Pine to Bush. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 15-August-2007, shows gripman Val Lupiz, on car 11, ringing the bell while waiting at Post and Powell for traffic to clear in front of the Saint Francis Hotel. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

I call this one "A Trip Down Powell Street". This was taken from the back platform of inbound Powell Street cable car 21, built in 1992, from Geary to O'Farrell. The clicking noise is the sound of the conductor adjusting the rear wheel brakes. Taken on 21-June-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 16, built in 1893, runs inbound from Post to Geary, passing the Saint Francis Hotel. The car is painted in Muni's old blue and gold colors. Taken on March 22, 2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 9, decorated for Christmas, travels on Powell from O'Farrell to Ellis. The car is in Market Street Railway white front colors. Taken on 16-December-2008. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 25, decorated for Christmas, travels on Powell from O'Farrell to Ellis. The car, refurbished in 2008, is in bright red United Railroads of San Francisco pre-1906 colors. Taken on 18-December-2008. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 3, built in 1893, runs inbound from O'Farrell towards Eliis, passing the Saint Francis Hotel. The car carries signs designating it as a training car and is painted in Muni's old green color. Taken on April 22, 2009. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


Washington/Mason Powerhouse and Car barn

Powell Street cable car 24 pulls out from the car barn into Washington Street. Taken on 15-August-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 11 pulls out from the car barn into Washington Street, gripped by Val Lupiz. Conductor Stan Fisher operates the latch which prevents the car from rolling unattended into the street. Taken on 15-August-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Powell Street cable car 11 coasts backwards from Jackson Street into the carbarn. It will be turned on the motorized turntable and shunted onto a storage track. Taken on 08-August-2009 (DSCN4513). Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


California Street Line

California/Drumm terminal

California Street cable car 56, built in 1913, coasts through the crossover at California and Drumm Streets. Taken on May 21, 2007. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

California Street cable car 52, built in 1996, leaves the terminal at California and Drumm Streets. Taken on May 21, 2007. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


California Street Inbound

This video, taken on 28-December-2007, shows car 58, built in 1914, running inbound from Grant to Montgomery. It is decorated for Christmas. See more Decorated Cable Cars. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


California Street Outbound

This video, taken on 04-April-2007, shows car 58, built in 1914, running outbound from Montgomery to Kearney, passing the Banker's Heart. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

This video, taken on 28-December-2007, shows California Street cable car 49, built in 1992, sitting at Kearny after a cable stoppage. A Muni inspector in his pickup truck gives it a push to help it get started outbound after stopping on the upgrade. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


California/Van Ness terminal

California Street cable car 50, built in 1910, arrives the outer terminal at California and Van Ness. Commuters and tourists swarm aboard. Taken on 20-June-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

California Street cable car 50, built in 1910, leaves the outer terminal at California and Van Ness. After one last commuter hops on, the car coasts through the crossover and down towards Polk Street, where the gripman will pick up the cable at a dip in the tracks. Taken on 20-June-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


Other Cable Cars

Under the Christmas Tree

A video showing Bachman HO Powell-Mason car 3 under the Christmas tree, 2006. Gripman Val Lupiz pointed out that my HO Scale gripman would have been in big trouble if he met an HO Scale inspector while running at this speed. Sorry the image is a little dark. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


Other Transit

F-Market & Wharves Line

Double-ended PCC streetcar 1007, built for Muni in 1948, in the livery of Philadelphia's Red Arrow Lines, runs along Market near the Embarcadero. Taken 26-March-2009. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Double-ended PCC streetcar 1010, built for Muni in 1948, in the Blue and Gold livery of the San Francisco Municipal Railway, heads from Fifth to Fourth on Market. Taken on 03-June-2009 (DSC3901). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

PCC streetcar 1053, in the colors of Brooklyn, turns from Market onto Steuart on the F line on 20-June-2007. Then 1052, in the colors of the Los Angeles Railway turns from Steuart onto Market. Taken 19-July-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

PCC streetcar 1075, in the colors of Cleveland, OH, passes the Ferry Building and pulls into the station on the F-line on 19-June-2007. Muni acquired this car from Newark, NJ. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

PCC streetcar 1077, in the colors of Birmingham, AL, runs along Market from Stockton to Grant on 11-June-2007. This car was recently acquired from Newark, NJ. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

PCC streetcar 1077, in the colors of Birmingham, AL, runs along Jefferson towards Powell on the F line on 05-May-2007. Muni acquired this car from Newark, NJ and had just put the car into service. Note the horn which the motorman is blowing vigorously. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

PCC streetcar 1078, in the colors of San Diego, CA, runs along Jefferson towards Powell on the F line on 05-May-2007. Muni acquired this car from Newark, NJ and had just put the car into service. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

San Francisco Municipal Railway B-Type Streetcar 130, built in 1914 by Jewett, on Market Street at Second Street. Taken on 27-December-2007. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

San Francisco Municipal Railway B-Type Streetcar 130, built in 1914 by Jewett, on Market Street From Fourth to Third Street. Taken on 29-June-2009 (DSC4109). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Double-ended streetcar 162, built for Muni in 1914 by the Jewett Car Company, heads from Fourth Street past Grant Avenue on Market. The car was at the Orange Empire Museum from 1958 to 2002. Taken on 15-January-2010 (DSC5208). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Double-ended streetcar 162, built for Muni in 1914 by the Jewett Car Company, heads from Fourth Street past Grant Avenue on Market. The car was at the Orange Empire Museum from 1958 to 2002. Taken on 22-February-2010 (DSC5257). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Blackpool boat tram 228, built in 1934, arrives at the Ferry Building station in San Francisco, heading away from Fisherman's Wharf. The open-topped tram is very popular on summy days. Taken on 29-August-2007. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

New Orleans Streetcar 952, built by Perley Thomas in 1923, leaves San Francisco's Ferry Building station, heading towards Fisherman's Wharf. The car is often called "The Streetcar Named Desire". Taken on 29-August-2007. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

New Orleans Streetcar 952, built by Perley Thomas in 1923, heads from Stockton to Grant on Market. The car is decorated for Christmas, 2008. Taken on 16-December-2008. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

New Orleans Streetcar 952, built by Perley Thomas in 1923, heads from Stockton to Grant on Market. The car is decorated for Christmas, 2008. Taken on 18-December-2008. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

New Orleans Streetcar 952, built by Perley Thomas in 1923, heads from Fifth to Fourth on Market. Also seen is 1059 in Boston Elevated livery. Taken on 04-June-2009 (DSC3909). (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Milan streetcar 1818, in the green livery from the 1930s-1970s, runs along Fisherman's Wharf. Taken on 11-April-2009. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Melbourne W-2 class tram 496, built in 1929, crosses Third Street on Market while running on San Francisco's F-line. Taken on 23-July-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Melbourne W-2 class tram 496 turns from Mission Street onto the Embarcadero while running on San Francisco's F-line, with the Ferry Building visible in the background. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Melbourne W-2 class tram 496, crosses Main Street on Market while running on San Francisco's F-line. Taken on 02-November-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Melbourne W-2 class tram 496, on Market near Sansome while running on San Francisco's F-line. Taken on 12-February-2009. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Melbourne W-2 class tram 496, on Market near Grant while running on San Francisco's F-line. Taken on 06-May-2009. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


J-Church Street Line

Breda streetcar 1523 leaves the portal from the Market Street subway on the MMX (Muni Metro Extension) and pulls into the station at Folsom Street and the Embarcadero on 08-June-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


T-Third Street Line

Breda streetcar 1530 crosses the Fourth Street drawbridge southbound and turns onto Channel Street on the new T-Third Street line on 31-May-2007. The motorman stopped shortly after, switched ends, and came back. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Breda streetcar 1530 crosses the Fourth Street drawbridge northbound on the new T-Third Street line on 31-May-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


Jitney

The last jitney bus in San Francisco runs on Market Street from Third towards Fourth. The homeless guy yelling at me offerred to sell me his joint for ten dollars. I told him no thank you. Taken on 02-November-2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)


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Last updated 01-June-2010