The Cable Car Home Page Archive
by Joe Thompson


Where Should I Go from Here? Visit the Map

Counter History

I have learned over the years not to trust counters, but to regard them as a useful tool for comparisons. Here is the history of the counter on this web site since I moved it to GeoCities in April, 1998.
Month1998 Counter1998 Count1999 Counter1999 Count2000 Counter2000 Count2001 Counter2001 Count2002 Counter2002 Count
Jan--1955272607341112683576218191103
Feb--2223268651544213257574230841265
Mar--2510287707556013911654244051321
Apr1361362805295764757214563652255221117
May2701343046241817152415184621266541132
Jun4131433293247870353215808624277071053
Jul5621493618325930560216474666287341027
Aug7341724114496988457917149675298031069
Sep97223844533391037348917825676309501147
Oct122124948013481091253918775950322361286
Nov1458237532852711604692197821007333761140
Dec168322556623341210750320716934344181042
Avg-187.00-331.58-537.08-717.42-1,141.83
Month2003 Counter2003 Count2004 Counter2004 Count2005 Counter2005 Count2006 Counter2006 Count2007 Counter2007 Count
Jan357411323494771356646681317807461596989701319
Feb3688511445062511486599313258218514391002371267
Mar3804311585202614016742014278402218371016441407
Apr3931212695320911836874713278566916471030841440
May4055412425451213037004913028737317041044121328
Jun4156610125569711857131312648892515521058591447
Jul4265310875690912127251011979064517201071711312
Aug4371310605812912207387313639205314081085891418
Sep4477210595955014217517913069342013671100351446
Oct4581110396089513457661414359492415041114111376
Nov4695411436213512407792113079631813941128521441
Dec4812111676335112167915012299765113331143041452
Avg-1,141.92-1,269.17-1,316.58-1,541.75-1,387.75
Month2013 Counter2013 Count2014 Counter2014 Count2015 Counter2015 Count2016 Counter2016 Count2017 Counter2017 Count
Jan213743499--------
Feb214159416--------
Mar214583424--------
Apr215028445--------
May215566538--------
Jun216222656--------
Jul217051829--------
Aug217821770--------
Sep218360539--------
Oct218977617--------
Nov219457480--------
Dec219926469--------
Avg-293.75--------
Month2013 Counter2013 Count2014 Counter2014 Count2015 Counter2015 Count2016 Counter2016 Count2017 Counter2017 Count
Jan213743499--------
Feb214159416--------
Mar214583424--------
Apr215028445--------
May215566538--------
Jun216222656--------
Jul217051829--------
Aug217821770--------
Sep218360539--------
Oct218977617--------
Nov219457480--------
Dec219926469--------
Avg-556.83--------

monthpage viewsdiffytdytd avg
Jan-2012781-781781
Feb-2012678-1031459729.5
Mar-2012624-542083694.33
Apr-2012447-1772530632.5
May-2012427-202957591.4
Jun-2012334-933291548.5
Jul-2012362283653521.86
Aug-2012428664081510.13
Sep-201243574516501.78
Oct-2012420-154936493.6
Nov-2012362-585298481.64
Dec-2012339-235637469.75
Jan-201335718357357
Feb-20133614718359
Mar-2013393321111370.33
Apr-2013366-271477369.25
May-20135561902033406.6
Jun-2013537-192570428.33
Jul-2013529-83099442.71
Aug-20136581293757469.63
Sep-2013468-1904225469.44
Oct-201347244697469.7
Nov-2013492205189471.73
Dec-20135921005781481.75
Jan-2014756164756756
Feb-2014612-1441368684
Mar-2014648362016672
Apr-2014600-482616654
May-2014637373253650.6
Jun-2014575-623828638
Jul-2014516-594344620.57
Aug-2014587714931616.38
Sep-2014536-515467607.44
Oct-2014531-55998599.8
Nov-2014513-186511591.91
Dec-2014442-716953579.42
Jan-201553290532532

Statistics reset to zero during February, 2015.
monthpage viewsdiffytdytd avg
Mar-2015196-196196
Apr-2015474278670335
May-2015555811225408.33
Jun-2015440-1151665416.25
Jul-2015538982203440.6
Aug-2015500-382703450.5
Sep-2015547473250464.29
Oct-2015578313828478.5
Nov-2015482-964310478.89
Dec-2015438-444748474.8
Jan-2016428-10428428
Feb-201648961917458.5
Mar-2016502131419473
Apr-2016535331954488.5
May-20168122772766553.2
Jun-2016717-953483580.5
Jul-20169722554455636.43
Aug-2016913-595368671
Sep-2016697-2166065673.89
Oct-2016615-826680668
Nov-2016545-707225656.82
Dec-2016505-407730644.17
Jan-2017635130635635
Feb-2017512-1231147573.5
Mar-2017503-91650550
Apr-2017424-792074518.5

News

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-June-2023
nytimes.com

In May I took some time off from blogging after my wife had an operation. She is doing well. 


The World Health Organization declared that the COVID-19 emergency was over. I still wear a mask when visiting crowded places. 

The Giants reached .500.

We changed parishes from Good Shepherd to Saint Peter's. 

Due to licensing issues, I taught kids at Good Shepherd school to use Turtle Graphics. They were very enthusiastic. A second grader told me "I'm a real coder now."


Cable Car Sesquicentennial Events - 01-May-2023

Events marking the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the cable cars are getting underway, including rides on special cable cars and a revival of an excellent documentary.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 30-April-2023
nytimes.com

Covid-19 is still there but people don't seem to pay much attention anymore.

I returned to teaching technology and coding during the last week of April. This year I am also teaching fifth grade. I am happy the kids remembered things I taught them last year. 

I continue to wear a mask when I am out in public around other people. 

Russia is making no progress in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine may be preparing for a counter-offensive. Many people say that Putin is tottering on his throne. 

The Giants started with a bad stretch, but were nearing .500 by the end of April.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-March-2023
nytimes.com

It took me a while to test negative for COVID. I continue to wear a mask when I am out in public around other people.

Russia is making no progress in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine's allies are supplying main battle tanks and may soon provide airplanes. There are rumors swirling that Putin is in bad health or may be taken down by the oligarchs. In March the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant because he kidnapped Ukranian children. 

I hope to get back to teaching soon. 

The Giants brought Sergio Romo back to pitch an inning in the last Spring training game. 

We had heavy rain, strong winds, landslides, flooding and an earthquake. 


COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 28-February-2023
nytimes.com

Governor Newsome is cancelling the Covid-19 emergency at the end of February. Ironically, a fully vaccinated family member came down with it the week before, probably the omicron variant. I came down with Covid-19 the following week.

nytimes.com

24-February-2022 marked one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. I think Putin knows by now that he made a terrible mistake. 

I have not yet returned to teaching technology and coding at Good Shepherd School, but I am feeling better and hope to start soon. 

mlb.com

Major League Baseball introduced some new rules. I like the larger bases. I am uncomfortable with the pitch clock. It will damage the careers of some pitchers. I know why they are trying to eliminate the shift, but I think more batters should have tried to hit to the big holes it opened.

Spring Training has started. 

Spring Training has started. 

Cal Cable Cable Derailment - 01-February-2023

Cable Car Derailed
A California Street cable car returning to the barn hit an object obstructing the slot and derailed in the late evening at Hyde and Washington. There were no passengers aboard and the gripman and conductor were injured mildly (Source: KTVU Channel 2. All rights reserved).

Cable Car Service Interrupted

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-January-2023

listal.com

COVID-19 infections are down, but a new sub-variant is causing a high percentage of new infections. Everywhere I go, I see a mixture of people with and without masks. 

We had heavy rain for most of the month. Muni service, including cable cars, was disrupted. 

California had three mass shootings in three days. 

Jeff Kent and Matt Cain are off of the Hall of Fame ballot after this year. 

moveon.org

After nearly a year, Ukraine is still holding off the Russians. Russian bots are spreading all kinds of crap about Ukraine. Britain, Germany and the US have agreed to send main battle tanks to Ukraine.


COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-December-2022
nytimes.com

COVID-19 infections are rising, along with infections from the flu and RSV. Some people say we are experiencing a "Tripledemic".

I had surgery in November and I am still recuperating. I hope I can return to teaching in January.

The Giants had a strange situation, pulling out of signing a free agent the day they were supposed to close the deal. There was concern after his physical. He made a deal with the Mets. People lambasted the Giants for their stupidity, but the Mets, concerned about his health, have not signed him, either.

Ukraine continues to fight the Russian agressors.

Cable Car Service Cancelled - 31-December-2022

Cable Car Service Limited
Due to a night and day of heavy rain which caused flooding in many places, cable cars were supposed to be supplemented by buses all day on New Year's Eve. Despite the MTA notice above, all cable car service was cancelled for the day. The Cal Cable line is usually shut down in the evening of New Year's Eve.

Cable Car Cleanup - 17-December-2022

Cable Car Cleanup
The Cable Car Cleanup neatened streets near the cable car lines. If I was not still recuperating, I would have gone.

Taking a Break - 09-December-2022

listal.com

While recovering from an operation and dealing with a death in the family, I am taking a short break.

A Big Fat Family Christmas - 02-December-2022

Val Lupiz
Our friend gripman Val Lupiz made his film debut with a speaking role in one of these ubiquitous Hallmark Christmas movies, A Big Fat Family Christmas. I thought Val's performance was very natural, and I enjoyed the movie more than I thought I would. Most made-for-television movies that are set in San Francisco shoot most of their exteriors in Vancouver. This movie had scenes shot in different parts of the city. The film also starred Shannon Chan, Kent Shannon Kook and Tia Carrere. It was directed by Jennifer Liao.

A Big Fat Family Christmas/Hyde Street
Val was gripping on Car 16, decorated early for Christmas.

A Big Fat Family Christmas/ad

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-October-2022
covid.cdc.gov

COVID-19 infections are down, but new sub-variants are on their way.

I had two more procedures this month looking for a potential solution for my shortness of breath. I hope to have an operation in November. 


 I was supposed to start teaching again at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica, but first we have to fix my medical problem. 

It is nice to see Dusty Baker's Astros in the World Series. I keep thinking of them as a National League team.

supportukrainenow.org

Ukraine is holding its own. Putin keeps threatening to use tactical nuclear weapons. 

75th Anniversary of Saving the Cable Cars - 26-October-2022

Save the Cable Cars

On Wednesday, 26-October-2022, Muni, the Market Street Railway and the San Francisco MTA held a ceremony to honor "women, led by Friedel Klussmann, who kept the Powell cable cars on track in 1947, and celebrating women's civic leadership today.

Mayor London Breed and other civic leaders boarded a cable car at Powell and Market and rode it to Hyde and Beach to rededicate the turntable to Friedel Klussmann. Learn more about her leadership in saving the cable cars in 1947 in Walter Rice and Val Lupiz's article The Cable Car Lady & the Mayor.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 30-September-2022
nytimes.com

COVID-19 infections are down, but some people are still being hospitalized with complications.

I had two procedures this month looking for the cause and potential solution of my shortness of breath.

I was supposed to start teaching again at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica, but first we have to fix my medical problem.

The Giants are out of it, but they have brought up some interesting players. The team might be able to make it to .500.

nonprofitjenni.com

Ukraine launched a counter-offensive and the Russian army is in disarray. Putin has called up the reserves and may institute conscription. Some people in Russia are protesting.

Gerry Graham, RIP - 06-September-2022

Gerry Graham
I was sad to learn of the death of Gerry Graham, Chairman of the Board of The Friends of the Cable Car Museum. He did much to preserve and present our history.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-August-2022

covid statistics August 2022
covid.cdc.gov

I see fewer people wearing masks, even in crowded places like baseball games. The general trends of cases, deaths, hospitalization seem to be going down.

The Giants have gotten some of their injured players back, but are still performing unevenly.

I am getting ready to start teaching again at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica.

I am having trouble with shortness of breath. I'm seeing the doctor next week.

pray for Ukraine

It has been six months since Russia started its war against Ukraine. This must be deeply humiliating for Putin and his helpers. He is looking at using 100,000 mercenaries from North Korea.

Fred Lyon, RIP - 22-August-2022

Fred Lyon photo
Cable car conductor on a foggy day, 1950s. (c) Fred Lyon

Fred Lyon, one of the best San Francisco photographers, has died. Among the circles in which I travel, he was particularly well known for his transit photos. Thank you to Fred Lyons and his wife for publishing so many photos in recent years.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-July-2022
nytimes.com

The highly contagious BA 4 and BA 5 subvariants of the COVID-19 Omicron variant are driving up infections and hospitalization. BART has resumed its mask requirement. 


The Giants, who have had many injuries, were swept in a road trip to Los Angeles and Arizona, but won the first home game against the Cubs. 

Church attendance may be picking up. 

The new pandemic is MonkeyPox. 

unsplash.com

Ukraine continues to fight the Russian invasion. The invasion helped Sweden and Finland decide to join NATO.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 30-June-2022
nytimes.com

Some sources say that variants of the COVID-19 Omicron variant could potentially infect everyone in the Bay Area. Some extended care places are reimposing lockdowns.

Attendance may be going up a bit at mass.

The Giants are struggling.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-May-2022

covid statistics May 2022
nytimes.com

We are in the midst of another COVID-19 surge. Three family members have tested positive this week.

The US passed one million covid deaths.

The Giants have had a bad stretch in May.


coverbrowser.com

I received my second Pfizer booster shot.

Val Lupiz Makes the News - 30-May-2022

Gripman Val Lupiz was the subject of a story by Joe Rosato, Jr that aired on NBC Bay Area: Filipino-Japanese Cable Car Gripman Has a Grip on San Francisco's History. The story was part of a series about Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month. Val talks about the origin of his love for cable cars and about his reviving the art of decorating cable cars for special events. This year he has decorated a car for AAPI Heritage Month.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 30-April-2022
nytimes.com

There is a new rise in TrumpVirus infections, but most counties and many public transit agencies in California have lifted their mask mandates.

Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica is stopping mass in the gym, the radio broadcast and the livestream.

I subbed for two full days at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica.

The Giants are doing well even though they have lost a bunch of people to injuries and Covid.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-March-2022

covid statistics Jan 2022

A new TrumpVirus variant is spreading in other countries. Most California counties have lifted their mask mandates. At Good Shepherd Church, they removed the signs that limited people to every other pew. At the school, masks for students were made optional.

The lockout was settled, but Spring Training began late and the season will begin one week later than planned. At Good Shepherd Church, they removed the signs that limited people to every other pew.

we are with Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has lasted longer than a month. Russian advances have ceased, but war crimes have continued.

Charles Gertsbacher, RIP - 31-March-2022

I was sad to learn about the death of former conductor Charles Gertsbacher on 08-February-2022.

On 12-Aug-1984, gripman Ray McCann and conductor Charles Gertsbacher were taking a full load of passengers up the Hyde Street hill when a suicidal driver drove down the wrong side of the street at high speed and hit the cable car head-on. McCann was knocked off his feet and the car rolled backwards down the hill. Gertsbacher fought through the crowd of passengers and found McCann dazed and bleeding on the floor. Together, they pulled the emergency brake and stopped the car. The driver died, but many others would have, too, had it not been for the heroic action of the gripman and conductor. They both received medals from the US Department of Transportation.

McCann and Gertsbacher both reported to the car barn the next morning despite their injuries. They continued to work together for many years.

Cable Car Outage - 29-March-2022

An equipmment problem shut down the whole system in the morning. The Powell/Mason line remained down all day.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 28-February-2022

covid statistics Jan 2022

The Omicron variant of the TrumpVirus appears to have peaked. Most of the counties in California are revising their mask mandates.

The baseball owners have locked out the players, so Spring Training has been delayed.

I Stand With Ukraine

Russia has invaded Ukraine. I hope President Putin has made a big mistake.

Congratulations to Catrena Brown - 18-February-2022

Catrena Brown became only the fourth woman to operate the grip on a cable car. I wish her a safe and happy career.

Car 8 Rebuild Completed - 10-February-2022

Powell Street car 8, originally built in 1893-4 by Carter Brothers and rebuilt in 1958, was again rebuilt from 2018 to 2021. Testing of the refurbished car began in February.

Talk About Cable Cars - 02-February-2022

cable car thank you notes
Thank you notes from the Sixth Grade class at Good Shepherd School. Very well done. March, 2022 Picture of the Month.

As part of Catholic Schools Week, Good Shepherd School in Pacifica had a Friends of Good Shepherd day. They asked parents and other members of the community to talk about jobs, life experiences and hobbies. I spoke to the Sixth Grade about the history of public transit in San Francisco and about cable cars. The kids asked good questions.

The next day I was surprised to receive thank you notes with many wonderful drawings of cable cars.

Cars Decorated for Black History Month - 31-January-2022

This year for, the first time, two Powell Street cars were decorated to celebrate Black History Month.

Cars Decorated for Lunar New Year - 31-January-2022

Val Lupiz and his generous crew decorated Powell Street cars 11 and 16 and California Street car 49 to celebrate Chinese New Year. 49 was also decorated to celebrate the Forty-Niners making it to the conference championship game.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 31-January-2022

covid statistics Jan 2022

The Omicron variant of the TrumpVirus is the main source of infection in the United States. The hospitalization and death rates seem to have peaked. Most of the deaths are occurring with people who were not inoculated. I had my first COVID-19 test. Negative.

One Sunday we went to mass by watching the 11am live stream.

I have been teaching coding to my wife's Third Graders at Good Shepherd School as a volunteer. In January, I started teaching coding to grades 2 and 4.

The major league owners have locked out the players.
Barry Bonds was on the regular Hall of Fame ballot for the last time. He was rejected again.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-January-2022

covid statistics

The Omicron variant of the TrumpVirus rapidly became the major source of infection in the United States. The hospitalization and death rates are spiking. Most of the deaths are occurring with people who were not inoculated.

We had 5pm Christmas Eve mass in the gym. On the day after, we went to mass by watching the 11am live stream.

I have been teaching coding to my wife's Third Graders at Good Shepherd School as a volunteer. In the new year, I will be teaching coding to Kindergarten through Fourth.

Barry Bonds is on the regular Hall of Fame ballot for the last time.

Cable Cars and Metallica - 16-December-2021

Metallica One cover
listal.com

At a City Hall ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the band Metallica and proclaiming 16-December-2021 to be Metallica Day, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said "They’re part of the fabric of the community. They have touched people’s lives for generations. When you talk about San Francisco, you talk about cable cars and then you talk about Metallica. And on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, I want to officially declare today ‘Metallica Day.’".

Dunedin Cable Tram Calendar - 01-December-2021

DunedinCalendar

The Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust is advancing in its quest to restore part of the Mornington Tramway.

The Trust has published a beautiful 2022 calendar with photos of the original Dunedin cable trams in operation and photos of the historic cars restored in 2021. If you would like to buy a copy of the calendar, it is available on their website.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-December-2021

covid statistics

The Omicron variant of the TrumpVirus has turned up in South Africa and is seen as a new threat. In general, there is fear of a new spike during the holidays when people gather together indoors.

The 5pm Saturday mass at Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica still has low turnout. I continued to do the census during November. We may have passed 40 one weekend. Most were in the 30s.

Buster Posey won Comeback Player of the Year for the second time.

I started to teach coding to Third Graders at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. They are a lively bunch. I will start teaching Fourth Grade in January.

Dr Peter Pfaelzer, RIP - 01-December-2021

San Francisco State University Engineering Professor Peter Pfaelzer has died. At Whirlwind Wheelchair he worked to improve mobility. During the 1982-1984 Great Reconstruction of the cable car system, he redesigned the slot brake, changing it from a single solid blade to a three-part blade that is more effective. The improved slot blade has saved many passengers and crew members. Thank you to Norbert Feyling for the tip.

Gilberto Godoy, RIP - 01-November-2021

Trophy presentatioon Leonard Oats receives his trophy and his bell after the 2008 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest in Union Square. Seen in the photo are host Deb Durst, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Nat Ford, Leonard Oats, Gilberto Godoy, and a Union Square merchant. Photo by Joe Thompson.

I was sad to learn of the recent passing of Gilberto Godoy, operator of the United Brass foundry, which makes bells and other hardware for San Francisco's cable cars and who was also CFO of the Friends of the Cable Car Museum. It was always nice to see him at events like the bell ringing contest. My condolences to his son José and the rest of the family.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-November-2021

covid statistics

New cases and deaths are spiking in the south and parts of the Mid West, where anti-vaccine mania is at its highest.

The 5pm Saturday mass at Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica still has low turnout. I did the census during October.

The Giants had the best record in the division, beating the Dodgers by one game, but went on to lose the National League Division Series.

I will to start volunteering to teach coding to Third Graders at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-October-2021

covid statistics

New cases are still rising, especially in states with Republican governors who have been ignoring the pandemic.

Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica revived the 5pm Saturday mass in September. Turnout has been low.

The Giants were the first team to win 100 games.

Byron Cobb Retires - 24-September-2021

Byron Cobb Byron Cobb poses with his first-place trophy after the 2017 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Today was the last day of working as a gripman for Byron Cobb, eight time winner of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. His record is second only to the late Carl Payne, who won ten times. Cobb's regular riders on the California Street line were sorry to see him go.


Byron Cobb at the 2017 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest in Union Square.

Melvin Van Peebles, RIP - 21-September-2021

Melvin van Peebles
listal.com
Filmmaker, author and musician Melvin van Peebles has died. So far, the obituaries that I have read have rightly discussed his influential independent movie career and his successful plays. No obituary has mentioned that he had been a San Francisco cable car gripman. He wrote a successful book called The Big Heart.

Cable Cars Down - 09-September-2021

Cable cars were down for most of the day because of an underground electrical fire.

from the SF MTA:
"SFMTA
"@sfmta_muni

"19h
"UPDATE: All Cable Car lines will be down for the rest of the night. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
"SFMTA
"@sfmta_muni
"20h
"UPDATE: Evacuation now cleared due to an earlier smoke alarm. All Cable Car lines will continue to be down due a power outage. Bus shuttles providing service. Will update. twitter.com/sfmta_muni/sta…
"SFMTA
"@sfmta_muni


"18h
"We recommend using #SFMuni alternatives near Cable Car routes such as the #FMarket, 19, 30 & more. Here's our Trip Planner:
"Trip Planner
"Find your way around San Francisco
"sfmta.com
"SFMTA
"@sfmta_muni


"18h
"UPDATE: All Cable Car lines will be motorized until end of service.


"SFMTA
"@sfmta_muni


"3h
"UPDATE: Due to an electrical issue at the Cable Car Barn, all Cable Car lines will be motorized until further notice. Consider nearby alternatives such as the #FMarket, 19 Polk, & 30 Stockton.
"Visit our Trip Planner for more options:
"https://sfmta.com/trip-planner

The cable cars remained down until an electrical part and an industrial-sized fire extinguisher could be replaced in the barn. Service resumed on 18-September-2021.

Cable Cars Back in Revenue Service - 04-September-2021

return to service

On Saturday, 04-September-2021 the cable cars returned to regular, scheduled revenue service.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-September-2021

covid masks

covid masks

The City and County of San Francisco has imposed a requirement for people attending indoor events to have proof of vaccination and to wear a mask.

covid vaccine

Carl Payne, RIP - 07-August-2021

Carl Payne

Carl Payne, the only 10-time winner of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, transit operator, police officer, San Francisco ambassador and great all-around guy, passed away on 07-August-2021. Above we see him giving an exhibition performance at the 2016 contest. He was born in Pittsburgh, but settled in San Francisco after he served in the Marine Corps.

He went to work for Muni and stayed for 29 years. He spent 28 years working in the Cable Car Division. The only person who has come close to his record of ten Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest championships is Byron Cobb, who has won eight times. Payne travelled the world, appeared with symphony orchestras, and shared his joy for life with everyone.

While working on the cable cars, Payne became an expert at spotting pickpockets. When he left Muni, he applied to join the San Francisco Police Department. He passed the test, but was told that he was over the maximum age. He sued the department and eventually won. He spent 25 years with the police. After retiring from the SFPD, he became a Golden Gate Park ranger. He had to give that up when he started to have health issues.

Carl Payne had a long career of service to the people of San Francisco and our visitors.

The image above shows him giving an exhibition at the 2013 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. Four former champs gave an exhibition at the 2017 contest: Al Quintana (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994), Ken Lunardi (1997, 2002, 2006), Frank Ware (1999, 2004) and Carl Payne (1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989).

Cable Car Museum Reopening/Cable Cars to Return - 01-August-2021

cable car museum reopening button

The Cable Car Museum reopens on August 1. Come by and receive a beautiful button.

After nearly a month of testing and training, the cable cars will resume service on 02-August-2021, which is also the 148th anniversary of Andrew S Hallidie's first test of the Clay Street Hill Railroad. If all promises come true, there will be no fares collected on the cable cars during August.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-August-2021

covid statistics

By late July, new cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are all rising. Many of the new cases involve the Delta variant. Almost all of the new hospitalizations and deaths are from the group of people who have refused to get vaccinated. Many cities are reimposing mask requirements. States where their goverments discouraged vaccination are running out of ICU beds. Some right wing nutjobs are finally encouraging their followers to get vaccinated.

Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica was able to increase capacity for the 11am Sunday mass. They are going to revive the 5pm Saturday mass in September.

I went to the barber and got my shelter-in-place beard professionally trimmed for the first time.

The Giants were still in first place after the All Star Game.

keep wearing your mask William S Hart reminds us to keep wearing our masks. Great Falls Tribune, 16-April-1921.

Visit a Cable Car - 10-July-2020

To give people a happy experience, a cable cars have been on display at the Powell/Market turntable and Hyde and Beach. Today was the last day. Val Lupiz reports that next week, recertification training will begin for cable car crews.

wear your mask

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-July-2021

Happy Hour

Much of California became fully open on 15-June-2021. People who have been vaccinated will not have to wear masks outside. I will probably continue to wear mine for a while.

The virus is still out there, but almost 70% of Californians have been vaccinated. The 600,000th American died in June.

In June, San Francisco may have become the first city in the United States to reach herd immunity.

The Giants were able to return to selling all of their seats.

Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica was able to double its capacity in the gym. They may soon revive the 5 o'clock mass on Saturday. The archdiocese wants us to continue to wear masks.

Cal Cable Discovery - 21-June-2021

Crews working on the eternal Van Ness Avenue project have unearthed the crossing of the crossing of the California Street Cable Railroad and Muni's H-line. The H-line was replaced by buses in the late 1940s. Cal Cable was cut back to Van Ness in 1954. One of the diamonds has been reserved for preservation.

Cable Cars Are Returning - 15-June-2021

cable cars returning

Cable cars have been down since March, 2021 because of the pandemic. Today the San Francisco MTA announced that cable car testing and training will begin in July. The Powell-Hyde line will open to the public on 02-August-2021, the 148th anniversary of Andrew S Hallidies's first test of the Clay Street Hill Railroad. In August, passengers will be invited to ride on the cars during a "mock service" trial, with no regular schedules, and possibly no fares during August. Other lines will follow.

Muni's popular F-Line returned to service on 26-June-2021.

History Happy Hour with the San Francisco Cable Car Museum - 10-June-2021

Happy Hour

Nicole Meldahl and Chelsea Sellin of the Western Neighborhoods Project hosted a Zoom conversation with Mike Phipps and Don Holmgren from the Cable Car Museum. They gave a nice presentation and people asked good questions. I learned from it.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-June-2021
google.com

In May, infections and deaths are way down in the United States. India is being hit badly.

By late May, 50% of American adults have received at least one shot. Many crazy people are refusing to get vaccinated.

Governor Newsome says that on 15-June-2021 most businesses can reopen at full capacity and most people can stop wearing masks out-of-doors.

My wife and I, now fully vaccinated started going to Sunday mass in the gym.

The Giants were in first place for a while.

The F-Line and most of the Muni Metro lines returned to service. No word yet on when cable cars will start running again.

Car 60 Stars in a Movie - 16-May-2021

California Street car 60 played an important role in a two-hour movie which may lead to a revival of Nash Bridges, a television show I never watched when it on during the first decade of the century. People gave the original high marks for shooting in San Francisco. Don Johnson and Cheech Marin will return to their roles.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-May-2021 C

google.com

Rates of infection are still high, but rates of death have generally declined. By late April, 143k Americans had been vaccinated. 30% of Americans have been fully vaccinated.

By late April, about 570,000 Americans had died from the Trump Virus.

The single shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine was put on hold to investigate a small number of blood clot problems. It was back in business by the end of the month.

Speaking of back in business, Muni Metro and F-line historic streetcar service may resume on May 15. The Powell-Hyde cable car line may return to service during the late summer.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-April-2021

google.com

During March, the rates of infection and death continued to decline, but epidemiologists warned about mutated strains that could cause a third surge.

By March 23rd, about 545,000 Americans had died from the Trump Virus.

At about the same time, we learned that almost 25% of the US population had been vaccinated. 50% of US senior citizens have been fully vaccinated. My wife and daughter, both teachers, received the second of two vaccine shots in March, and I received my first shot.

The SFMTA says the F-Market and Wharves line should return on 15-May-2021. Hyde Street cable cars should return this fall, and the other lines later. Most light rail lines should be back early in 1922.

San Francisco and San Mateo Counties moved to the red tier, so indoor dining is returning. Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica was able to double the number of people they can have in the gym for mass. We will continue to attend in the car until I get my second dose.

Spring training has been strange with very few people in the stands.

My wife and daughter are both teaching in hybrid situations, with some kids in the classroom and some looking at Zoom. Their schools are encouraging more students to return to the classroom.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-March-2021

nytimes.com

During February, the big post-Christmas surge began to decline.

Just past the middle of February, the 500,000th American died from the Trump Virus. President Biden ordered flags to fly at half mast.

At about the same time, we learned that 5% of the US population had been vaccinated. My wife and daughter, both teachers, received the first of two vaccine shots in February.

Cincinnati Powerhouse Demolished - 27-February-2021

LaSalle Street Powerhouse The Mount Auburn Cable Railway's powerhouse and carbarn seen in 2019, two years before it collapsed. Google Maps Streetview Image updated June April. Copyright 2019 Google.

In Cincinnati, the Mount Auburn Cable Railway's powerhouse and carbarn at Dorchester Street and Highland Avenue was demolished in February, 2021 after a partial collapse.

Thanks to Michel Azema, proprietor of FuniMag for the tip about this.

Carl Payne Ill - 13-February-2021

Carl Payne At the 2016 Cable Car Bell Contest. Ten-time grand champion Carl Payne gives an exhibition. Defending champ Byron Cobb is on the left.

Let's have some prayers and/or good thoughts for Carl Payne, Grand Champion of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. He served the city for 50 years. After he retired from the cable cars, he joined the San Francisco Police Department. After he retired from the SFPD, he became a park ranger.

Carl Payne is fighting cancer. I'll bet he is giving cancer a good fight.

Carl Payne won the bell ringing contest in Carl Payne 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-February-2021

kp.org

Towards the end of January, Governor Newsome lifted the order to shelter in place at home. This may have been premature.

By late January, over 3.2 million Americans had been infected and over 320,000 had died. The post-holiday surge started to slow down, but newer, more infectious strains are turning up.

Vaccine distribution got off to a slow start.

Some idiots still refuse to wear masks. Restaurants in the Bay Area were able to reopen for outdoor dining

Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica is having 11am mass in the outdoors, live-streamed, with an option to sit in our car. We have been doing that. On a rainy Sunday, they celebrated the mass in the gym and everyone sat in their cars.

My wife and daughter, both teachers, are leading hybrid classes, with some students in the classroom and others on a Zoom meeting. I hope they will get the vaccine soon.

Cable cars remain out of service, but cars were on display at Powell and Market and Hyde and Beach on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The cables have operated and some cars have run for testing. The surface portion of the J-Church electric streetcar line is operating. The T-Third returned to service on 23=January=2021.

Spring training will probably be delayed.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-January-2021

Current Tier Assignments

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late December, over 19 million Americans had been infected and over 333,000 had died. More than 3,000 Americans die each day.

Cable cars remain out of service, but cars have been on display at Powell and Market and Hyde and Beach on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The cables have operated and some cars have run for testing.

Muni returned the J-Church line to rail on 19-December-2020, but had trains turn back at Church and Market.

In December, two COVID-19 vaccines received emergency approval, and started to be distributed around the country.

News Archive

Go to top of page.

Plans to Revise the Cal Cable Outer Terminal - 09-December-2020

Cal Cable Meeting

The Lower Polk Neighbors (LPN) Held a meeting to discuss options for making the Cal Cable outer terminal more pedestrian-friendly.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-December-2020

San Mateo County dashboard

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late November, over 12.7 million Americans had been infected and over 260,000 had died.

At the end of November, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties moved back to Purple on the California watch list. The third wave of COVID-19 is raging through nearly every state.

Some idiots still refuse to wear masks. Restaurants that reopened for indoor dining have had to go back to outdoor dining. In Los Angeles, they have also banned outdoor dining.

Early in the month, Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica started to have 11am mass in the gym, livestreamed with an option to sit in our car. We have been doing that. Now that we are back in the purple, mass will be outside with a car option.

My wife and daughter, both teachers, are leading hybrid classes, with some students in the classroom and others on a Zoom meeting.

Andrew S Hallidie

My COVID-19 beard is reaching Andrew S Hallidie length.

Visit a Cable Car - 01-Decber-2020

In addition to the one at Powell and Market, another cable car will be on display at Hyde and Beach. It will be on display on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:30am to 3:30pm.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-November-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late October, over 9.1 million Americans had been infected and over 229,000 had died.

In some counties, restaurants are opening for indoor dining at very restricted capacity. Schools are starting to open for in-person instruction. We go to outdoor mass at our church; we sit in our car and listen on a low-power FM station.

Cable cars and historic streetcars on the E and F lines will remain out of service at least until the new year because there is no way to protect the crew. Muni riders are required to wear face coverings.

A cable car is available for viewing at Powell and Market every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Cal Cable Discovery - 08-August-2013 - 24-October-2020

Crews digging up the street on California near Van Ness discovered a stretch of Cal Cable tracks and conduit which had been buried since the line was cut back on 30-December-1956.

Visit a Cable Car - 01-October-2020

To give people a happy experience, a cable car will be on display Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Powell/Market turntable from 10am to 3pm.

sfcablecar

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-October-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late September, almost 7,000,000 Americans had been infected and over 205,000 had died.

Smith Brothers

My beard is getting longer. Soon I will look like one of the Smith Brothers.

Cable cars and historic streetcars on the E and F lines will remain out of service at least until the new year because there is no way to protect the crew. Muni riders are required to wear face coverings.

Dunedin Cable Tram Calendar - 01-September-2020

DunedinCalendar

The Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust is advancing in its quest to restore part of the Mornington Tramway.

The Trust has published a beautiful 2021 calendar with photos of the original Dunedin cable trams in operation and photos of the historic cars restored in 2020. If you would like to buy a copy of the calendar, it is available on their website.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-September-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late August, almost 6,000,000 Americans had been infected and over 180,000 had died.

I started growing a beard.

Muni Metro returned to service on August 22, with some major changes. J-Church passengers had to transfer at Market Street. The K-Ingleside and L-Taraval lines were interlined. At West Portal, they will switch lines and passengers had to transfer to M-Ocean Views or S-Shuttles. I saw streetcars on Judah and Taraval on Sunday, August 23.

Cable cars and historic streetcars on the E and F lines will remain out of service because there is no way to protect the crew. Muni riders are required to wear face coverings. On August 27, Muni Metro went out of service again because of delays caused by two overhead line splices breaking.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-August-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late July, almost 4,500,000 Americans had been infected and over 150,000 had died. California is reversing the stage 2 opening of businesses in some counties. I got a haircut.

Muni Metro will return to service on August 22, with some major changes. J-Church passengers will have to transfer at Market Street. The K-Ingleside and L-Taraval lines will be interlined. At West Portal, they will switch lines and passengers will have to transfer to M-Ocean Views or S-Shuttles. Cable cars and historic streetcars on the E and F lines will remain out of service because there is no way to protect the crew. Muni riders are required to wear face coverings. On July 27, someone who wasn't wearing a mask yelled racial slurs at the driver and hit him with a baseball bat. The driver should recover.

Because of budget problems, many of the bus lines that were cut may not return to service.

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-July-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late June, over 2,500,000 Americans had been infected and over 120,000 had died. California is going through stage 2 of opening businesses in some counties. Infection rates are skyrocketing in states where they have been more aggressive about opening businesses. I still need a haircut.

Muni Metro should return to service in August, with some major changes. J-Church passengers will have to transfer at Market Street. The K-Ingleside and L-Taraval lines will be interlined. At West Portal, they will switch lines and passengers will have to transfer to M-Ocean Views or S-Shuttles.

We are still waiting for word about the cable cars and the historic electric cars on the E-Embarcadero and F-Market and Wharves lines.

Baseball spring training will resume on July 1. Houses of worship are open for limited numbers of people.

Muni's Heritage Weekend, planned for August 22-23, has been postponed to 2021. I haven't heard anything about the annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, but I assume it has been cancelled.

muni metro changes

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-June-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late May, over 1,000,000 Americans had been infected and over 100,000 had died. California is beginning stage 2 of opening businesses.

Muni's Heritage Weekend, planned for August 22-23, has been postponed to 2021. Muni rail lines are still shut down. Muni has restored service on some lines. #TrumpVirus

frontline workers

San Francisco Railway Museum Vandalized - 31-May-2020

During the after-dark vandalism and looting that followed peaceful protests against the death of George Floyd, people broke into Market Street Railway's San Francisco Railway Museum. They stole tee shirts but left historic items untouched. The museum was closed because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. #TrumpVirus

MSR

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-May-2020

We are still sheltering in place at home. By late April, more Americans had died of COVID-19 (3 months) than died in the Vietnam War (about 8 years). On April 20, Muni restored some lines that had been cancelled on April 8. All Muni rail lines remain shut down.

San Francisco History Days, 2020 - 25-27-September-2020

2020 History Days

The annual San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint returns on September 25-27, 2020. This will be the tenth annual event. It was rescheduled from May 08-09 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This year, San Francisco History Days will activate all of San Francisco, highlighting local history in neighborhoods throughout the city with a refreshed format. Six to ten sites will showcase multiple exhibitors and presentations. There will be a dedicated site for authors of recently published history books and there will be tours through the Old U.S. Mint. All participating sites will be featured on an illustrated map (available for free) that will also include a schedule of programs."

COVID-19 Shuts Down Most Muni Lines - 08-April-2020

Muni cancelled 80% of its service except for 17 core lines because shelter-in-place has led to a 90% drop in ridership. There have also been operator shortages because of sickness. Muni had already replaced all Muni Metro service (electric streetcars on lines J-K-L-M-N) with buses.

SF Cable Car Museum @SFCCM on Twitter - 06-April-2020

SFCCM on Twitter

Follow SF Cable Car Museum - SF Cable Car Museum @SFCCM on Twitter. They are broadening their profile and public awareness of the museum by tweeting old and new images of cable cars.

COVID-19 Shuts Down Cable Cars - 16-March-2020

In order to protect operators from the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Muni has replaced cable car and F-line service with buses. E-line service is cancelled.

Bus Shuttles Substitute for California Cable Cars: Several Days in February - 01-March-2020

Bustitution

Production of a "major motion picture," probably Matrix 4, required rerouting of several bus lines and bus substitution on the Cal Cable line. Shooting took place at night.

San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV - 28-January-2020

To celebrate the San Francisco 49ers appearing in Super Bowl LIV, California Street cable car 49 (naturally) and Powell Street cable car 26 were decorated by the dedicated group of people who decorate cable cars.

Tom Sweeney Retires - 14-January-2020

Tom Sweeney Retiring Sir Francis Drake Hotel doorman Tom Sweeney chats with passenfers on a Powell Street cable car. (Source: CBSN Bay Area. All rights reserved.)

Since 1976, one of the most imporant sights seen by passengers on the Powell Street cable car line has been Sir Francis Drake Hotel doorman Tom Sweeney, who has worn the Beefeater uniform and greeted countless people. He has retired and has been honored with a bronze plaque in the sidewalk. I hope Tom has a wonderful retirement.

Cable Car Fares Going Up - 01-January-2020

Cable car fares will go up by one dollar on this day. Single ride tickets will go from $7 to $8.

Rey Morante Remembered - 05-October-2019

Cable car conductor Rey Morante was hit by a motorcycle on 11-June-2015 near the Bay and Taylor terminal of the Powell-Mason line. Morante was in a coma until he died on 12-January-2016. Powell Street cable car 17 will be dedicated to his memory.

Cable Cars Return From Outage September 23, 2019 - 23-September-2019

from the SF MTA:

"The Heart of Cable Car Propulsion

"Today, we are happy to announce the return of all Cable Car service. Over the past ten days, we performed an assortment of upgrades to our Cable Car system. The largest and most complex, being the replacement of the Hyde Line gearbox.

"The gearbox is basically a transmission that transfers power via a 600 volt DC motor, in turn, driving the pulleys carrying the cable. Those cables then loop through the city so the cable cars can be powered through the streets of San Francisco.

"The gearboxes have been in place since 1984 and their life expectancy was at an end. For the past two years we have been changing out the gearboxes and the Hyde Line gearbox was the last to be installed. The gearbox that was removed will be rebuilt and kept as a spare."

Cable Car Outage September 13-23, 2019 - 01-September-2019

Gearbox replacement

"SFMTA @sfmta_muni Aug 29

"HeadsUp: Starting Friday, 9/13, and lasting about 10 days bus shuttles will provide service on ALL cable car lines. This svc adjustment is needed to continue our Gearbox Rehab Project. Regular bus fare will apply. For further details:
sfmta.com/travel-updates/bus-shuttles-substitute-all-cable-car-lines-september-2019

Cable Car Outage August 29, 2019 - 29-August-2019

"SFMTA @sfmta_muni Aug 29

"UPDATE: Power restored and all cable car lines are resuming service. Bus shuttles will remain temporarily to support svc.

"SFMTA @sfmta_muni · 7h "ATTN: All cable car lines currently disabled due to reported system power outage. Arranging shuttles to support the Hyde, Mason and California lines."

Bus Shuttles Substitute for California Cable Cars: Weekend of August 24-25, 2019 - 01-September-2019

Bustitution

"Bus shuttles will substitute the California Cable Car for the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, August 24-25, 2019."

Bus Shuttles Substitute for California Cable Cars: Weekend of August 24-25, 2019

Sacramento/Clay Car 19 - Taking It to the Streets - 26-July-2019

Sacramento/Clay Car 19 Former Sacramento/Clay Car 19, in storage at the Washington/Mason car barn. December 2003. Photo by Joe Thompson. August, 2020 Picture of the Month.

Gripman Val Lupiz operated Sacramento/Clay car 19 over the California Street line. This was the first time the car had operated under cable traction since the Sacramento/Clay line was abandoned in 1942.

Ten-Day Bus Substitution for Cable Car Lines on Powell and Mason Starting May 2, 2019 - 01-May-2019

Bustitution

"SFMTA @sfmta_muni Apr 29

"Reminder: Starting this Thursday the Powell Mason Line will be down for 10 days for gearbox rehab work. Bus shuttles will run btwn Powell/Ellis & Taylor/Francisco. IB Hyde cars will switchback at Washington/Powell (the bus/cable car transfer point)."

Bus Shuttles Substitute Powell and Mason Cable Cars

Podcast: Not Your Century -- 1957: Failed the Bus Driver Test? Try Cable Cars - 24-April-2019

Not Your Century

King Kaufman has published an interesting podcast, "Not Your Century -- 1957: Failed the Bus Driver Test? Try Cable Cars." He used some of my recordings of the bell ringing contests for background sounds.
Not Your Century -- 1957: Failed the Bus Driver Test? Try Cable Cars

San Francisco History Days, 2019 - 01-03-March-2019

2019 History Expo

The annual San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint returns on March 01-03, 2019.

Valentines Day in San Francisco, 2019 - 14-February-2019

Valentine

Thank you to @SF Cable Car for sharing this cable car Valentine.

Fallen Tree on Hyde Street - 16-January-2019

There was a storm with high winds on this day.

SFMTA @sfmta_muni

SFMTA Retweeted SFMTA
UPDATE: FMTA Retweeted SFMTA
UPDATE: Delay on Hyde btwn Broadway and Pacific has cleared. Hyde Cable Car Line is resuming service.

SFMTA
Verified account

ATTN: Powell Hyde Cable Car Line is blocked btwn Broadway and Pacific by a downed tree.

SFMTA Cal Cable Replacement - 10-January-2019

SFMTA @sfmta_muni

SFMTA Retweeted SFMTA
UPDATE: Delay at California and Sansome has cleared. California Cable Car Line is resuming service.
SFMTA added,

SFMTA
Verified account

@sfmta_muni
ATTN: IB California Cable Car Line delayed at Sansome due to a mechanical issue.

SFMTA Cal Cable Replacement - 09-January-2019

SFMTA @sfmta_muni

SFMTA Retweeted SFMTA
ATTN: Due to electrical issue w/ cable motor, Powell-Mason CC Line svc will be provided by bus shuttles today (1/9).

SFMTA Cal Cable Replacement - 08-January-2019

SFMTA @sfmta_muni

SFMTA Retweeted SFMTA
ATTN: Cable Cars at the terminals have begun the process of pulling back into the barn.

SFMTA New Year's Eve Service - 31-December-2018

Bus Substitutions

Service on the F Market & Wharves historic streetcar line is provided by buses all day
Service on the Cable Cars is provided by buses after approximately 6 p.m.

SFMTA Season's Greetings - 21-December-2018

sfmta Christmas

Holiday greetings and transit information from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

The Big Event: Cable Car - 16-November-2018

San Francisco Chronicle reporters Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub, who earlier this year rode every Muni line in one day, interviewed Val Lupiz, Frank Zepeda and Jeremy Whiteman for a podcast.

Listen to it here.

East Cliff Railway in Bournemouth to Remain Closed - 16-November-2018

The Bournemouth Borough Council said it did not have the money to repair the East Cliff Lift, so it will remain closed. It was damaged by a landslide on 24-April-2016.

Cable Car Movie Shown on Salesforce Tower - 06-December-2018

Trip Down Market #6
The Sutter Street horse car is seen next to two outbound Market Street cable cars.

A newly restored version of the 1906 film "A Trip Down Market Street" was projected on the top floors of the new tallest building in San Francisco, the Salesforce Tower on 06- and 07-December-2018.

Cable Cars Pull In/Cable Car Museum Closed - 15-November-2018

The cable cars were ordered to puill in this afternoon because of unhealthy air quality caused by the Camp Fire in Butte County. The Cable Car Museum at Washington and Mason also closed today. The cable cars returned to service on Tuesday, November 20.

Cal Band Rides a Cable Car - 14-November-2018

The Cal Band was in San Francisco to promote the Big Game. They rode Blue and Gold Car 16.

Masks for Cable Car Crews - 11-November-2018

Because of the dangerous level of smoke from the tragic Camp Fire in Butte County, the SFMTA issued masks to cable car crews.

Powell/Mason Bus Substitution - 21-30-September-2018

Announcement from the SFMTA:

Mason Cable Car Bus Substitution: September 21-30, 2018

Friday, September 21, 2018 - 10:00pm to Sunday, September 30, 2018 - 2:00am
Neighborhoods Affected
North Beach Russian Hill
Route(s) Affected
Powell/Mason Cable Car
Stops Affected
Taylor St & Francisco St (#16646)
Service Affected
Transit
Weekend Traffic and Transit Advisory

As part of the Cable Car Gearbox Rehabilitation Project, the Powell/Mason Cable Car will be temporarily replaced by a free shuttle bus. The shuttle bus will serve stops north of Washington. Transfer between the Powell/Hyde line and the Mason Shuttle Bus at Washington & Powell. In North Beach, the first stop is a temporary stop at Taylor & Francisco.
Note
Though the Mason Shuttle Bus is free, regular Cable Car fares apply to the Powell/Hyde line.

"Collecting cable car fares an uphill struggle" - 16-September-2018

An article in today's San francisco Chronicle says that auditors who rode San Francisco cable cars were not asked to pay 25% of the time. The article did not mention that a conductor's primary responsibility is safety.

2018 Muni Heritage Weekend - 08/09-September-2018

Newly rebuilt Powell Street car 23 and California Street Car 56 ran for the first time in revenue service, and restored O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car 43 made its first revenue trips sincwe 1954 on the outer part of the Hyde Street line during Muni's Annual Heritage Weekend.

Dunedin Cable Tram Revival - 22-August-2018

Dunedin

Dunedin website Thanks to Mac Gardner for letting me know about the website of the Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust and the High Street Cable Car Society, who are advancing a project with four steps to revive cable traction in Dunedin, New Zealand. Their website rolled out in August, 2018.

I am happy that the Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust and the High Street Cable Car Society are advancing in the quest to restore part of the Mornington Tramway.

Mornington 111 Mornington Tramway restored trailer 111 being loaded on to a truck trailer for the trip to Dunedin (source: "Dunedin on the Up With Return of Historic Cable Cars," stuff.co.nz, 07-Jun-2018).

Providence Conduit Discovered - 24-July-2018

Providence Conduit Thanks to Bob Vennerbeck for sharing this photo of a conduit once used by the Providence Cable Tramway and/or the counterbalance that replaced the line on College Hill. All rights reserved.

Bob Vennerbeck let me know that he was walking around the College Hill district of Providence, Rhode Island when he was hailed by a crew

"Yesterday, I was hailed by a crew working on replacement water mains under College Street at Benefit Street - 'You're the historian - you know anything about these brick foundations under the street?'

"It seems they had unearthed a parallel pair of low brick walls about 2' high, with a smooth concrete slab about 3' wide between them, forming a U-shaped channel under the length of the street. The tops of the walls were about 2' below modern grade, and after the backfill was removed, a series of metal 'chairs' were found embedded either side of the slab, with bits of heavily greased mounting bolts scattered nearby."

I agreed with Bob that this was the channel that the counterbalance's counterweight ran through or the cable conduit of the Providence Cable Tramway.

Thank you to Bob for letting me present this find.

2018 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest Has Been Cancelled in Part - Updated 01-August-2018

The 2018 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest has been cancelled in part because the people of the Cable Car Division are protesting the SFMTA cutting late night hours on the California Street line.

I asked the SFMTA about the contest and got this response:
Dear Mr. Thompson,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding a date for the next Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. Unfortunately, we will not have a traditional bell ringing contest this year. Instead, we will be hosting some elements of the bell ringing event as part of Muni Heritage Weekend September 8-9. This event will activate the plaza area at Don Chee Way in front of the Market Street Railway Museum. We hope to return to the traditional event next year.

Sincerely,

Muni Customer Service

I asked the SFMTA and got this response:
Communications and Marketing

Dunedin Cable Tram Revival - 01-July-2018

Dunedin

Dunedin museum Thanks to Mac Gardner, here is a future view of the temporary museum being built near the former terminal of Dunedin's Mornington Line. It will display two cable trams and a trailer. All rights reserved. July, 2018 Picture of the Month.

This is an update of an article originally published in 2016. Thank you to Mac Gardner for providing the information.

The Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust and the High Street Cable Car Society are advancing a project with four steps to revive cable traction in Dunedin, New Zealand, the first and last city outside of San Francisco to have Hallidie-type cable car lines.

Step one is to build an Interim Cable Car Building in Mornington Park. This temporary museum would house two Dunedin cable trams and a trailer, the trailer from the Mornington Tramway and Two trams from the Roslyn Tramway. One of the Roslyn trams will be restored onsite. There will be tracks that extend outside so people can view one of the trams and climb on it. The work started in October, 2017.

The remaining steps would build a 1.5km line on the High Street with a terminal and powerhouse in the park. Original cable trams would be used as rolling stock.

An article from the 31-October-2016 Otago Daily Times.

I wish great success to the Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust and the High Street Cable Car Society.

Total Muni 2018 - 30-April-2018

Total Muni 2018 Logo Design By John Blanchard / The Chronicle. All rights reserved.

Congratulations to Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle who accomplished the feat of riding every San Francisco Municipal Railway line -- cable car, streetcar and bus -- on one day. They could not ride the 76-Marin Headlands, which only runs on weekends.

They started on a 25-Treasure Island at 03:12am. I haven't ridden that bus yet.

At 06:00am, with the help of Val Lupiz and Jeremy Whiteman. they rode Powell Street car 24, still decorated to honor Willie Mays and the Giants' 60th year in San Francisco.

At the Ferry Building, they met San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, who did had same adventure with a friend in 1980. Giants' mascot Lou Seal was also there.

In 18 hours, they rode 60 lines.

Cable Car Cimena Closing - 27-April-2018

Cable Car Cinema Logo

The Cable Car Cinema and Cafe showed independent and foreign films at 204 South Main Street in Providence, Rhode Island from 1976 to 2018. Today it was announced that the Cinema is closing. It fell victim to the forces that have destroyed so many cinemas across the country.

Car 26 Becomes 526 - 14-April-2018

Powell Street car 26 ran for a special charter as 526, its number before 1973. Val Lupiz pulled grip.

Car 11 Debuts in Service - 12-April-2018

Powell Street car 11 made its debut after a rebuilding. It is now painted in Market Street Railroad red. Val Lupiz pulled grip.

Old Car 28 Going to Connecticut - 03-April-2018

28 pullin/2 Old Car 28 turns on the motorized turntable in the barn at Washington and Mason before being put away. A California Street car pulls in behind it. Car 28 would retire the next month. December 2003. Photo by Joe Thompson. May, 2018 Picture of the Month.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will donate former Powell Street car 28 to the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut as part of a deal that brought two electric streetcars to San Francisco. Car 28 was built by Mahony Brothers for the Ferries and Cliff House Railway in 1887. It was an open car until it was rebuilt in 1912. It retired in January, 2004 and was replaced by the current car 28. There had been talk of restoring it to its orignal configuration as an open car.

Car 24 Decorated for Opening Day - 03-April-2018

opening day This logo celebrates the Giants' 60th anniversary in San Francisco.

Sixty years ago this year, the San Francisco Giants played their first game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Seals Stadium on 15-April-1958. The Giants moved from Manhattan and the Dodgers from Brooklyn during the offseason. Rubén Gómez started and beat Don Drysdale 8-0. The Giants are celebrating the anniversary this season.

To celebrate the anniversary, Val Lupiz and Jeremy Whiteman decorated Powell Street car 24, which was dedicated to Willie Mays, Number 24, on 06-May-2016. Many vintage streetcars carried flags for the event.

Visit the Val Lupiz Shop - 01-April-2018

Val Lupiz Shop

Gripman Val Lupiz, who is also a photographer with an excellent eye, has launched an online shop where he is selling some of his photographs:
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/val-lupiz.html

Cable Cars’ Ding Goes For Your Wallet, Too - 26-March-2018

Cable cars ding

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight published an interesting column about how charging the full $7.00 adult fare makes it hard for some tourist families to ride the cable cars:
Cable Cars’ Ding Goes For Your Wallet, Too

I think a child or family fare would be a good idea, along with a transfer that would allow people to visit the museum at Washington and Mason without paying another full fare.

San Francisco History Days, 2018 - 03-04-March-2018

2018 History Expo

The annual San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint returns on March 03-04, 2018.

Western Neighborhoods Project New Home Open House - 03-February-2018

The Western Neighborhoods Project is having an open house between Noon and 4pm to show off its new home at 1617 Balboa Street, between 17th and 18th Avenues.

Isle of Man Horse Tramway 2018 Schedule Released - 17-January-2018

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2018 Timetable The cover of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2018 Timetable. (source: Isle of Man Railways)

Download the 2017 Isle of Man Horse Tramway Timetable.

We all owe a big thanks to the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, which has worked hard to keep the line intact. We all have to remain vigilant.

Read more about the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway on the Horse Car Home Page.

Cable Cars Honor Mayor Lee - 12-December-2017

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee died suddenly this morning. The cable cars and all other San Francisco transit vehicles paused for one minute at noon in his memory.

SFMTA Threatens to Cut Cal Cable Late Night Service - 07-December-2017

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) wants to end service on the California Street line at 11:45pm instead of 1:00am. This would be a problem for San Francisco residents who work at the hotels and restaurants around the end of Market Street and live in areas reached by the cable cars. District Supervisor Aaron Peskin will fight the proposal. The change may not be legal because the city charter says that cable car must maintain 1971 levels as a minimum. There is a debate about what the hours of service were in 1971.

Car 22 Returns to Service - 28-November-2017

Powell Street car 22, one of the remaining 1887 Ferries and Cliff House cars, returned to service after rebuilding.

"Cable cars’ popularity takes huge hit with $7 fare" - 01-October-2017

A San Francisco Chronicle report by columnists Phil Matier and Andy Ross states that cable car ridership fell by 25 percent between 2014 and 2016. They atrribute it to the $7 fare. "Muni spokesman Paul Rose said inconsistent service and long waiting lines may be causing people to turn away as well."

Cal Cable Shutdown - 22-September-2017

Cal Cable shutdown sign A sign at the California and Drumm terminal announces the shutdown. September, 2017.

Muni shut down the California Street cable line from 22-September-2017 to 29-September-2017 to replace the gearbox that drives the California Street cable. The old gearbox dated from the 1982-1984 Great Reconstruction.

Cal Cable shutdown sign/2 This sign stood in the center of the California and Drumm terminal. September, 2017.

New Muni Uniforms - 18-September-2017

Muni operators began to wear new gray uniforms, replacing the old brown uniforms. Jackets are black or high visibility yellow. The new uniforms are supposed to be more comfortable in hot or cold conditions.

Angels Flight Returns (Again) - 31-August-2017

CBS This Morning Angels Flight reopening mentioned on CBS This Morning. All rights reserved.

Angels Flight, the Los Angeles funicular returned to service on 31-August-2017. The line had been shut down since a derailment on 05-September-2013.

Animated Photos I took during our visit to Angels Flight, as an animated gif, courtesy of gifka.com.

Cable Cars Shut Down Because of Protests - 26-August-2017

Because of a planned white supremacist rally at Crissy Field in the Presidio, Mayor Ed Lee ordered the cable cars to be replaced by buses. All Muni lines in the Marina and Cow Hollow were shut down. This was inspired by the violence caused by Neo Nazis, Klansmen and other degenerates in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The degenerates cancelled Crissy Field, tried to go to Alamo Square, went briefly to Crissy Field, and somehow wound up in Pacifica. What did we poor Pacificans do to earn that?

San Francisco's Transportation Octopus - 13-August-2017

San Francisco's Octopus

San Francisco's Transportation Octopus, the Market Street Railway of 1893, a new book by Emiliano Echeverria, Michael Dolgushkin and Walter Rice, is now available as an Ebook on a DVD. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Update 01-December-2017:

I have written a small review.

California Street Inner Terminal Modified - 01-August-2017

58 and 51

I should have posted this in late May, but Muni has surrounded the inner terminal of the California Street line with a row of stanchions or posts. The ugly plastic barriers seen in the photo of cars 58 and 51 have finally gone away.

Angels Flight Takes Steps Forward - 01-July-2017

Angels Flight, which has been shut down since 05-September-2013 is scheduled to resume service by Labor Day.

Recent reports say that the cars and the stations have been repainted in primer white, and that construction has begun on the safety stairway, which is prerequisite to resume operation.

Isle of Man Horse Tramway Operations Resumed - 24-May-2017

The Isle of Man Horse Tramway resumed limited service after being suspended since 10-May-2017 because of a respiratory that affected the horses.

Political Idiocy - 16-May-2017

Political Idiocy

Some jerk in Georgia decided to try to smear Jon Ossof, the Democratic candidate for an open seat in the House of Representatives by calling him the "San Francisco Candidate." They wasted money by shooting actors portraying stereotypical liberals in San Francisco locations saying that they supported Jon Ossof. The low point of the commercial was a shot of Powell Street Car One that had been altered to show a huge photo of Jon Ossof and a banner saying "Jon Ossof (peace symbol) San Francisco Congressman."

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency was taken by surprise. The SFMTA is sending a cease and desist letter.

Happily, Ossof came in first in the April election and nearly won outright. He will be in the June 20 runoff with a Republican candidate.

And what the hell is wrong with the peace symbol?

Update - 21-June-2017

Jon Ossof lost the election by two points in a district where he should have lost by twenty.

Cobblestone Riders - 16-May-2017

Cobblestone Riders

A Portuguese skateboarder/engineer designed a skateboard that could operate on cobblestoned streets. The board has three wheels. The single wheel at one end is larger, and is meant to run in the channel of a tramway rail. The board has a brake that the rider can operate using a lever.

A video taken during a visit in April shows him riding the board down both the California Street and Hyde Street hills. This is bad idea and he could have killed himself if he had encountered a switch or an irregular bit of track.

Please don't do this.

Isle of Man Horse Tramway Operations Suspended - 10-May-2017

The Isle of Man Government Department of Infrastructure released an announcement:
Isle of Man Railways, with the advice of Ray Cox of Milan Vets, have made the decision to temporarily cease all horse tram operations for approximately ten days.

The decision has been taken after a number of the tram horses were found to be experiencing a respiratory issue.

The infection is relatively common among horses and it is difficult to determine where it has originated. It is not fatal to horses, but it can be transmitted between them. Action to contain the infection and to manage the recovery of the affected horses will be taken in line with veterinary advice.

The infection cannot be passed to humans.

Mr Cox, Clinical Director of Milan Vets, stated:

‘We understand this is disappointing news for our customers. However, the welfare of the horses always comes first. We are confident that the horses will make a full recovery and we will work with the vets to resume our services as soon as possible.’

Ian Bates, Head of Public Transport Operations, added:

‘We understand this is disappointing news for our customers. However, the welfare of the horses always comes first. We are confident that the horses will make a full recovery and we will work with the vets to resume our services as soon as possible.’

Isle of Man Railways will issue an update regarding the resumption of horse tram services in the near future.

The other vintage transport systems continue to operate as normal.

Fare Pocketing - 27-April-2017

Two cable car conductor were arrested in April, accused of pocketing cash fares paid by riders. This has gone on for many years. The San Francisco MTA is looking into ending cash fares on the cable cars.

Downtown Power Outage - 21-April-2017

A major power outage in downtown San Francisco caused all cable car lines to hold position.

2017 CAMRA Isle of Man Beer and Cider Festival - 06-April-2017

IOM Beer and Cider Festival

The Isle of Man Horse Tramway will play an important part in the opening of the 2017 CAMRA Isle of Man Beer and Cider Festival. The Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Sir Richard Gozney, will ride to the festival opening on tram car 18, a double decker built in 1883. The Festival will take place from April 6 to 8.

Cable Car - Electric Auto Collision - 30-March-2017

Around 5pm on 30-March-2017, Powell Street cable car 5 had a collision with an electric-powered Tesla automobile. Fault has not yet been determined. Buses ran on Powell Street for a while.

"San Francisco Cable Cars" Documentary Film - 19-March-2017

Balboa Marquee The marquee of the Balboa Theater announces the showing of Strephon Taylor's new documentary "San Francisco Cable Cars."

We went to San Francisco's Balboa Theater on Sunday to see Strephon Taylor's new documentary "San Francisco Cable Cars."

I enjoyed the documentary, which included beautiful photography of current operations and a good selection of photos and animations to explain cable traction technology.

One of the people interviewed was from the Mechanics' Institute, which Andrew S Hallidie helped found. Gripman Val Lupz and historians Emiliano Echeverria and Mike Phipps were also interviewed.

The documentary held the crowd's interest until the end and people had some good questions for Strephon Taylor after. I went to the lobby and bought a copy of the video. You can learn more about the movie and buy a copy here: San Francisco Cable Cars documentary website

The movie was held over for another week at the Balboa and has been touring other theaters in Northern California.

Strephon Taylor Strephon Taylor in the lobby.

Pedestrian Killed by Cable Car - 19-March-2017

An elderly pedestrian was struck by an inbound Powell-Mason car at Mason and Filbert. He died in the hospital.

Angels Flight is Saved! - 01-March-2017

Angels Flight announcement Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announces the rebirth of Angels Flight. (source: Angels Flight Railway Revival Press Conference, from Esotouric).

Today Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that Angels Flight, which has been shut down since 05-September-2013 will resume service by Labor Day. A petition organized by the Angels Flights Friends & Neighbors Society (FANS) Preservation Campaign deserves much of the credit. Thank you to everyone who signed. Petitions can work.

ACS Infrastructure Development and a team of other transportation and engineering firms have made a deal with the nonprofit Angels Flight Railway Foundation, which owns the railway, to refurbish it, improve the mechanism, and operate it for thirty years.

"San Francisco Cable Cars" Documentary Film - 01-March-2017

San Francisco Cable Cars

Strephon Taylor's new documentary "San Francisco Cable Cars" will premiere at the Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco on Friday, 17-March-2017.

The schedule:
Friday-Saturday March 17-18: 5pm, 7:30pm and 9:45pm
Sunday-Wednesday March 19, 20, 21, 22: 5pm, 7:30pm
Thursday March 23: 5pm

I'm looking forward to it. Among the people interviewed are gripman Val Lupz and historian Emiliano Echeverria.

The documentary website.

Bay to Bay Service - 10-February-2017

tpa2sf

Tampa International Airport announced a new Bay to Bay Nonstop Tampa to San Francisco service coming from United Airlines. The image features a San Francisco cable car and an open streetcar operated by the TECO Line Streetcar System in Tampa.

Isle of Man Horse Tramway 2017 Schedule Released - 03-February-2017

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2017 Timetable The cover of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2017 Timetable. (source: Isle of Man Railways)

Download the 2017 Isle of Man Horse Tramway Timetable.

We all owe a big thanks to the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, which has worked hard to keep the line intact. We all have to remain vigilant.

Cliff Lift in Folkestone Shut Down - 27-January-2017

Folkestone's Leas Cliff Lift shut down after operating since 1885. It was older than San Francisco's Powell Street cable car lines.

50th Annual Cable Car Classic - 15-November-2016

Cable Car Classic

Tennessee State University defeated Santa Clara University 69-61 to win the 50th Annual Cable Car Classic basketball tournament hosted by Santa Clara University.

1967 Cable Car Classic A program from the inaugural Cable Car Classic in 1967. The Santa Clara Broncos have hosted the holiday basketball tournament since 1967. Santa Clara won the tournament. Butch Kaufman of Western Kentucky was the MVP.

Dunedin Cable Tram Revival - 04-November-2016

The Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust has proposed a project with four steps to revive cable traction in Dunedin, New Zealand, the first and last city outside of San Francisco to have Hallidie-type cable car lines.

Step one would be to build a temporary museum in Mornington Park. The museum would house three Dunedin cable trams, one from the Mornington Tramway and two from the Roslyn Tramway. One of the Roslyn trams will be restored onsite. There will be a track that extends outside so people can view one of the trams and climb on it.

The remaining steps would build a 1.5km line on the High Street with a terminal and powerhouse in the park. Original cable trams would be used as rolling stock.

An article from the 31-October-2016 Otago Daily Times.

I wish great success to the Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust.

New Book - A Thousand Points of Truth - 23-September-2016

A Thousand Points of Truth

VP Hughes has published a book about Confederate partisan ranger Colonel John Singleton Mosby, A Thousand Points of Truth. The reason I mention it on this page is that Hughes contacted me earlier this year for permission to use an image of a Geary Street, Park and Ocean cable train. It seems that Colonel Mosby had settled in San Francisco and worked as an attorney for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

According to articles from newspapers all over the United States, in July or August, 1891, when Mosby would have been 57 or 58 years old, he got into a "fracas" with the crew of a Geary Street cable train. The conductor would not let him cross from the trailer to the grip car. Mosby was beating the conductor when the gripman jumped on him. According to the Associated Press, "Three lady passengers assisted Mosby by pulling the gripman’s hair." Mosby and the gripman skedaddled while the conductor looked for a cop.

A Thousand Points of Truth by VP Hughes is available on Amazon as a hard cover or electronic book. There is an associated Facebook group.

Muni Heritage Weekend and Special Trip for Car 42 - 02-September-2016

Muni's 2016 Heritage Weekend will take place on September 24 and 25. Vintage trolley coaches will recreate Muni's original trolleybus line, the R-Howard. There will be lots of electric streetcars, including the two Blackpool boat trams and Car 578, built in 1896.

Frank Zepeda photo
California Street Cable Railroad O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42 passes the famous Swensen's Ice Cream at Hyde and Union Streets during a test run. Thank you to Frank Zepeda for letting me use his photo. (Frank Zepeda photo. All rights reserved.)

Unique original-condition California Street Cable Railroad O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42 will operate. On Saturday, it will make a special VIP-only trip out Hyde Street to Beach. It may be a nice opportunity to get some unique photos.

Updated - 01-October-2016

I didn't get to go, but read a little bit about it and find a link to some photos: Muni's 2016 Heritage Weekend

POMA 2000 Closed - 27-August-2016

POMA 2000, a cable-driven automated people mover which has operated in Laon, France since 1989, stopped running on 27-August-2016. The local government had decided that the line cost too much money to maintain. The line had three stations and the cars operated at 28 miles per hour.

Car 42 Visits Hyde and Beach - 17-August-2016

Unique original-condition California Street Cable Railroad O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car 42 made its first trip to Hyde and Beach since the late 1950s. This was a test run to see if the car would make it. Gripman Val Lupiz said the car performed beautifully.

Isle of Man Horse Tramway Gets Two-Year Extension - 20-July-2016

The Isle of Man's parliament, the Tynewald, decided that the Isle of Man Horse Tramway can continue to operate through the 2018 season, and stated that the terminal should stay at the Sea Terminal.

Los Angeles Magazine: If Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone Can Make Out on Angels Flight, We Should Be Able to, Too - 15-July-2016

La La Land Trailer Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone on Angels Flight. (source: La La Land Official Teaser Trailer #1 (2016))

An article in Los Angeles Magazine, If Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone Can Make Out on Angels Flight, We Should Be Able to, Too says that the trailer for their new movie, La La Land includes a shot the two stars necking on Angels Flight, the currently shut-down Los Angeles funicular. Film shoots like this raise some money to maintain the railroad.

Return of Powell Street Car 12 - 15-June-2016

Powell Street Car 12 returned to service after a two-year reconstruction. The car is now painted in the World War II-era colors of the Market Street Railway, green sides with white ends. Car 9 has an earlier version of the White Front colors, with red window sashes.

Happy Birthday, Willie Mays - 06-May-2016

Willie Mays Willie Mays and Giants President Larry Baer on car 24. (source: San Francisco Giants video)

The greatest Giant of all, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, received a nice surprise for his 85th birthday. Powell Street car 24 was fitted with a plaque honoring him. He took a ride on the car. San Francisco Police Department motorcycles provided an escort.

Auto on Powell Turntable - 04-May-2016

The California Highway Patrol chased a carload of people who had been egging cars. The chase ended with the auto on the Powell and Market turntable.

Cliff Lift in Bournemouth Damaged by Landslide - 24-April-2016

The East Cliff Lift in Bournemouth was damaged by a serious landslide.

Isle of Man Horse Tramway Schedule Released - 18-April-2016

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2016 Timetable The cover of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2016 Timetable. (source: Isle of Man Railways)

The Isle of Man Horse Tramway is coming back for its 140th season. Download the complete timetable.

We all owe a big thanks to the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, which worked hard to get the line opened for this season. We all have to remain vigilant.

"Remembering The Castro Street Cable Car" - 05-April-2016

Hoodline/Castro

San Francisco neighborhood news site Hoodline ran an article by Shane Downing: "Remembering The Castro Street Cable Car". Shane Downing interviewed me for the article. He wrote a good story and found some excellent photos.

A Reprieve for the Isle of Man Horse Trams - 24-March-2016

A report from the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway states that the horse tramway will operate for its 140th season in 2016. There is no guarantee as to what will happen after that.

Amber Jones, The Third Gripwoman - 23-March-2016

A press release from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced that Amber Jones is the third person to serve as a cable car gripwoman. I wish her a safe and happy career.

"SFMTA Announces Third Woman Ever to Serve as Cable Car Grip
"Amber Jones joins the Cable Car ranks

"San Francisco -- Last week, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all ground transportation in San Francisco, certified a new operator for its legendary cable car fleet making Amber Jones the third woman ever to join the ranks as a Cable Car grip.

"'Women are making history during Women’s History Month, and I’m proud of Amber Jones who began Cable Car service last week as the third woman ever to be promoted to Cable Car grip,' said Mayor Ed Lee. 'Amber is a role model for women in public service and will be an inspiration for other women looking to become Cable Car operators.'

"'It is fitting that we are able to certify the third woman ever as a Cable Car grip during Women’s History Month,' said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. 'Our Cable Car operators are ambassadors for this city and carry on a legacy that has served this city well. Ms. Jones’ certification is a tremendous accomplishment for herself, this agency and for upcoming women operators who hope to one day follow in her footsteps.'

"With her certification as a grip person last week, Jones became only the third woman in the rail line’s 143-year history to helm the iconic symbol of San Francisco transportation. This marks the first time two women will be a grip on the lines at the same time, as Jones will join Cable Car’s second woman grip, Willa Johnson in service. Fannie Barnes, the first woman to serve as a Cable Car grip, retired in 2002.

"Jones has been an operator since 2008. She said: 'It's such a fun and exciting opportunity to work in a position where I get to show off such an amazing city I call home. I’m very proud and honored to be the third woman in history to drive a Cable Car in my hometown. San Francisco is such a diverse city with ample space and opportunity for goals to be reached and records to be broken for any race, gender or age and I'm happy to be a part of its history.'

"Conductors are usually based at the rear of the cable car. Grip persons are located in the front of the car and are responsible for operating the various hand and foot controls that propel and stop the 15,500 pound vehicles.

"Demanding and unforgiving, gripping a cable car requires extraordinary skills: arm, hand and upper body strength, mental and physical coordination, confidence and determination.

"Plan to join the Cable Car operators at the Bell Ringing Contest this year, scheduled for July 7, 2016."

San Francisco History Expo #6 - 06-March-2016

2016 History Expo

We went to the sixth annual San Francisco History Expo at the Old Mint. There was a very good crowd and more groups exhibiting than last year.

MSR banner Market Street Railway banner.

Market Street Railway had a nice exhibit. It was so crowded, I didn't get to talk to anyone. Across the aisle was the SFMTA Photo Archive exhibit. I complimented the docent on their nice work.

Cable Car Museum Cable Car Museum display.

The Friends of the Cable Car Museum had an extensive exhibit. I got to talk Mike Phipps, Jose Godoy and Mike Holmgren. Here is a model of a model Geary Street Park and Ocean Railway grip and trailer train.

The Bernal Heights History group had a skeletal, actual-size model of an earthquake shack. The rooms with the neighborhood groups were the most crowded.

The Pacifica Historical Society was there, too.

"How Cable Cars Became An Exclusively San Francisco Treat" - 26-February-2016

Hoodlines

San Francisco neighborhood news site Hoodline ran an article by Geri Koeppel: "How Cable Cars Became An Exclusively San Francisco Treat". Geri Koeppel interviewed me for the article. I respect the way she worked to get the facts right.

Threat to Isle of Man Horse Trams - 26-January-2016

Horse-drawn trams have operated in Douglas, Isle of Man since 1876. On 22-January-2016, the Douglas Borough Council decided that since the line was losing money, it would be immediately terminated and would not begin service in its 140th year. This short-sighted decision drew a storm of controversy from the Manx and from around the world. Many people who would have visited Man to ride the trams will not go there.

On 26-January-2016, the lower house of the Manx Parliament, the House of Keys, appointed a committee to look for alternatives that could preserve the horse-drawn trams.

I signed two online petitions.

This shows that we in San Francisco should never take our E/F lines and cable trams for granted. We have to remain eternally vigilant.

Rey Morante, RIP - 12-January-2016

Cable car conductor Rey Morante was hit by a motorcycle on 11-June-2015 near the Bay and Taylor terminal of the Powell-Mason line. Morante was in a coma until he died this day. Prayers for his friends and family.

Auto on Powell Turntable - 03-December-2015

Today San Francisco had rain for the first time in a while. People always say that San Francisco motorists forget how to drive when it rains. This morning an auto drove onto the closed part of Powell at Ellis, around a stopped cable car, and made it all the way to the turntable. The auto was followed by an SUV which didn't get as far.

So much for the new traffic restrictions.

If I had gotten all the way to the turntable, I would have used it to turn around.

Traffic Restrictions on Lower Powell Street - 13-November-2015

15 red lane Car 115 outbound on Powell between O'Farrell and Geary. Note that the northbound lane is painted red and the southbound is not. Also note the no left turn and no right turn signs at O'Farrell. November, 2015.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) launched the 18-month Powell Street Safety and Sidewalk Improvement Pilot. This pilot is changing automobile access on lower Powell Street to improve pedestrian safety and reduce wear and tear on the cables, caused by excessive stops and starts in heavy traffic.

Powell between Market and Ellis has been a pedestrian mall for many years. Now Powell between Ellis and O'Farrell has both lanes painted red, meaning that they are for transit only (Muni vehicles, taxis, vehicles with commercial plates). On Powell between O'Farrell and Geary, the northbound lane is painted red. Autos can use the southbound lane for picking up and dropping off passengers.

According to the MTA press release, "...extreme traffic congestion starting at Ellis Street may be the root of a potentially dangerous mechanical problem for the iconic streetcars. Since the year 2000, the SFMTA has documented a nearly 50 percent increase in cable stranding or breaks in the cable. This accelerated wear on the cable has serious safety implications. So the pilot program will study if the dedicated red transit lanes, for the cable cars, will lessen the cable stranding issues."

I hope the city will put some effort into enforcing the new rules.

10 red lanes Car 10 outbound on Powell between Ellis and O'Farrell. Note that both lanes are painted red. November, 2015.

New Cable Car Safety Measures - 11-Aug-2015

Do not pass sign "Do Not Pass Cable Car" sign on car 26 at Powell and Ellis. August, 2015. September, 2015 Picture of the Month.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) issued a press release calling for new efforts to keep cable car personnel safe. This year two conductors have been seriously injured by careless drivers who passed their stopped cable cars while they were trying to help passengers get on and off safely.

Do not pass and stop signs "Do Not Pass Cable Car" sign and hand held stop sign on car 5 at Powell and Ellis. August, 2015.

These measures include increased police enforcement, do not pass signs on Powell Street cable cars, hand-held stop signs for conductors, a public safety campaign and "Developing a cable car collision reduction program to identify ways to reduce collisions involving cable cars."

According to California Vehicle Code Section 21756: "The driver of a vehicle overtaking any interurban electric or streetcar stopped or about to stop for the purpose of receiving or discharging any passenger shall stop the vehicle to the rear of the nearest running board or door of such car and thereupon remain standing until all passengers have boarded the car or upon alighting have reached a place of safety..." Drivers often ignore this rule.

The SFMTA with the support of the Market Street Railway wants to ban private vehicles from Powell Street between Ellis and Geary. Powell between Market and Ellis has been closed to autos since 1973. The two organizations would like to begin and 18-month pilot in November, 2015, but he Union Square Business Improvement District is opposed to the closure and especially does not want it to start in November, right before the holiday shopping season.

Here is the press release.

California Street Outage - 16-Jul-2015

The California Street line was down on 15 and 16-July-2015 because of mechanical problems.

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 09-Jul-2015

Byron Cobb won the 52nd annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco. He also won in 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2005.

Cable Car Fare Rises - 01-Jul-2015

The single ride fare on cable cars rose from six dollars to seven. I always recommend buying a pass.

Santiago Montoya - 06-April-2015

On 06-April-2015, conductor Santiago Montoya was hit and gravely injured by an SUV on Powell between Washington and Jackson Streets. He is suffering from a broken leg, ruptured internal organs, broken ribs and a punctured lung. He is alive, but in ICU at SF General Hospital.

Transit Workers Union Local 250A has started a Gofundme page for his family:
http://www.gofundme.com/SantiagoMontoya

I made a contribution.

San Francisco History Expo #5 - 01-March-2015

Waiting to get in People lined up, waiting to get in when the expo opened at 11am.

We attended the fifth annual San Francisco History Expo at the Old Mint. There was a good crowd. I didn't see the Wells Fargo exhibit.

Mike Sheridan At the Market Street Railway exhibit, I had a nice chat with rail historian Mike Sheridan, proprietor of johnsonfarebox.com

The Market Street Railway had a nice exhibit with lots of transit tokens.

Cable Car Museum The Friends of the Cable Car Museum exhibit.

The Friends of the Cable Car Museum had an extensive exhibit. I had a nice chat with Mike Phipps, who was going to speak about the Fillmore Hill Counterbalance. Jose Godoy gave us his custom-made buttons.

Car 16 model A beautiful model of Powell Street car 16 at the Friends exhibit.

Geary train A model of a Geary Street Park and Ocean Railway grip and trailer train at the Friends exhibit.

Sacramento-Clay A model of a post-1906 Sacramento-Clay car at the Friends exhibit.

Many of the exhibits had an emphasis on the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.

I'm grateful to my wife for coming along and patiently putting up with my hobbies.

President Obama Visits San Francisco - 13-February-2015

President Barack Obama visited San Francisco on Febraury 12 and 13. He stayed at the Fairmont Hotel, a traditional spot for Democratic Presidents, so the California Street cable car line was shut down. The replacement buses and the 1 California were rerouted on Sutter Street. I saw him fly by Friday morning on his way to deliver an address on cyber security at Stanford. In the afternoon, he attended a fund raiser on Russian Hill, which shut down the Hyde Street cable car.

Big Rainstorm - 11-December-2014

The heaviest rainstorm in many years hit the Bay Area on the night of December 10 and all day on the 11th. Most schools in the Bay Area were closed on Thursday. The authorities encouraged people to work from home if they could. The San Francisco MTA decided that the cable cars should stay in the barn. BART's new cable-driven automated people mover, BART to OAK, was down for most of the day because of floating junk on the tracks.

BART to OAK Preview/Opening - 21-November-2014

sticker BART to OAK sticker on a fare gate at Colma BART Station. November, 2014.

BART to OAK, the 3.2 mile automated people mover (APM) which shuttles passengers from the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART Station to the Oakland Airport had a public preview on 21-November-2014 and opened for service the next day. The APM uses Doppelmayr's CABLE Liner Shuttle system. 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. The Doolittle Maintenance Facility by the edge of the airport houses the powerhouse, which drives one cable to the Coliseum BART station and one to the airport station. The $6 one-way fare, coincidentally the same fare paid on San Francisco cable cars, is controversial.

invitation An invitation to the preview of the BART to OAK cable-driven automated people mover.

Cal Cable Shutdown - 21-November-2014

California Street cable cars were shut down because a window washer fell 11 stories from the Kohl Building and landed on the roof of a moving automobile at California and Montgomery. The auto broke his fall, and the window washer survived. The driver was not hurt. The cable cars were blocked for a while by emergency vehicles.

The Return of Powell Street Car One - 16-November-2014

San Francisco Municipal Railway Powell Street cable car Number One returned to service in November. It had been built new, except for the roof, to commemorate the centennial of the cable car in 1973. Its buiilders tried to reproduce the earliest appearance of the Powell Street cars. Many of the features had been lost over the last 40 years. Now they have been restored. I have heard that it runs noisily, which is common until wooden trams loosen up in service, and that the distinctive signs on the front dash are locked, so the shop crew has to change them if the car is assigned to a different line.

Hyde Street Shutdown - 30-September-2014

The Powell-Hyde line was shut down "until further notice" because of issues with the cable.

Cal Cable Shutdown - 26-September-2014

California Street cable cars were shut down because of a fatal shootout at the corner of California and Battery. A high speed chase from Richmond via the San Rafael and Golden Gate bridges ended at that intersection when the suspect's car overturned. He began shooting at people and the police eventually shot him.

George Hilton, RIP - 04-August-2014

Cable Car in America The Cable Car in America was a major inspiration for this website.

George W Hilton, economist and tranist historian, who wrote the most important book on the subject of cable cars, The Cable Car in America, has passed away.

Muni Sickout - 02-June-2014

Transit workers unhappy with a net pay cut offerred by management had a sickout on June 2 through 4. The cable cars were shut down Monday through Wednesday.

Wells Fargo Museum is Open - 16-May-2014

Abbott Downing stagecoach An Abbott Downing stagecoach at the Wells Fargo History Museum.

The Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco closed last August for renovation. It reopened on 28-March-2014. I was able to visit in May and enjoyed it immensely. The beautiful Abbott Downing stagecoach still sits in the front window, but much has changed. The skeleton stagecoach that people can sit in has moved downstairs. There are more interactive exhibits. I liked the telegraph key connected to a key in the Portland, Oregon museum. Nobody responded when I tried it.

cable car model A model of a Clay Street Hill Railroad cable car.

I liked the display case with a model of a Clay Street Hill Railroad cable car and mementos of Andrew S Hallidie.

cable car model and Hallidie mementos A model of a Clay Street Hill Railroad cable car and mementos of Andrew S Hallidie.

Cable Car at Auction - 08-April-2014

cable car in barn California Street Cable Railroad car 11 in a barn in New Jersey (Source: Bonhams. All Rights Reserved).

I recently received an email from Eric Minoff of Bonhams, the auction house. He was researching an item from The Auction of the Estate of Dr Ralph W.E. Cox Jr, which will be held on 10-May-2014. Among the Ford Models AC, S and T Torpedo, the Silsby Steam Pumper, the Fifth Avenue Coach Company 1925 Yellow Coach Open-Top Double-Decker Bus, the 1925 American La France City Service Ladder Fire Truck and an "1890 Brill Street Car" was former California Street Cable Railroad car 11.

My wife says I don't have any place to put it, so I can't bid on it.

Updated - 31-May-2014

The car sold for $87,500. I hope it has found a good home.

Joe's Cable Car Last Day - 16-March-2014

Joe's Cable Car closed after 49 years of serving excellent hamburgers.

San Francisco History Expo #4 - 01-March-2014

Waiting to get in People lined up, waiting to get in when the expo opened at 11am.

We attended the fourth annual San Francisco History Expo at the Old Mint. There was a good crowd. There were some new exhibitors this year, including the Odd Fellows.

Slavin and Lindner Paul Slavin and Scott Lindner, who is leading the restoration of Ocean Shore Railroad car 1409.

The Friends of the Cable Car Museum were kind enough to share some of their space with the group restoring Ocean Shore Railroad car 1409.

button Jose Godoy of the Friends of the Cable Car Museum designed this button especially for the Expo.

The Friends of the Cable Car Museum were in a new position, as were many other groups. I had a nice chat with Mike Phipps and Dom Holmgren, who spoke on Sunday about the Ocean Shore Railroad. The Friends' web site had been down for over a week, but it has since been fixed.

MSR volunteers MSR volunteers Dominic and Julian.

The Market Street Railway/San Francisco Railway Museum had a nice table. I had a good chat with young volunteers Dominic and Julian.

Expo poster A poster advertising the 2014 Expo.

The following week, the Chronicle carried a story saying that the city was unhappy with the progress made by the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society in renovating and retrofitting the Mint and may turn it over to the California Historical Society.

Fare Gouging Proposal - 17-February-2014

Cable car riders are forced to pay six dollars, three times the regular Muni fare. Now the Municipal Transportation Agency has proposed raising the fare on Muni's historic electric streetcar line, the F-Market & Wharves, to three dollars or six dollars. This is a bad idea. Regular San Francisco people depend on the F line and they do not all have monthly passes.

2014 Chinese New Year Parade - 15-February-2014

Trini Whittaker, 2013 Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest champion, marched with other Muni operators in the Chinese New Year Parade. He rang a bell as he marched.

Joe's Cable Car to Close - 29-January-2014

A report on KPIX Channel 5 said that Joe Obegi is going to close Joe's Cable Car in March and retire. Coming after the closing of Caesar's Italian Restaurant and Westlake Joes, this was a shock.

Cable Cars Pulled Because of NFC Championship Game - 19-January-2014

Muni announced on 17-January-2014 that the cable cars and the F-line electric streetcars would be pulled off the streets at Noon on Sunday, 19-February-2014 because of the National Footbal Conference championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. Worried that people celebrating a victory might damage the cars, Muni took the precaution of pulling them in and de-energizing the electric overhead on Market Street. The 49ers lost the game 23-17. I don't watch football much, but that was an exciting game.

President Barack Obama Visits - 25-November-2013

President Barack Obama visited the Chinatown Recreation Center across the street from the Cable Car Barn at Washington and Mason to give a speech on immigration reform. All three cable car lines were covered by buses until about 1:30pm. I was walking to lunch and noticed a bus laying over at California and Drumm.

Come Hear the San Francisco Cable Car Chorus - 03-November-2013

Cable Car Chorus The Cable Car Chorus Poses on a cable car. Charles Haletky photo. All rights reserved.

Sunday November 3: Come hear the barbershop harmonies of the SF Cable Car Chorus performing a whole bunch of old songs you know, and all of the verses you don't! Details at www.sfcablecarchorus.org.

Powell Street Cable Cars Shut Down - 17-October-2013

The discovery of a mysterious package in Union Square caused the Powell Street cable cars to stop running. Police told all businesses lining the square to use their back doors. The package proved to be harmless.

Angels Flight Derailment - 05-September-2013

One of the cars on Angels Flight derailed. No one was injured. The operator of Angels Flight blamed the derailment on an electrical interruption that caused the emergency brake to engage. Apparently the brake lifted the car off the rails.

Cal Cable Discovery - 08-August-2013

Crews digging up the street on California near Scott discovered a stretch of Cal Cable tracks and conduit.

How to Ride Cable Cars - 30-May-2013

SFMTA 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."

SFMTA Home Page

How to Ride Cable Cars

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

Balboa Theater 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.

Don Holmgran and Mike Phipps 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

Model: Wurlington Bros Press Cable Car - 18-January-2013

wurlington model/1 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

doppelmayr/1 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.

Watermusic cover

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

Cable Car Clothiers moved 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

Cable Car Clothiers moving 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.

Cable Car Clothiers cap My cap. August 2012.

Icons of San Francisco - 11-March-2012

Icons of SF 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.

Talking to Schoolkids - 14-September-2011

3 at Mason and Jackson Car 3 on the Powell-Hyde line, crossing Mason at Jackson. September, 2011.

I talked to a group of 6 to 12 year olds from Brightworks School about cable cars after a walk around the cable car barn. It was too loud to talk inside. We took a walk up to Huntington Square so they could eat lunch and I could talk a bit and then answer questions. They enjoyed the noon bells at Grace Cathedral. They had some good questions like "What is the difference between a cable car and a bus?" and some interesting questions like "Has a cable car ever had a toilet?" (No) and "Has a cable car ever exploded?" (Yes)

Their favorite part: a crew was shoveling muck out of the sheave room and a crane on the street was pulling it up in barrels. I had a very good time.

Powell Street Promenade - 07-July-2011

Powell Street Promenade Here is the Powell Street Promenade on the east side of Powell at Geary.

The Powell Street Promenade is part of the city's program of introducing neighborhood parklets. On street corners along Powell from Ellis to Geary, there are aluminum platforms with planters and railings. They may provide good spots for photographing cable cars.

car 56 I stood on the platform on the west side of Powell near Geary with my new camera and took this photo of car 25.

The World Famous San Francisco Cable Cars - 31-July-2011

Citypass.com has produced a wonderful graphic, "The World Famous San Francisco Cable Cars": http://www.citypass.com/blog/world-famous-san-francisco-cable-cars

It is well worth a visit.

Angels Flight Returns - 07-July-2011

Angels Flight, the Los Angeles funicular that returned to service in 2010 after a fatal accident in 2001, had been ordered to shut down in June, 2011 because of excessive wear on the wheel flanges of its two cars. It returned to service on 07-July-2011, just in time for me to make a visit to Angels Flight.

Animated Photos I took during our visit to Angels Flight, as an animated gif, courtesy of gifka.com.

Cal Cable Line Returns - 27-June-2011

car 56 I took this photo at California and Kearny on 26-June-2011. Outbound car 56 climbs toward Kearny with a load of passengers.

The California Street line was closed down on 24-December-2010 for upgrading and refurbishment for the first time since the 1982-1984 reconstruction. Cars returned to service on 21-June-2011, with an official ribbon cutting at California and Drumm on 27-June-2011.

Operators Reject Contract - 10-June-2011

Muni operators rejected a new labor contract which had been agreed to by union leadership. An artbitrator ordered them to accept the terms.

Angels Flight Ordered Shut Down - 09-June-2011

The California Public Utilities Commission ordered that Angels Flight, the Los Angeles funicular that returned to service in 2010 after a fatal accident in 2001, to shut down immediately because of excessive wear on the wheel flanges of its two cars. The foundation which operates the line says it was planning to replace the wheels. The replacement may take several weeks, or may take much longer.

Cable Car Fares to be $6 - 08-June-2011

A report in the Chronicle says that cable car fares will rise from $5 to $6 starting July 1. I have mixed feelings on the subject.

Powell Street Outage - 01-June-2011

Powell Shutdown sign I took this photo at Powell and Market on 02-June-2011.

As part of the ongoing system refurbishment, Powell Street cars were down again from 31-May to 04-June. Because of Central Subway work on Stockton street, the replacement buses stopped on the diagonally opposite corner at Powell and Ellis streets, Southwest instead of Northeast.

Whole System Shut Down - 25-April-2011

Hyde Shutdown sign I took this photo at Powell and Market on 30-April-2011.

The Hyde Street line is shut down for five days. Buses are carrying riders from Powell and Jackson to Hyde and Beach.

Hyde Street Shut Down - 25-April-2011

Hyde Shutdown sign I took this photo at Powell and Market on 30-April-2011.

The Hyde Street line is shut down for five days. Buses are carrying riders from Powell and Jackson to Hyde and Beach.

Powell Street Shut Down - 28-March-2011

Powell Shutdown sign I took this photo at Powell and Market on 31-March-2011.

The Powell-Mason line is shut down from March 28 to April 1. Buses are carrying riders from Ellis and Powell to the Cable Car Barn, where they can board Powell-Hyde cars. I walked by Powell and Market on 29-March-2011 and saw some confused tourists. On 31-March-2011, there were several people wearings hats that said "MTA Ambassador."

Powell Street Outages Planned - 08-March-2011

A report in the Chronicle says that "The Powell-Mason line will be shut down from March 28 to April 1, the Powell-Hyde line will be shut down April 25-29, and both lines will shut down June 1-5."

Angels Flight Birthday Celebration - 31-December-2010

Angels Flight in Los Angeles celebrated its 109th birthday by charging a one cent fare.

Cal Cable Line Closed for Upgrade and Refurbishment - 24-December-2010

CSC Shutdown signs I took this photo at California and Drumm on 30-December-2010. The sign on the left was prepared for the planned shutdown. The sign on the right was apparently improvised when the line shut down early.

The California Street line was scheduled to be down from 03-January-2011 to 19-June-2011 for upgrading and refurbishment for the first time since the 1982-1984 reconstruction. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the cable on 24-December-2010. Muni judged that it wasn't worth fixing the cable for a short time, so service ended early.

Muni has not announced a date for work on Powell Street.

Powell Street Promenade - 17-December-2010

Outgoing Mayor Gavin Newsome's office announced that Powell Street between Ellis and Geary will be converted into a pedestrian promenade as part of San Francisco's Pavement to Parks project. "The new Powell Street Promenade will provide more space for pedestrians to sit and relax and enjoy one of San Francisco's most vibrant corridors." For some reason I think this will be popular with panhandlers.

Conductor Stabbed on Mason Street - 14-November-2010

News reports say that a cable car conductor from a car that was out of service was stabbed in an apparent random act of violence. There were no passengers aboard the car. The conductor was sent to the hospital in critical condition. The police followed a trail of blood to a nearby apartment, where they arrested a suspect.

60 Minutes Reports on "A Trip Down Market Street" - 17-October-2010

60 Minutes, the CBS news magazine, ran a report about the movie A Trip Down Market Street. The piece started with a trip down Market street in 1895 electric streetcar 578. Rick Laubscher of the Market Street Railway talked about rails on Market Street. The story discusses Dave Kiehn's work which proved that the movie was shot in 1906, rather than 1905 as had been commonly believed, and may have been shot in April, close to the 18th.

48th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 28-September-2009

After being rescheduled multiple times, the 48th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest took place, but the gripmen and conductors chose to boycott the contest because of union/management issues. I would not second guess the men and women of the Cable Car Division, but I think it might have been better publicity to go and use the assembled cameras and microphones to make a statement about the current state of labor relations.

Cable Car Goes to State Fair - 01-August-2010

San Francisco sent motorized cable car 62 to Sacramento to be part of its exhibit at the State Fair's Hall of Counties. It was reported to be very popular. Powell Street car 514 went in 1948.

Smart Cards on Cable Cars - 25-July-2010

Clipper, formerly known as FastTrack, is a smart card that allows users to store passes or money for various regional transit agencies. When the San Francisco Municipal Railway introduced Clipper, training or warning appears to have been minimal. The problem was particularly critical on the cable cars, where conductors have to use a hand-held scanner to read the cards. Many riders have reported problems.

Call to Revive the Mount Beacon Incline Railway - 28-May-2010

Mount Beacon Incline A postcard shows the two cars of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway, which ran from 1902 to 1978.

An article in Hudson Valley Business says that a group of citizens in Beacon, New York wants to revive the Mount Beacon Incline Railway, which ran from 1902 to 1978. A 1983 fire destroyed the original line. They believe a new funicular will be good for business.

Second Gripwoman - 14-April-2010

Congratulations to Willa Johnson, who became only the second woman to make it through the training program and become a gripwoman. The first gripwoman, Fannie Mae Barnes, retired a few years ago.

New Upgrade and Refurbishment Plan - 25-March-2010

Muni announced plans to upgrade and refurbish the cable car lines for the first time since the 1982-1984 reconstruction. The California Street line will be down from January to June 2011. Muni has not announced a date for work on Powell Street.

Angels Flight Returns - 15-March-2010

Angels Flight in Los Angeles returned to service on 15-May-2010 It had been closed since a fatal accident on 01-Feb-2001. The line has been redesigned to add safety features that were omitted when the line was restored in 1996.

Book: Early Pullman Car Freight and Passenger Car Production by Eric Neubauer - 28-February-2010

Did you know that some cable car lines ran Pullmans? Not sleepers, just rail cars built by Pullman.

I just read Eric Neubauer's new E-Book, Early Pullman Car Freight and Passenger Car Production. It is an impressive work, more than 370 pages listing Pullman passenger and freight car orders from the 1860s until the end of 1911. He gives as much detail as he could find for each order, including the lot number, the company that placed the order, the numbers of the cars, the order quantity, the capacity (in pounds) of the cars, the type, the weight, the capactity (in cubic feet), the inside length, the plant, the date built, the floor plan (Pullman had standard numbered plans), and the unit cost.

This book will be a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in any of the hundreds of railroads that ordered cars and trucks from Pullman. I also enjoyed the names of some of the companies (Multnomah Street Railway, Kankakee Electric Railway, Akron & Cuyahoga Falls Rapid Transit) and the cars (Lochnivar, Circassia, Ocmulgee, Eunomia, Coconino).

Order the book using Eric's website (follow the Eric's Books link): Eric's Railroad Car History

Penang Last Run - 21-February-2010

Thank you to Ric Francis for reporting that the Penang Hills Railway, a funicular in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, made its last run in its current form on this day. The current system is in two sections and passengers transfer in the middle. The upgraded system will run directly from the top to the bottom. The work is scheduled to be complete by 28-September-2010, but people regard that date with skepticism.

Book: Carville-by-the Sea by Woody LaBounty - 29-December-2009

I received Woody LaBounty's new book, Carville-by-the-Sea, San Francisco's Streetcar Suburb as a Christmas gift. I enjoyed learning more about San Francisco's Carville neighborhood. He gives a well-documented history of the growth of Carville from a single shack to a neighborhood with water, electric power, a school, and a firehouse.

He frames the story with his dream of buying a house in San Francisco.

I also appreciated the way the author included Gelett Burgess and his writings about Carville.

Order the book using the supporting website: http://www.carville-book.com/

Carville-by-the-Sea cover

Saint Paul Cable Car Remnant - 16-December-2009

Workers relocating utilities on Fourth Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota to make way for the proposed Central Corridor light-rail line found a yoke from the Selby Avenue cable car line, a portion of which had been converted to an electric line in 1898. Part of the line became a counterbalance. John Diers, a local rail historian had warned them that they might find artifacts. I'm happy they listened to him. The yoke may be preserved and included in a historic display at Union Depot.

Sudden Stop Injures Passengers - 21-November-2009

A cable problem caused a sudden stop by a Powell Street car. 4 people were injured.

Another Big Rainfall Stops Cable Cars - 19-October-2009

A short but heavy rainfall this afternoon, flooded the Van Ness Muni Metro station. Flooding at Bay and Taylor stopped the Powell/Mason line.

Big Rainfall Stops Cable Cars - 13-October-2009

2.48 inches of rain fell in downtown San Francisco this afternoon, flooding intersections and freeway entrances. High winds knocked down a tree on Hyde Street, which blocked the Powell/Hyde line.

City to Buy Cable Car Museum Collection - 07-October-2009

The Examiner reports that the City and the Cable Car Museum have reached a deal for the city to purchase the historic cable cars and other artifacts in the museum's collection. There was a dispute over the value of the priceless items.

City Van Hits Cable Car - 29-September-2009

There are two new videos about cable cars:

City Van Hits Cable Car - 07-September-2009

An inbound Powell Street cable car collided with a city van at Washington and Mason Streets. Four people were injured.

Introducing Cubbie the Cable Car - 22-June-2009

EM Nelson has produced an animated video for preschoolers about a new character, Cubbie the Cable Car. You can view it here:
"Monkey With a Fare"

The show is set in 1890 San Francisco, and the views of Victorian houses and cable cars are very well done. The characters are cute.

New Car 15 Debuts - 22-June-2009

New Powell Street car 15 went into service after a ceremony at the Washington/Mason car barn. Byron Cobb pulled grip and Duane Allen was conductor.

New Car 15 Tested - 10-June-2009

New Powell Street car 15 made its first test run.

47th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 09-June-2009

Leonard Oats won his third consecutive title at the 47th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. I thought it was held in June instead of July because of the 25th anniversary of the return of the cable cars in 1984, however they never mentioned it at the contest.

2009 contest sign A sign on the side of car 9 advertises the 2009 Bell Ringing Contest. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Another Transformer Explosion - 05-June-2009

An underground transformer near Polk and O'Farrell exploded, scaring crews and passengers at the outer end of the California Street line. A transformer exploded on 24-June-2008 near California and Drumm, shutting down service for a while.

Cab Hits Cable Cars - 03-June-2009

A runaway cab hit two cable cars which were laying over on Powell near Ellis. Damage to the cable cars, 10 and 24, was not major.

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest Controversy - 08-May-2009

A confusing report in Phil Bronstein's blog says that there may be a boycott of the 47th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest because of dispute between labor and management.

Cable Car Museum Collection Dispute - 25-April-2009

Rachel Gordon reported in today's San Francisco Chronicle that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is arguing with the Friends of the Cable Car Museum over the ownership of the Cable Car Museum's collection. The collection includes unique items such as the Clay Street Hill Railroad's grip car 8, the only surviving car from that pioneering line, and the Sutter Street Railway's grip car 46 and trailer 54, which ran on the Pacific Avenue fragment after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire and then operated in a pageant at the 1939 fair on Treasure Island. The Friends and the city are far apart in their ideas of the value of the collection.

Powell Street Cable Problems - March, 2009

The Powell Street cable had several problems during March. The vendor sent representatives to see why an almost-new cable kept having loose strands and other problems.

SUV runs into Cable Car - 26-January-2009

On a drizzly afternoon, an inbound California Street car slid down from Mason to Powell and clipped an inbound Powell Street car, which was waiting to pick up the rope after crossing the California Street tracks. No one was hurt.

27th Annual Senior Luncheon - 18-December-2008

The people of the Cable Car Division hosted a group of more than 175 senior citizens for the 27th annual holiday luncheon.

announcement
Val Lupiz created this invitation for the luncheon. All rights reserved.

SUV runs into Cable Car - 17-December-2008

Two people were hospitalized after an SUV ran into a cable car near the end of the Hyde Street line.

Powell Cable Stopped - 16-October-2008

The Powell Street cable was stopped for most of the day by an early-morning loose strand.

Trainz Cable Car Simulation - 30-September-2008

Norm Phythian, working from Australia, has created a Trainz simulation, referred to as a map, representing San Francisco's cable car lines. Sel Churchward has created representations the tracks and of cable cars to run on the lines. They both do nice work.

You can learn more on the Trainz discussion forum:
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/index.php
(search for "cable car")

You can see screen captures from the cable car lines and many other interesting-looking simulations on Norm's website:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/norm_phythian

Norm Hyde Street
A screen capture looking down Hyde Street from Norm Pythian's map. Car 23 by Sel Churchward. All rights reserved.

Sel Churchward 57
Sel Churchward produced this version of Cal Cable 57. All rights reserved.

Updated 31-October-2008: Added more about the simulation on the Cable Car Models page.

Pedestrian Dies - 25-August-2008

The Chronicle reported that an elderly lady who was hit by a cable car at Mason and Broadway early in the morning on 24-August-2008 had died in San Francisco General Hospital.

California Street Collison - 29-August-2008

The Chronicle reports that an inbound California Street cable car rear-ended another cable car car at California and Drumm this morning.

Runaway and Derailment - 13-July-2008

Powell Street car 12 ran away at Washington and Mason and derailed while making the turn at Powell Street. Four passengers were injured. The inbound Powell/Mason car failed to coast through the turn from Mason to Washington. This curve was poorly redesigned when the system was rebuilt in 1982-1984. The crew got off of the car to push. When it started rolling down the hill on Washington, the gripman jumped on the back platform and passed through the cabin. He found that the front cabin door was jammed and he could not get through. The car hit the curve into Powell too fast and derailed. Muni stated that the crew may have broken the rules by not keeping one person the car while it was out in the street.

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 through the air 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.
2008 contest

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
Book cover

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

Cal rope unstranded 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.

Pedestrian Injured - 15-June-2007

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that an elderly lady, reported to crossing against the light at Mason and Pacific, was struck by a cable car and her left foot was pinned under a wheel.

Melbourne -- Cable Tram Tracks - 19-May-2007

Melbourne right of way Mal Rowe took this photograph of cable tram tracks discovered under Abbotsford Street in North Melbourne. The white stripes, cleaned up by Mal to make them more visible, are marble markers that signalled the gripman to drop the rope. May, 2007. Photo by Mal Rowe. All rights reserved.

Mal Rowe reported in the TramsDownUnder Yahoo Group that road work in Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne had uncovered cable tram tracks of the West Melbourne line. Mal reported that "The track, the slot, and even a glimpse of the yoke and tunnel are all there to see. The paving blocks are red-gum blocks ... still in good condition 70 years after being buried and who knows how long after being laid!" Thanks to Bill Bolton for pointing out Mal's report. Thanks to Mal for the use of two of his photographs. More information and photographs in my Melbourne article.

Edinburgh -- Revenge of the Cable Trams - 19-April-2007

An article in The Scotsman report that engineers preparing for Edinburgh's new tram system have been surprised to discover that many of the streets still contain the conduits from Edinburgh's cable tram system, which was electrified in 1923. Further studies will have to determine whether the conduits are strong enough to support the new trams. The article made sure to mention that cable tram were invented by a Scot.

Fare Collection Audit - 19-April-2007

Auditors reported that 40% of cable car passengers did not pay fares or show tickets or Fast Passes during a two-month period. Conductors point out that their primary task is to ensure the safety of riders and to work the rear brakes.

Angel's Flight May Reopen This Summer - 24-January-2007

A Los Angeles Times article reports that Angel's Flight, shut down after a fatal accident in 2001, should reopen this summer. The cars and trackway have been renovated, and work should start soon on replacing the driving machinery and adding some safety devices that had not been included when the line was restored in 1996. The article stresses how the neighborhood has changed since the accident.

"High Accident Rate On S.F. Cable Cars" - 28-November-2006

KGO Channel 7 ran an "investigative" piece saying that Department of Transporation records indicate that cable cars have the highest accident rate of any type of Muni vehicle.

I posted a rebuttal on their blog:
In comparing the accident rates of cable cars and other forms of transit in San Francisco, it is important to remember that cable cars operate in some of the most congested streets in the city. Cable car crews have suggested that the accident rate would be much better if the city put more effort into enforcing traffic and parking regulations on the streets where the cable cars operate.

Announcement: San Francisco Municipal Railway/Cable Car Division 25th Annual Senior Citizen's Holiday Luncheon - 15-November-2006

2006 Luncheon

Thanks to Val Lupiz for sharing this important annoucement (If you want to make a donation, you can contact him through his Tales From the Grip page):

Dear Friends and Merchants:

For nearly two and a half decades, the San Francisco Municipal Railway's Cable Car Division, along with neighborhood merchants and restaurants has jointly sponsored a Holiday Senior Citizen's Luncheon in December. Our annual Luncheon has become an event eagerly looked forward to by many seniors. For some, this may be their only opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with a hot meal and warm companionship.

Through the cooperation and volunteer services of many of our own Cable Car Division personnel, the Luncheon has become a rousing success, bringing a much needed boost to these sometimes forgotten people, during what can often be a difficult and lonely holiday season. We hope to carry on this tradition with your generous help.

The Luncheon will take place at the Golden Gateway Holiday Inn, located at 1500 Van Ness Ave. (at California St.) on Thursday, December 14th, 2006, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Transportation for attendees will be provided by special shuttle buses provided by Muni and operated by Cable Car personnel.

We would gratefully accept any contributions, but we do particularly request donations of foods (cooked meats, vegetables, drinks, rolls and pastries, salads, etc.) Any monetary donations or items that could be used as door prizes are also very much welcomed. Your donations are entirely tax deductible (please see contact names below for more details). We respectfully request that you respond, in writing or by phone at the numbers listed below, at your earliest opportunity, but no later than December 4th, 2006.

It is because of your kindness and generosity that this special event has become such a success throughout the years. We ask that you please join us once again.

Sincerely,
Ken Foster/ Val Lupiz/ Bobby Johnson/ Duane Allen

October Troubles - 23-October-2006

Cable car lines experienced a series of shutdowns of various durations. Newspaper articles mentioned that grip shanks were getting stuck in the slots.

Collision on California Street - 22-Sep-2006

An automobile hit car 53 from behind near California and Davis. No one was injured.

Another Loose Strand - 15-Sep-2006

The California Street and Powell Street lines were all shut down because of loose strands.

Collision on California Street - 12-Sep-2006

Newspaper articles reported that the five dollar fare has reduced cable car ridership. I don't like to say I told them so...

44th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 13-Jul-2006

Ken Lunardi, 1997 and 2002 champion, won the 44th annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco. See my page on the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest for details.

Loose Strand Stops Powell Street Cable - 19-Jun-2006

A loose strand forced Muni to run buses on Powell Street. Many people were upset at being charged the five dollar cable car fare for a ride from the cable car barn to the outer terminal. There was another loose strand on 26-Jun-2006.

April 18 Events - 18-Apr-2006

My wife and I caught the 4:09 am BART train out of Daly City to Powell. People were standing by Balboa Park and our car had a crush load after Glen Park. We walked down to Third and Market. The street was closed at Fourth.

There was a large screen in the street before Grant, showing images of the earthquake survivors arriving for the ceremony. There was another screen on Third. There were more people than I had ever seen for the ceremony at Lotta's Fountain. The news reports said 5000 people. Many were sober. It started late.

There was a big SF Rising banner on the front of the De Young Building. Firemen raised a 60 foot ladder and a fireman climbed it and hung a flag for the singing of the National Anthem. The mayor spoke. They had trouble getting the wreath to hang on the fountain. The moment of silence wasn't. Then church bells rang and sirens wailed. Then the fire chief, the police chief and Frank Jordan's goddaughter, the OES head spoke. The mayor interviewed the 12 or so survivors and one lady made a pass at him. Then everyone sang "San Francisco", led by Donna Huggins dressed as Lillie Coit. After, we headed for Starbucks.

We went down to Powell Station and caught an outbound J. All Muni service was free for the day. The single J car had a standing load out to 20th for the golden fire hydrant ceremony. There were more people there than usual. They had to wait for some old fire trucks to arrive. The chief led off the spray-painting. Then her three sons and the fire department brass and the fire commissioners. Many other people got turns. I chatted with a retired Alameda fireman who had come over with their restored 1920 engine. Some people arrived in a 1906 Locomobile.

After the ceremony, we caught a PCC heading into service on the F. We had to get off at Market and transfer to a Milano car that was ahead in line. The motorperson said she could only take us to Van Ness. There were several cars on 11th street. They were getting ready to close Market at 9th for the parade. We couldn't stay for that, so we walked to Civic Center and caught BART back to Daly City.

My wife had never been to the celebration. She wasn't happy with the people who pushed and those who put large children up on their shoulders, but she enjoyed it.

My sister-in-law and her family came into town for the parade. My niece didn't understand why the horses were last till she saw what the horses did on the pavement.

New Book on Penang Transit - 31-Jan-2006

Ric Francis and Colin Ganley have published a new book, Penang Trams, Trolleybuses and Railways. It is a detailed history of public transit in this area of Malaysia. I particularly enjoyed the drawing which illustrated the liveries used at different times. This is on-topic for this site because of the Penang Hills Railway, a funicular.

If you are interested in reading this enjoyable book, I can provide contact information.

Fatal Accident on Mason Street - 24-Jan-2006

Mrs Joyce Yuet Wah Lam died this day after being struck by a Powell/Mason cable car on Sunday, 22-Jan-2006. The accident happened at Filbert and Mason. The southbound cable car was climbing the hill and reportedly hit her outside of the crosswalk.

Mayor Insults Cable Car Crews - 18-Jan-2006

Mayor Gavin Newsom that on more than one occasion he had ridden cable cars and seen conductors pocket the five dollar fare without giving receipts. Rather than follow normal procedures and get the number of the car and report the alleged thefts to Muni, the mayor raised the issue in a news conference. Some people feel that he did this to distract attention from other issues that had recently embarassed his administration. In the following days, the mayor met with cable car division employees, but refused to apologize for slandering them.

Cal New Year's Eve - 31-Dec-2005

California Street cable cars used the crossover at California and Kearney to turn back after 10pm because of the large crowds around the Drumm Street terminal. This crossover is used only rarely.

New Cable Car DVD - 31-Dec-2005
DVD Cover

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."

New CD: Take a Ride on the 12 Ingleside & Ocean and the 22 Fillmore - 28-Dec-2005
URR 562 A 1908 view of URR car 562, next to the Cairns Hotel at 36th and Fulton. The building still stands. Emiliano Echevarria collection. All rights reserved.

Val Golding has released the fourth in a series of CDs created with members of the SFRailway_Archives Yahoo group. Here is Val's description:

"Take a Ride CDs

"Each CD contains 100 or more vintage San Francisco streetcar photos, generally of the period 1930-1950. There are two "rides" on each CD. Each Ride consists of a sequential series of photos starting from the inner terminal of the line to the outer terminal and return. Included are maps, photo indices for each line, a text article highlighting specific pictures and additional information concerning the lines, "Fake-of-the-Month Club," short "bonus" rides, memorabilia and occasional CARtoons. A new CD is issued every other month.

"Issue No. 1, June 2005
Take a Ride on the 31-Balboa
Take a Ride on the 10-Sunnyside

"Issue No. 2, August 2005
Take a Ride on the 7-Haight & Ocean
Take a Ride on the 16-Third & Kearny

"Issue No. 3, October 2005
Take a Ride on the E-Union
Take a Ride on the F-Stockton

"Issue No. 4, Winter 2005
[expected to ship after December 28]
Take a Ride on the 12 Ingleside & Ocean
Take a Ride on the 22 Fillmore

"Price $8.50 postpaid for SFRA members, $12.50 general public"

To order, please contact Val J. Golding (notval@blarg.net).

Cal Cable Rope Trouble - 14-Dec-2005

The California rope unstranded near California and Drumm, catching car 50 and nearly pushing it into 57. The crew was to call in a Code 900 to stop the rope before there was a collision. A half-block section of the rope was damaged. No people were hurt and no cars were damaged.

Cal Cable Car Available - 08-Dec-2005

Jim Maurer reports:
"California Trolley & Railroad Corp. is offering California Cable Railroad Company car number 23 to anyone who wants it. The car is currently located in the trolley barn at Kelley Park. This is the cable car that was at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds in San Jose for many years. Many generations of kids grew up playing on this genuine San Francisco cable car. This car was never converted from side grip to center grip when Muni took over Cal Cable. The car is in poor condition. When it was moved from the fairgrounds the frame broke. A picture can be seen at http://www.ctrc.org/gallery/TrolleysAndBarn/cablcar1

"The car is offered as-is, where-is. You will need to transport it from the trolley barn by yourself."

If you are interested in obtaining car 23 please let me know and I will give you Jim's email address.

Book Signing - San Francisco’s Powell Street Cable Cars - 03-Dec-2005

Emiliano Echeverria and Walter Rice will be at the Franciscan Hobby Shop, 1920-A Ocean Avenue, San Francisco on Saturday 03-December-2005 from 3 to 5 pm, signing their new book, San Francisco’s Powell Street Cable Cars. Take the K-Ingleside streetcar to Ocean and Victoria. Refreshments will be provided.

Hairball on Hyde Street - 11-Nov-2005

The Hyde Street cable partially unravelled, creating a bundle of strands over 200 feet long. The "hairball" was so large that the cars on the line could not be towed in past Hyde and Green Streets because their grips could not clear it. Shop crews slowly ran the damaged rope into the powerhouse. 7 cars spent the night trapped at Hyde & Beach, watched by private security guards, and one car was stuck at Hyde and Vallejo, just before the strand. Because the Hyde street rope was stopped, California Street cable cars turning in for the night had to be towed by the shop truck. The car at Hyde and Vallejo was not near a grip trap, so its grip had to be cut up with a welding torch.
Grip cut up/1 Grip from stranded car. November, 2005. Val Lupiz Photo. All rights reserved.
Grip cut up/2 Another view of the cut up grip. November, 2005. Val Lupiz Photo. All rights reserved.
Grip cut up/3 Another view of the cut up grip. November, 2005. Val Lupiz Photo. All rights reserved.
Grip cut up/4 Another view of the cut up grip. November, 2005. Val Lupiz Photo. All rights reserved.

The Hyde Street line was down for three days. California Street had a 100 foot strand on November 14.

Cal Cable Car in New Orleans - 01-Nov-2005

Nick Kibre spent a week in New Orleans helping family members clean up after Hurricane Katrina flooded the city in August, 2005. He reports that former California Street Cable Railroad car 59, which had been on display in City Park, was stored safely in the Carrollton station (carbarn).
New Orleans Thanks to Nick Kibre for this photo of old Cal Cable car 59, stored in the Carrollton carbarn. Nick Kibre Photo. All rights reserved.

New Book: San Francisco’s Powell Street Cable Cars - 01-Nov-2005

From Walter Rice:

Emiliano Echeverria and I are pleased to announce the publication of our Arcadia book San Francisco’s Powell Street Cable Cars.

About the book:

The range of photographs we have put together covers the Powell lines from their 1888 inception until today, thus providing an excellent photographic essay of the Powell Street cable lines, and also that of San Francisco during its various eras since 1888. We believe the text provides the most complete description of the history and operations of the Powell Street cable lines published. Included are sections covering initial construction and operations before and after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, the "quiet years" from 1907 until World War II, the "Cable Car Wars" which started in 1947 and ended with opening of the Powell-Hyde line as the replacement for Powell-Washington-Jackson, the 1982-84 reconstruction and the cable cars return to Powell Street and subsequent changes (i.e. new cable cars).

About the cover:
Book Cover

Where are the crowds? This late-1940s view of Powell and Market Streets contrasts with today’s tourist throngs that have become a symbol of the location. As school girls cross the intersection, a Washington-Jackson cable car is being turned by a rookie gripman (at the front pushing without a regulation jacket), the conductor and the Market Street starter, who will assure No. 518 will leave on time. Emiliano Echeverria Collection.

Fare Gouging - 01-Sep-2005

Cable car fares rose to $5 one-way. Mark my words: This will hurt ridership.

Cable Unstranded - 31-Aug-2005

The California Street cable came severely unstranded at California and Drumm Car 58 got caught and dragged into Car 51, which was laying over. Two crewmen were slightly injured.

Sudden Stop at Powell and California - 20-Aug-2005

A cable car stopped suddenly at Powell and California, injuring several people. The Chronicle said "The sudden stop appears to have resulted from gripmen on the Powell and California street lines activating their cables at the same time, causing the cables to touch..."

Levada Gets a Bell - 13-Aug-2005

At a farewell luncheon for San Francisco Archbishop William Levada, who is leaving to become the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, Mayor Gavin Newsome presented him with a cable car bell. Catholic San Francisco quoted the mayor as saying "With all the bells you hear in Rome, I hope this bell will remind you of San Francisco."

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 17-Jul-2005

Byron Cobb won the 43rd annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco. He also won in 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001. This puts him in second place, after ten time winner Carl Payne, for the number of wins. He also finished second in 2002 and third in 2004.

The non-profit organization results:
3. Black Infant Health Improvement Project
2. Youth with a Mission
1. Chinatown Community Development Center

The professional (cable car gripman or conductor) results:
3. Howard Woo. First time finalist.
2. Frank Ware. 1999 and 2004 champ. Second place, 2000. Third place, 2001.
1. Byron Cobb. 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001 champ. Second place, 2002. Third place 2004.

Other professional finalists: Walter Scott III, Second place in 1997 and third in 2003. Leonard Oates, 2002 and 2003 finalist. Jimmy Chau, 2002 and 2004 finalist. Patrick "Doc" Ledbetter, Third place in 2000.

I got stuck at work. Thanks to Bob Callwell of Muni for the results.

Power Failure/Shutdown - 03-Jul-2005
The cars were shut down on one of the busiest days of the year by a power failure at the powerhouse. Service was down between about 10am and noon.

United Nations' World Environment Day - 03-Jun-2005
United Nations' World Environment Day, a five-day event (!), featured a meeting, in San Francisco for the first time, of mayors from around the world. The mayors were treated to an excursion on some of Muni's historic electric streetcars, and then a ride on restored California Street Cable Railroad O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car 42. After the ride, the mayors attended a buffet luncheon at the Washington/Mason cable car barn. Mayors attending included London's "Red Ken" Livingstone.
Mayors' Luncheon After riding Number 42, the mayors had lunch at the Washington-Mason car barn. Jeff Heyman Photo. All rights reserved.

Carnaval Parade - 29-May-2005
Gripman Val Lupiz and other members of the Cable Car Division, Transport Workers of America Local 250A, decorated and drove motorized cable cars 62 (former Cal Cable Jones Street shuttle car 61) and 46 (owned by Cable Car Charters) in San Francisco's annual Carnaval Parade. San Francisco has Carnaval after Lent instead of before, hoping to have warmer weather. It worked out well this year.

The Return of Cal Cable 42 - 25-May-2005
Car 42 Cal Cable 42, an O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde car, prepared for its return to the rails. May 2005. Photo by Val Lupiz. June, 2005 Picture of the Month

O’Farrell/Jones/Hyde car was built in 1906 or 1907 by WL Holman for the California Street Cable Railroad. After the O/J/H line was abandoned in 1954, Muni sold the car to operator of a cattle feedlot in central California, who mounted it on a motorized trucks and operated it on a private rail line. In 1993, the Market Street Railway began cosemetically restoring the car. In 2005, Muni shop people began restoring the car to operating condition. On 25-May-2005, during a test, 42 ran on the California Street line for the first time in its life. Initial reports are that it worked well.

California Street Line Down For Repairs - 11-Apr-2005

The California Street line shut down for six days to allow for repair work at Grant and California.

Exorbitant Fare Increase Proposed - 01-Mar-2005

Faced with a large deficit, the Municipal Railway proposed raising the basic fare from $1.25 to $1.50, and cable car fares from $3.00 to an astronomical $5.00. This cannot be right.

Wildcat Strike by Cable Car Crews - 02-Mar-2005

Cable car crews walked off the job for two hours in the afternoon, claiming that management had failed to follow agreed-upon procedures in firing two employees accused of mishandling funds.

  • Update - 22-Apr-2005
    An arbitrator ruled that the firings were justified. Muni sued the union for violating a no strike clause in its contract.

    Baltimore Cable Car Relic Destroyed - 14-Jan-2005

    The Druid Hill Avenue powerhouse and carbarn of the Baltimore Traction Company, used as a warehouse to store coolers, was destroyed in a major fire.

    Read Margaret Foster's story at Preservation Magazine's website: "Fire Destroys Baltimore Warehouse".

    Collision at Hyde and Beach - 03-Jan-2005

    The California Street line was shut down at 05:45 pm when the cable, at a bad splice, unraveled causing the various strands to "ball up." If such a strand ball got entangled in a grip, a cable car could run forward out of control.

    Collision at Hyde and Beach - 15-Oct-2004

    On Friday afternoon, car 5 could not stop while descending the hill towards Beach. It ran into cars 9 and 4, which were laying over. Some passengers on 5 and the crew on 9 were injured; 4 was empty.

    Christopher Cantrall was on car 5. He reports that "I was ok, and nobody was seriously injured, just some minor bruises and such. We were packed in tight enough to act as human airbags...ironically enough, I had mentioned the human airbags factor earlier on the ride when people complained about the conditions being cramped." He goes on to report that he didn't notice any feeling of the brakes being applied or feel the car slow down before the collision. He returned about 40 minutes later to find someone there investigating. Thanks to Chris for sharing his observations.

    MSR Open House - 03-Oct-2004

    Market Street Railway held its annual open house the Mint Yard. I enjoyed meeting Rick Laubscher in person. Walter Rice was there. The highlight for me was a ride through the Sunset Tunnel in 228, the open boat car from Blackpool. We rode 952 from New Orleans up the J line; the motorman was Peter Ehrlich. Unfortunately, when the crew went to change ends to return, there was a loud pop and a flash and the pole proved to be dead. We rode a Breda back, but not before Val Lupiz met us on his way to work.

    Cable Shutdowns - 22/23-Sep-2004

    With the outer portion of the Powell/Mason line shut down for turntable replacement, loose strands on the Hyde Street rope shut down the rest of the Powell Street system on two consecutive days. This also forced an early closure of the California Street line, which uses tracks on Hyde and Washington to return to the barn.

    Bay and Taylor Turntable Replacement - 13-Sep-2004

    The Powell/Mason line is replaced by shuttle buses from the cable car barn to Fisherman's Wharf while the Bay and Taylor turntable is replaced.

    Muni Systemwide Operator of the Month - 31-Jul-2004

    Muni's Systemwide Runner Up Operator of the Month for July, 2004 is gripman and author Val Lupiz. Val is an excellent gripman and a great public relations asset for Muni and the City of San Francisco. Congratulations, Val.

    42nd Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 08-Jul-2004

    Frank Ware, 1999 champ, won the 2004 Bell Ringing contest. See photos of all the finalists.

    20th Anniversary of the Great Reconstruction - 21-Jun-2004

    There was a party at the cable car barn to mark the 20th anniversary of the return of the cable cars after the Great Reconstruction. I was stuck at work.

    Cal Cable Shutdown - 17-May-2004

    The California Street cable cars shut down today for various improvements. The shutdown is scheduled to last until 25-May-2004, and delays may continue until 11-Jun-2004.

    Arnold S Gridley - 08-May-2004

    Arnold S Gridley, San Francisco entrepeneur, has passed away. Member of a pioneering California family and a San Francisco native, Gridley was most famous for his motorized cable cars. In the 1950's, when the city was selling surplus former Cal Cable cars, Gridley bought several of them and mounted them on truck chassis. His company, Cable Car Charters, also found and motorized two former Sacramento/Clay cars.

    Friends of the Cable Car Museum Board Change - 10-Feb-2004

    Walter Rice, who served on the Board of The Friends of the Cable Car Museum since 1995 and during the majority of his Board tenure as Chair, and was largely responsible for their excellent website, is no longer associated with the Friends. Walter, who has written extensively about cable cars and San Francisco transportation, will provide material for this website, for which I am grateful.

    All Star Bell Ringing Contest - 12-Dec-2003

    After the holiday luncheon the first annual All Star Bell Ringing Contest was held in the Cable Car Barn. The All Stars included every bell ringing contest champion since 1967. The winners:

    Other competitors included Al Davidson, Tom O'Brien, Dennis McCoy, and Mike McClure.

    26th Annual Cable Car Senior Luncheon - 12-Dec-2003

    The people of the Cable Car Division put on a holiday luncheon for more than 150 senior citizens in the gymnasium of the Chinatown Recreation Center, across the street from the Cable Car Barn. Ken Foster and Val Lupiz were co-chairmen. Entertainment included live music.

    Thank you to the people who bought raffle tickets and made all this possible.

    Cable Car Senior Luncheon Raffle Tickets - 01-Nov-2003

    Every December for about ten years, the men and women of the Cable Car Division have put on a holiday luncheon and entertainment for a large group of senior citizens from San Francisco retirement homes. They do this on their own, without financial support from Muni or the City.

    Autographed Bell A beautifully mounted conductor's bell autographed by champion ringers Carl Payne, Byron Cobb, Frank Ware, and Ken Lunardi. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

    In order to raise funds this year, they are having an auction. Prizes are expected to include three conductor's bells signed by champion bell ringers (Carl Payne, Ken Lunardi, Byron Cobb, Frank Ware, and current champ Ronald East), autographed Giants memorabilia, a charter ride on a decorated cable car, and a limousine ride chauferred by Carl Payne, with dinner for two.

    If you want to buy tickets to support this worthy cause, please email Val Lupiz at valgripNOSPAM@aol.com (Take out NOSPAM).

    40th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest- 16-Oct-2003

    Ronald East won the 40th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest.

    See my page about the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest for details.

    Saddati Ahmad Retires - 27-Jul-2003
    Cable Car Division's Head Instructor, Saddati Ahmad, retired. Cable Car Division employees speak highly of him as a teacher who demanded the best from everyone. I had the honor to meet him briefly at the Cal Cable 125th birthday party.

    Cal Cable Shutdown - 13-Jun-2003
    KCBS Radio reported that the California Street line was shut down because of a "broken cable". This was probably a bad splice.

    Accident at Powell and Pine - 04-Jun-2003
    An inbound car on the Powell Street Hill hit an auto that may have run the red light at Pine Street. Newspaper accounts report that seven to nine passengers were injured, none seriously. KCBS Radio reported that the gripman had failed to activate a signal preemption device, but I think that the device is completely automatic, tripped by the grip shank.

    Carnaval Parade - 25-May-2003
    Gripman Val Lupiz decorated and drove motorized cable car 62 (former Cal Cable Jones Street shuttle car 61) in San Francisco's annual Carnaval Parade. San Francisco has Carnaval after Lent instead of before, hoping to have warmer weather. Thanks to Val for sharing this photo.

    2003 Carnaval Motorized car 62 at the 2003 Carnaval Parade in the Mission District. Photo by Val Lupiz. All rights reserved.

    California Street Accident - 11-May-2003
    There was an accident on California Street near Larkin when car 57, unable to release its grip because of mechanical problems, struck a cab which had stopped on the tracks. The cab driver and one passenger suffered minor injuries.

    New Cable Car Book - 30-Apr-2003
    Book Cover
    I just finished reading an excellent new book by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria: San Francisco's California Street Cable Car/Celebrating a Century and a Quarter of Service. Until I read this, I did not really understand how the California and Hyde car barn worked. Excellent photos, maps and diagrams. You can purchase it from the Franciscan Hobby Shop (1935 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco), the Western Railway Museum, or e-mail Walter Rice @ CalCable@hotmail.com. $12.50

    Cal Cable's 125th Birthday - 10-Apr-2003
    There was a nice party to celebrate the 125th birthday of the California Street Cable Railroad. I replaced my news item about it with an illustrated article on its own page.

    Anti-War Protest - 20-Mar-2003
    Big protests on the first day of the Second Persian Gulf War shut down much of downtown San Francisco. Powell Street cars operated from the car barn to the outer terminals. California Street cars did not operate at all. The protesters made their headquarters in Justin Herman Plaza, right next to the inner terminal. The F line was also taken out of service. Some of the elitist protesters lost potential supporters because they showed that they didn't care that their actions hurt small businesses and took $900,000 a day from school children, people with AIDS, the homeless, and public transit. Cable car service was restored on Saturday, but was interrupted during the day by another burst of protesters.

    Anti-War Protest - 16-Feb-2003
    A group broke away from the tail end of a mostly peaceful anti-war protest march on Market Street from the Embarcadero to Civic Center. The group tried to march up Powell to Union Square, but was stopped by the police. Some of the protestors climbed on top of Powell Street cable car 10. The rest of the group crossed Market to the San Francisco Center and broke store windows. They moved up Market and blocked the streetcar tracks at Eighth. Several were arrested.

    Chinese New Year Parade - 15-Feb-2003
    Muni had planned to have bus shuttle service on Powell up to Washington during the parade to celebrate the Year of the Ram. According to Val Lupiz, there was no service at all from Market to Jackson and Powell. Cars ran from there to the outer terminals.

    Cable Car Fare Increase - 06-Jan-2003
    The San Francisco Municipal Railway has proposed raising regular fares from $1.00 to $1.25 and cable car fares from $2.00 to $3.00. This renders the cable cars even less of an option for local people and makes them into more of an amusement park ride for tourists. This is not what Mrs Klussmann had in mind.

    Cable Car Outage - 05-Nov-2002
    KCBS Radio reported at 6 am that all cable car service was down because of a power failure at the cable car barn. I saw cars running at lunch time.

    Powell Street Shutdown - 28-Oct-2002
    Powell Street cable car service is scheduled to be shut down from 28-Oct-2002 to 27-Nov-2002. Passengers who wish to ride the Powell/Mason or Powell/Hyde lines will be able to catch a shuttle bus from Powell and Market to the cable car barn at Washington and Mason. Regular cable car service will operate from there to the outer terminals. Work will be done around the Powell/Market terminal to replace the turntable. Other work will be done at various points along Powell.

    For more details, see my article about the Powell Street turntable replacement.

    39th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest- 17-Oct-2002

    Ken Lunardi won the 39th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest.

    See my page about the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest for details.

    Assault on a Gripman - 06-Sep-2002
    The gripman on an outbound California Street car reprimanded a man who had jumped onto the car while it was in motion near Montgomery. The rider attacked the gripman, knocking him from the car and fracturing his skull. The conductor, who was also hurt in the attack, had to stop the car. No passengers were injured.

    Iron Pergola Rededicated - 17-Aug-2002
    Seattle's Iron Pergola, waiting room for the Yesler Way and James Street cable car lines, was destroyed by a truck on 15-Jan-2001. After a complete rebuilding and strengthening, the pergola was rededicated on 17-Aug-2002.

    Union Square Reopening - 25-Jul-2002
    Union Square reopened after an eighteen month renovation. Rita Moreno was the host. Mayor Willie L Brown Jr gave a rousing speech. Among those who participated in the ribbon cutting were Tom Sweeney, Sir Francis Drake Hotel doorman, Robert Shields, mime, and Byron Cobb, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001 cable car belling ringing champion. Cobb gave a brief performance after the ribbon cutting.
    Byron Cobb Byron Cobb, champion bell ringer, at the reopening of Union Square on 25-Jul-2002. Photo by Joe Thompson.

    New Cable Car Book - 25-May-2002
    Book Cover
    I just finished reading an enjoyable new book, "Cable Car Confidential" by Susan Holtzer. The author said she didn't plan to write a book about cable cars, but she started riding them, started talking to the crews, started hearing all these great stories...

    The names of all the gripmen and conductors have been changed to protect the indecent. The book includes many of the standard stories (women double parked at the Sir Francis Drake waving for the cable car to go around; driver cuts off cable car on California near Stockton, gets clipped, claims cable car swerved into her lane), but also has many stories I hadn't heard before. I especially enjoyed the memories of the system right before the shutdown in 1982.

    Some chapter titles:
    Stupid Cable Car Tricks
    "We Don't Do Curb Service"
    Sex and the Cable Cars
    The Learning Curve
    Silly Gripmen's Tricks

    I enjoyed it.

    Visit the publisher's web page.

    Cable Break - 23-May-2002
    The California Street line was shut down in the afternoon by a rare cable break. Service was down until early the next morning.

    62 vs the Hulk - 01-May-2002
    Muni motorized cable car 62, former Cal Cable Jones Street shuttle car 61, appeared in the movie The Incredible Hulk this week. Telegraph Hill neighbors were not happy with the movie intruding on their lives.

    Car 62 Car 62 as part of a movie set. Photo courtesy of Susan Holzer. Copyright 2002 by Susan Holzer.

    Olympic Torch Carried - 18-Jan-2002
    Powell Street Car 9 carried the Olympic torch, on its way to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, up Hyde Street hill. Fannie Mae Barnes operated the grip. Rafael Cabrera was the conductor. The torch had arrived at the Hyde Street Pier aboard the scow scooner Alma.

    Fill in Hallidie Plaza? - 23-Dec-2001
    Mohammed Nuru, deputy director of the San Francisco Department of Public Works, said in an interview in the Chronicle that he has a "grand plan...to raise the sunken plaza to street level to deter the current problems of vagrancy, vandalism and drug dealing". This is an interesting thought, but what would happen to the tourism office and Cable Car Coffee?

    On a larger note, does he think the homeless are going to vanish from the face of the earth?

    Cable Car Coffee Cable Car Coffee in Hallidie Plaza. November 2001. Photo by Joe Thompson.

    38th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 19-Jul-2001
    Union Square is being renovated, so the 38th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest was held at Fisherman's Wharf. Byron Cobb, 1995, 1998, and 2000 champion won again.

    I got stuck at work.

    Seattle's Iron Pergola Destroyed

    Wanna Buy a Cable Car? - 29-May-2001
    Former Cal Cable car #13 is for sale at D. F. Barnhardt & Associates (Look under Equipment/Miscellaneous). Muni sold the car to the Shriners. It has been in Georgia since at least 1995. The seller wants $37,500.

    Angel's Flight Accident - 01-Feb-2001
    One car of the Angel's Flight funicular in Los Angeles, CA ran away at 12:17 pm and hit the other car. One person died, two were seriously injured, and at least five injured less seriously. See more details on the Los Angeles Area Funiculars page. The line is closed until the NTSB investigates.

    Car 9 Mishap - 24-Aug-2000
    I was walking down the Powell Street hill towards Sutter when I saw new car 9 for the first time. It started up the hill towards Bush and the gripman was ringing his bell furiously. I looked back and saw the car lurch to a stop near the top of the block. A motorcyclist had fallen on the tracks in front of the car. The conductor set the rear brake, climbed down, and helped him get to his feet. They pushed the bike to the curb. The motorcyclist appeared to be ok.

    Because the car had stopped on the hill, it had to back down to Sutter. The conductor stood on the rear platform, ringing his bell continuously and waving cars away.

    New Cable Car Book - 15-Aug-2000
    Book Cover
    I just finished reading an excellent new book by Robert Callwell and Walter Rice of the Friends of the Cable Car Museum: Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco. It has many wonderful illustrations. You can buy it at the gift shop in the museum or order it from the Friends' web site.

    Car 4 at Pac Bell Park - 03-Aug-2000
    The Giants unveiled old car 4 in the right field pavilion at Pac Bell Park. At Candlestick, they had a cable car bell. At Pac Bell, they have a whole cable car. Cool. See Roster for more details

    37th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 20-Jul-2000
    Byron Cobb, 1995 and 1998 champion, won the 37th annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco.

    I was able to attend this year. The weather, as usual, was bright and sunny. Carl Payne, 10 time winner, said that is because "God loves cable cars".

    Several past champions gave exhibitions, including Payne, Al Davison (2 times), and Al Quintana (4 times).

    Doctor Walter Rice, Chairman of the Friends of the Cable Car Museum, rededicated the plaque at Hallidie Plaza in honor of the 100th anniversary of Hallidie's death. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet him.

    Hallidie 100th Anniversary - 24-Apr-2000
    April 24th was the 100th Anniversary of Andrew S Hallidie's death. The planned commemoration has been put off until July, when it will be held along with the annual bell ringing contest. Muni rolled out new Car 9. Car 9 is painted in Market Street Railway white front colors.

    Powell Street Cable Service Suspended - 27-Mar-2000
    Muni announced that cable car service from Powell and Market to the car barn will be suspended from 27-March-2000 to 31-March-2000 because of work at the Powell & Market turntable, Powell & Post, and Powell & Sacramento Streets.

    Muni's New Year's Eve Plans - 09-Dec-1999
    Muni has announced its New Year's Eve plans, some of which are good, like free rides from 8pm on 12/31 to 6am on 01/01.

    The cable cars will return to the barn at 6pm on 12/31. So will the F line PCCs. The trolley buses will turn in by 8pm. Muni says it is worried about electrical problems, and that they'll monitor eastern transit systems. They'll try to cover all the rail services except Muni Metro with diesels. Metro will shut down from 11:30pm till they check out all systems after midnight.

    It is a good idea to put the cable cars away because the Union Square area is going to be crammed with people, and there will be rowdies all over downtown. This Michael Burns guy might be ok.

    Cable Car Hits Car Which Hits Pedestrian - 13-Oct-1999
    A Powell/Hyde cable car hit an auto at Washington and Taylor. The auto hit a pedestrian. Only the pedestrian was injured.

    Loose Strand Stops Powell Street Cable - 10-Sep-1999
    The Powell street cable was shut down for about eight hours after an alarm at the powerhouse indicated a loose strand. Buses shuttled passengers from Powell and Market to the car barn.

    Sudden Stop Injures Passengers - 26-Jul-1999
    A Powell/Hyde car, inbound on Washington Street near the car barn, came to a sudden halt when it struck a pin which must have fallen out of the coupler on another car and wedged in the slot. No one fell off the car.

    36th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 15-Jul-1999
    Frank Ware, a first time contestant, won the 36th annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco.

    San Francisco/New Orleans Trade - New Questions - 01-Jul-1999
    Back in September, 1998, the San Francisco Muni traded old California Street cable car number 59 to the New Orleans RTA for Perley Thomas 952. At the time, it sounded as if 952 was going to be a permanent addition to the historic trolley fleet, but I have recently seen two references recently that indicate that RTA may want 952 back. What about our cable car?

    California Street Conduit Reconstruction

    Collision at California & Powell - 20-Oct-1998
    Two passengers were injured when an auto making a turn struck the running board of a California Street cable car at Powell. The strategic location of the accident tied up all three cable car lines for hours.

    Turning the Powell Street Cars

    125th Anniversary - 02-Aug-1998
    The only official event I heard of was the dedication of new California Street cable car 59. I had heard there was supposed to be a party at Huntington Park. I went, but there wasn't a party.

    35th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest - 17-Jul-1998
    Byron Cobb, 1995 champion, won the 35th annual Bell Ringing Contest at Union Square, Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco.

    Collision at Powell & Post - 29-Jun-1998
    Three passengers were injured when a cable car stopped in the intersection at Powell & Post was broadsided by a taxi. The cable car had to stop behind a car making an illegal left turn. The taxi had a green light and the the police say the driver's view may have been obscured by a truck. One passenger had to be hospitalized.

    Accident on the Hyde Street Hill - 14-Feb-1998
    Twelve passengers were injured when a car descending the Hyde Street Hill in San Francisco experienced brake trouble. The gripman was forced to apply the emergency brake, which brought the car to an instant stop. Tracks wet from severe storms probably added to the brake problems.

    First Female Gripman (Gripperson?) - 15-Jan-1998
    Fannie Mae Barnes, 51, became the first woman to operate a cable car in revenue service. No other woman had made it beyond the first day of training in the 125 year history of cable cars because of the great upper body strength required to operate the grip and the brakes. Ms Barnes had previously worked as a bus driver and later as a cable car conductor for six years.

    Carville Controversy

    More Honors for Mrs Klussmann - 01-Dec-1997
    A plaque dedicating the turntable at the end of the Hyde St Cable car line to Friedel Klussmann, the Cable Car Lady, was placed by a group of dignitaries including Senator (and former Mayor) Dianne Feinstein. See 1997 anniversaries for details about Mrs. Klussman's efforts to save the cable cars.

    Celebrating Mrs Klussmann - 04-Mar-1997
    There was a celebration at the cable car barn to unveil a new collage honoring the 50th anniversary of Friedel Klussmann's successful effort to save the cable cars from replacement by buses. See 1997 anniversaries for details.

    GSPO Powerhouse - A New Life

    Go to top of News archive.

    Go to top of page.

    Anniversaries

    2023 Anniversaries

    175 years ago - 1848
    Jan 24 - James Marshall discovered gold in the run of Sutter's Mill near Coloma, CA. This led to the Gold Rush, which shaped the future of California and San Francisco.
    Feb 02 - The treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War and formally ceded California to the United States
    Dec 05 - President James K Polk formally told the US Congress about gold in California

    150 years ago - 1873 150 years ago - 1873
    Jun 02 - Andrew S Hallidie broke ground for the Clay Street Hill Cable Railroad
    Aug 02 - The Clay Street Hill Cable Railroad made its first test run
    Sep 01 - The Clay Street Hill Cable Railroad started revenue service

    125 years ago - 1898
    Feb 01 - The Mount Adams & Eden Park RailwayMount Adams & Eden Park Railway/a> (Cincinatti, OH) closed
    Feb 15 - US battleship Maine blew up in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. The incident, which may have been an accident, triggered the Spanish American War
    Apr 21 - US Congress declared war on Spain
    May 01 - Commodore George Dewey destroyed the Spanish cruiser squadron at Manila, PI
    May 25 - The Washington and Georgetown Railroad's Seventh Street line closed. Electric rails for the conduit electric cars had been laid while the cable cars were running.
    Jun 31 - The Saint Paul City Railway's Selby Street line closed. It was replaced by a counterbalance, which helped electrics up and down the Selby Street hill. The counterbalance was replaced 10-Oct-1906 by a tunnel.
    Jul 01 - The Battle of San Juan Hill, which made Teddy Roosevelt's reputation
    Jul 03 - The US fleet destroyed Admiral Pascual Cervera's Spanish squadron at Santiago de Cuba
    Sep 16 - The Vine Street Cable Railway (Cincinnati, OH) closed
    Nov 01 - The Metropolitan Street Railway (Kansas City, MO) closed its 5th Street-Wyandotte line
    Nov 01 - The Brooklyn Elevated Railway (New York, NY) began running its trains across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, using the New York & Brooklyn Bridge's cable line.
    Dec 10 - The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War
    ? - The current Ferry Building opened at the foot of Market Street - The current Ferry Building opened at the foot of Market Street

    New York Giants record: 77-73, 7th place. Managers: Bill Joice, Cap Anson (22 games), Bill Joice again.

    100 years ago - 1923
    Aug 01 - The City of Glasgow takes ownership of the cable-operated Glasgow District Subway

    New York Giants record: 93-61, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. Defeated New York Yankees 4-0-1 for the second straight year.

    75 years ago - 1948
    Jan 15 - Carl Hubbell, great Giants pitcher, was elected to the Hall of Fame.
    Jun 11 - Mel Ott made his last appearance as a player for the Giants.

    New York Giants record: 81-73, 4th place. Manager: Mel Ott. The team had terrible pitching, but was known as "the Windowbreakers" because of their power. They hit 55 home runs in July. They hit 221 for the season.

    50 years ago - 1973
    May 11 - The Giants traded Willy Mays to the Mets.
    Aug 02 - The 100th birthday of the cable car

    San Francisco Giants record: 81-73, 5th place. Manager: Charlie Fox.

    25 years ago - 1998

    San Francisco Giants record: 90-72, 1st place. Manager: Dusty Baker. Won National League West. E816

    2022 Anniversaries

    125 years ago - 1897
    Jan 21 - The Glasgow District Subway reopened
    Mar 04 - Frank (Lefty) O'Doul born, San Francisco, CA. He had nothing to do with cable cars, but he had a .349 lifetime average and managed the San Francisco Seals for many years. He's not in the Hall of Fame, but he should be.
    May 14 - Sidney Bechet, important early jazz musician, was born in New Orleans, LA
    Jun 14 - Citizens Traction Company (Pittsburgh) closed
    Aug 31 - West Seattle Cable Railway closed
    Sep 19 - Butte City Street Railroad closed
    Sep 29 - Washington and Georgetown Railroad 14th St Powerhouse destroyed by fire. 14th St & Georgetown lines temporarily replaced by horses, next year by electric cars

    New York Giants record: 83-48, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Joice.

    100 years ago - 1922

    New York Giants record: 94-59, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Giants defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series, 5 games to 3.

    75 years ago - 1947
    Mar 4 - Mayor Roger Lapham declared that the Powell Street cable car lines, owned by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, should be replaced by buses to save money. At a rally meeting attended by leaders of twenty-seven women’s civic groups, Mrs Friedel Klussman persuaded them to found the "Citizens’ Committee to Save the Cable Cars." Lucius Beebe later wrote, "It was destined to wield the terror and authority once possessed by San Francisco’s Vigilantes of 1851."

    New York Giants record: 61-93, 8th place. Manager: Mel Ott. Nice guys finish last.

    50 years ago - 1972
    Feb 26 - A loose strand on the Powell Street line caused four cars to pile up at the Market Street turntable.
    Jul 06 - Louis Armstrong, one of the most important figures in American music, passed away

    San Francisco Giants record: 90-72, 1st place. Manager: Charlie Fox. Lost NLCS to Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 games to 1.

    25 years ago - 1997
    Oct 12 - A broken cable caused a runaway which killed one passenger and closed the Funiculaire du Vieux Québec

    San Francisco Giants record: 68-94, 4th place. Manager: Dusty Baker.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2021 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1871
    Aug 08 - In San Francisco, the Eighth Industrial Fair of the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute opened. Andrew S Hallidie exhibited a working model of his overhead cable system for hauling ore.
    Oct 08 - The Great Chicago Fire broke out.
    Jan 17 -     Andrew S Hallidie received his first cable railway-related patent

    125 years ago - 1896
    Jan 02 - The Market Street Cable Railway closed the former Omnibus Ellis Street.
    Feb 01 - The cable on the former lines of the Los Angeles Cable Railway/Pacific Cable Railway on West Seventh and Fort was shut down.
    Feb 01 - San Francisco's electric Sutro Railroad began service to Sutro Baths.
    Feb 12 - The cable on the former line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway/Pacific Cable Railway on Grand Avenue was shut down.
    Feb 18 - The cable on the former line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway/Pacific Cable Railway on Downey Avenue was shut down.
    Mar 13 - The cable on the former Boyle Heights line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway/Pacific Cable Railway was shut down.
    Mar 23 - The Citizen's Traction Company began operating the former cable cars of the San Diego Cable Railway, converted to electric traction.
    May 01 - The Portland Cable Railway was cut back to the trestle.
    May 27 - A cyclone tore the roof of the powerhouse of the Peoples' Railway of Saint Louis
    Aug 15 - The Isle of Man's Upper Douglas Cable Tramway started service.
    Aug 23 - The Pittsburgh Traction Company's Fifth Avenue line stopped service
    Oct 04 - The Druid Hill Avenue line of the Baltimore Traction Company was converted to electric traction
    Nov 30 - The New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway started adding a Pullman motor car to each train to replace the steam locomotives used for switching
    Dec 14 - The cable-driven Glasgow District Subway opened and was immediately closed because of an accident

    New York Giants record: 64-67, 7th place. Managers: Arthur Irwin, Bill Joice.

    100 years ago - 1921
    Apr 01 - Financially strapped United Railroads was reorganized as the Market Street Railway
    Oct 30 - Engineer Howard C Holmes, who designed and built the Ferries and Cliff House Railway and other cable lines, died

    New York Giants record: 86-68, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1946
    May 20 - The San Francisco Municipal Railway raised its basic fare from $0.07 to $0.10. "
    Jul 15 - This edition of Time Magazine has a story about efforts to recall San Francisco Mayor Roger Lapham because of the recent fare increase: ""City I Love"""
    Sep 13 - The government of Brazil nationalized the partially cable-operated Săo Paulo Railway

    New York Giants record: 78-74, 5th place. Manager: Mel Ott.

    50 years ago - 1971
    Mar 22 - A press release from the San Francisco Municipal Railway announces the purchase of 40 new grips that are of a revised and more easily maintained design.
    Jun 16 - A Powell Street cable car was involved in an accident
    Nov 02 - San Francisco voters passed Proposition Q, "Charter amendment relating to schedules and fares on cable car lines," which froze minimum cable car service in the city at the levels of 01-Jul-1971.

    San Francisco Giants record: 86-76, 3rd place. Manager: Clyde King.

    25 years ago - 1996
    Feb 02 - New California Street cable car Number 52 entered revenue service after a ceremony at the Washington-Mason cable car barn.
    Aug 18 - A car ran away from the barn and rammed another. A tourist lost a leg

    San Francisco Giants record: 67-77, 4th place. Manager: Dusty Baker.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2020 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1870
    Feb 26 - The Beach Pneumatic Subway started operating
    Aug 02 - London's cable-hauled Tower Subway began service.
    Nov 15 - The failed West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway in New York City was sold at auction

    125 years ago - 1895
    Feb 25 - A cable train of the West Chicago Street Railroad collided with a horse car
    Mar 03 - The Gilmor Street line of the Baltimore Traction Company was converted to electric traction
    Mar 09 - Washington DC's Columbia Railway opened its main line
    Mar 19 - Oakland's Consolidated Piedmont Cable Company sold at auction
    Jul 12 - The Washington and Georgetown Railroad's Pennsylvania Avenue (Georgetown) line was extended
    Jul 22 - The Philadelphia Traction Company and the People's Traction Company consolidated and formed the Union Traction Company
    Aug 10 - Market Street Railway opened the Fillmore Hill Counterbalance
    Oct 14 - The Lexington Avenue line of New York's Metropolitan Street Railway opened for service
    Nov 11 - The Market Street Railway discontinued its Ellis Street line.
    Nov 16 - The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway started service.

    New York Giants record: 66-65, 9th place. Managers: George Davis, Jack Doyle, Harvey Watkins.

    100 years ago - 1920
    Jan 01 - Prohibition and the Volstead Act took effect
    Jan 09 - The Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway, a funicular, was abandoned.

    New York Giants record: 87-53, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1945
    Aug 15 - VJ Day: Huge riots in San Francisco greeted the Japanese surrender.
    Nov 10 - An O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde car was forced to stop behind a stalled auto near Lombard. The cable car lost its grip on the cable and ran away backwards down the hill. There were no passengers on the car. Unable to regain control, Gripman EJ Howard and conductor EC Steffen jumped. The car ran a block past the end of the track at Beach and hit the South End Rowing Club.

    New York Giants record: 67-87, 5th place. Manager: Mel Ott.

    50 years ago - 1970
    Jul 18 - Cal Cable service is suspended until November for track work and street repairs

    San Francisco Giants record: 90-72, 2nd place. Manager: Clyde King.

    25 years ago - 1995

    San Francisco Giants record: 55-60, 2nd place. Manager: Dusty Baker. Another strike.

    2019 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1869
    Jul 03 - Charles T Harvey tested his West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway in New York City
    May 10 - The Last Spike ceremony celebrated the joining of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific rails at Promontory Point, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the US

    125 years ago - 1894
    Jan 06 - San Francisco's Market Street Railway assigned sixteen former Howard Street Omnibus cars to McAllister line for the Midwinter Fair.
    Jan 27 - San Francisco's California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894 opened in Golden Gate Park.
    Feb 11 - Manhattan's Third Avenue Railroad extended its Third Avenue line.
    Feb 19 - San Francisco's Market Street Railway extended the Sacramento-Clay line from Walnut Street via Lake and 6th Avenue to D Street (Fulton) Golden Gate Park for the Midwinter Fair.
    Feb 26 - San Francisco's Market Street Railway extended the Powell-Jackson and Ferries-Jackson lines to Golden Gate Park via the extended Sacramento-Clay line on Sundays and holidays for the Midwinter Fair.
    May 16 - The Cable Tramway Company of Omaha converted to electric traction.
    Jul 02 - San Francisco granted Adolph Sutro a franchise for the Sutro Railroad, which would connect Central Avenue with the Cliff House area, breaking the Market Street Railway's monopoly.
    Jul 04 - San Francisco's California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894 closed with San Francisco Day.
    Jul 04 - San Francisco's Market Street Railway stopped extending the Powell-Jackson and Ferries-Jackson lines to Golden Gate Park via the extended Sacramento-Clay line on Sundays and hoidays.
    Sep 19 - A cable tramway begam running between King and Ocean Streets, Sydney, Australia.
    Dec 04 - A Southern Pacific local train crossing Broadway struck a cable car of the Oakland Cable Railway, killing 22 year old teacher Miss Mae Coates.
    Dec 06 - Manhattan's Metropolitan Street Railway opened its Columbus Avenue line.

    New York Giants record: 88-44, 2nd place. Manager: Monte Ward.

    100 years ago - 1919
    Jan 09 - The Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway, a funicular, was abandoned.
    Jul 01 - The Edinburgh Corporation took over operation of the city's tramways and soon began to convert the cable lines to electric traction.

    New York Giants record: 71-53, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1944
    Aug 15 - In San Francisco, Paramount premiered the movie I Love a Soldier, starring Paulette Goddard and Sonny Tufts. The movie had largely been shot in the city

    New York Giants record: 55-98, 8th place. Manager: Mel Ott.

    50 years ago - 1969
    Mar 22 - Lynda Johnson, President Lyndon Baines Johnson's daughter, was ordered off a cable car because she was eating an ice cream cone.
    May 18 - Angels Flight in Los Angeles closed. It returned at a different location in 1996.

    San Francisco Giants record: 88-74, 2nd place. Manager: Herman Franks.

    25 years ago - 1994
    Sep 15 - New Powell car No. 4 was placed into revenue service after a public welcoming ceremony at the Powell and Market turntable.

    San Francisco Giants record: 103-59, 2nd place. Manager: Dusty Baker. Winning 100 and finishing second made for a frustrating year.

    2018 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1868
    Jul 03 - Charles T Harvey tested his West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway in New York City

    125 years ago - 1893
    Jan 04 - The Oakland Cable Railway's horse-drawn Broadway/Telegraph Avenue line was converted to electric traction
    Feb 20 - The failure of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway was one factor that led to the Panic of 1893, which damaged many cable car lines that relied on real estate promotions for traffic. The Panic, an economic depression, lasted until 1897
    Feb 21 - A train of the Kansas City Cable Railway lost its grip on the great incline and ran away backwards. Five people were injured
    Apr 14 - San Francisco's Ferries and Cliff House Railway sent Clay Street Hill Railroad grip car 8 and trailer 1 to the upcoming World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
    Apr 29 - The Orange Mountain Cable Railway, a funicular in Orange, New Jersey, opened for service
    May 01 - The World's Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago, providing increated business for all public transit companies in Chicago, but especially the Chicago City Railway
    May 01 - The Denver Tramway Company's Broadway line was converted to electric traction
    May 01 - In New York City, the Metropolitan Street Railway's Broadway line opened for service
    May 06 - In New York City, a car of the Metropolitan Street Railway's Broadway line ran away
    Jun 10 - Oakland's Consolidated Piedmont Cable Company converted its Piedmont Avenue line to electric traction
    Jun 13 - The bankrupt Pacific Cable Railway (Los Angeles Cable Railway) was purchased at auction by the Consolidated Electric Railway
    Jul 04 - The Mount Lowe Incline opened for service
    Jul 06 - The Denver Tramway Company's Colfax Avenue and 15th Street lines were converted to electric traction
    Jul 17 - In Sydney, the New South Wales Government Tramways extended its North Sydney line to Lane Cove Road (later Pacific Highway) at Crows Nest
    Jul 23 - The Baltimore City Passenger Railway's Charles Street (Blue) and Gay Street (Red) lines opened for service
    Aug 05 - San Francisco's Omnibus Railroad and Cable Company abandoned its Howard and 26th Street (blue) line
    Aug 14 - San Francisco's Omnibus Railroad and Cable Company was taken over by the Market Street Railway
    Aug 20 - The Baltimore City Passenger Railway's Madison Avenue (White) line opened for service
    Aug 13 - The Southern Pacific Railroad formed San Francisco's Market Street Railway by combining all the cable car operating companies in the city except Sutter, California, Geary, and the Presidio and Ferries. It also included the Metropolitan Railroad, the second electric line in San Francisco.
    Sep 01 - The Saint Paul City Railway's Seventh Street line was converted to electric traction
    Oct 13 - The Consolidated Electric Railway was purchased by the Los Angeles Railway
    Oct 30 - The World's Columbian Exposition closed in Chicago
    Nov 01 - Oakland's Consolidated Piedmont Cable Company went into receivership. It was reorganized as the Piedmont and Mountain View Railway
    Nov 05 - A train of the Chicago City Railway killed actor Daniel J Hart on State Street, near Jackson
    Dec 04 - In New York City, the Third Avenue Railroad's Third Avenue line opened for service

    New York Giants record: 68-64, 5th place. Manager: Monte Ward.

    100 years ago - 1918
    Feb 03 - San Francisco's Twin Peaks Tunnel opened
    Nov 11 - Armistice Day

    New York Giants record: 98-56, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Chicago White Sox won the World Series 4 games to 2.

    75 years ago - 1943
    Oct 20 - The Court Flight, a funicular in Los Angeles, was damaged in a fire and went out of business

    New York Giants record: 85-67, 3rd place. Manager: Mel Ott.

    50 years ago - 1968
    Jul 31 - Presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey rode a cable car with Mayor Joe Alioto
    Aug 22 - Jennifer (Foreman) de Grassi was named Miss Cable Car 1968

    San Francisco Giants record: 91-71, 2nd place. Manager: Herman Franks.

    25 years ago - 1993

    San Francisco Giants record: 72-90, 5th place. Manager: Roger Craig.

    Anniversaries Archive

    2017 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1867
    Feb 16 - Brazil's partly cable-operated Săo Paulo Railway began service.
    Mar 06 - A steam train last ran on San Francisco's Market Street, operated by the Market Street Railroad
    Mar 07 - Horse cars began running on San Francisco's Market Street and Valencia Street, operated by the Market Street Railroad
    Dec 07 - The West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway in Manhattan was first demonstrated.

    125 years ago - 1892
    Jan 26 - A California Street cable car hit a Powell Street cable car and ran away down the hill. The California Street car stopped when it hit a wagon at Montgomery Street
    Feb 04 - The US Army gave the Presidio and Ferries Railway to extend its Union Street cable line into the Presidio
    Feb 17 - Geary Street Park and Ocean Railway crews distribute materials along the line to prepare for conversion to standard gauge
    Mar 06 - A Sutter Street Railway Larkin Street cable car crossing Market severed the Market Street Cable Railway's cable
    Mar 09 - The Market Street Cable Railway extended its McAllister Street line on D Street (now Fulton) to a spot between 7th and 8th Avenues
    Mar 21 - The Mount Auburn Cable Railway's powerhouse burned down
    Apr 08 - The King's Heights line of the Portland Cable Railway opened for service
    Apr 26 - The Geary Street Park and Ocean Railway closed its line west of the powerhouse at Buchanan Street to allow for reconstruction to standard gauge
    Apr 27 - San Francisco's first electric railroad, the San Francisco and San Mateo Railway, opened for service
    May 29 - A fire at the J Hammond and Company factory destroyed six O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde cars being built for the California Street Cable Railroad
    Jun 06 - The West Denver (11th Street) line of the Denver City Cable Railway opened for service
    Jun 28 - Lisbon's Elevador da Bica, a street-running funicular, opened for service
    Jul 07 - The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway opened for service
    Aug 02 - The Broadway/Piedmont Avenue line of Oakland's Consolidated Cable Company opened for service
    Aug 06 - The Washington and Georgetown Railroad's Pennsylvania Avenue (Georgetown) and 14th Street lines opened for service
    Aug 07 - The Geary Street Park and Ocean Railway converted from broad gauge to standard gauge and extended from Central (now Presidio) Avenue on Geary and 5th Avenue to D Street (now Fulton) at Golden Gate Park
    Aug 30 - The Baltimore Traction Company's Gilmor Street line opened for service
    Sep 23 - Cable traction pioneer Henry Casebolt died in San Francisco
    Oct 15 - The San Diego Cable Railway stopped service.
    Oct 15 - Two cars of Pittsburgh's Central Traction Company ran away and hit men marching in a political parade. Two people were killed and seven badly injured.

    New York Giants record: 71-80, 8th place. Manager: Pat Powers.

    100 years ago - 1917
    Jul 26 - The Bleecker Street horse car line in Manhattan made its last run
    Aug 12 - United Railroads of San Francisco carmen went on strike, demanding pay on a par with that of San Francisco Municipal Railway carmen

    New York Giants record: 86-66, 4th place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1942
    Feb 15 - The Market Street Railway ended service on the Sacramento/Clay cable car line. The next day it was replaced with buses. This line had replaced the first Hallidie-type cable car line, the Clay Street Hill Railroad
    Jul 10 - Ferdinand Lemott (Jelly Roll) Morton, American composer and piano player, passed away.

    New York Giants record: 74-79, 5th place. Manager: Mel Ott.

    50 years ago - 1967
    Nov 10 - The Cable Car Museum at Washington and Mason was dedicated.
    Dec 03 - Powell/Hyde car ran away on the Hyde Street hill and hit an auto at Bay. One person was killed and 40 were injured.

    San Francisco Giants record: 93-68, 2nd place. Manager: Herman Franks.

    25 years ago - 1992
    Apr 15 - Presidential candidate Bill Clinton rode Powell Street Cable Car No. 26 near the Fairmont Hotel. Democrats stayed at the Fairmont.
    Dec 05 - New Muni built cars Nos. 13, 21, and 49 are dedicated.

    San Francisco Giants record: 75-87, 4th place. Manager: Roger Craig.

    Anniversaries Archive

    2016 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1866
    Jan 30 - Gellett Burgess, author of "The Ballad of the Hyde Street Grip", was born in Boston
    Feb 08 - San Francisco's Market Street Railroad began converting to a double-track, dual-gauge layout. Its original single track had been 5'6" gauge
    Jun 08 - Standard gauge steam trains began running on San Francisco's Market Street Railroad
    Sep 20 - San Francisco's Market Street Railroad linked to the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad at 25th and Valencia Streets
    Sep 24 - The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad extended over the Market Street Railroad's tracks to a new depot at Market and Valencia Streets

    125 years ago - 1891
    Jan 19 - The Broadway line of the St Louis Railroad was extended to South Broadway and Keokuk Street
    Jan 21 - The Los Angeles Cable Railway/Pacific Cable Railway went bankrupt because of storm damage and competition from electric streetcars
    Feb 09 - The O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line of the California Street Cable Railroad started service. It was the last new line to open in San Francisco.
    Mar 19 - In Seattle, the Union Trunk Line's James Street line began service
    May 23 - The Druid Hill Avenue line of the Baltimore Traction Company started service
    May 30 - Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway extended its Wyandotte line
    Jun 21 - Seattle's Madison Street Cable Railway started service
    Jul 15 - The Brooklyn Heights Railroad was tested
    Jul 20 - The Brooklyn Heights Railroad started service
    Aug 04 - The <Tacoma Railway & Motor Company started service
    Aug 25 - The Tramway Funiculaire de Belleville in Paris started service
    Sep 09 - The pioneer line of the Clay Street Hill Railroad was closed for conversion into the Sacramento/Clay line.
    Oct 17 - The Windsor-Saint Kilda Esplanade line of the Melbourne Tramways & Omnibus Company started service
    Oct 27 - The Saint Louis and Suburban Railway, (formerly the St Louis Cable & Western Railway) discontinued cable service
    Nov 03 - The Portland Cable Railway extended its Portland Heights line
    Nov 02 - The Sacramento/Clay line of the Ferries and Cliff House Railway started service
    Nov 12 - Valencia Street cable car 24 of the Market Street Cable Railway hits a Southern Pacific train and is wrecked
    Nov 12 - The Valley City Street and Cable Railway in Grand Rapids finished its conversion from cable to electric and began removing the cable from the conduit

    New York Giants record: 71-61, 3rd place. Manager: James Mutrie.

    100 years ago - 1916

    New York Giants record: 69-83, 8th place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1941
    Feb 17 - Seattle's James Street cable car line was abandoned. Unlike the other Seattle cable lines, it was not replaced by buses.
    Apr 05 - The Market Street Railway's Castro Street Hill line stopped service
    Apr 05 - The Market Street Railway's Fillmore Hill counterbalance stopped service
    Apr 14 - Seattle's Madison Street cable car line was replaced by buses.
    May 08 - The Market Street Railway scrapped car 133, the last Market Street cable car which survived in original condition. The company didn't have enough space to store after it closed the Castro Street car barn
    Aug 10 - Seattle's first cable car line on Yesler Way was replaced by buses.
    Sep 02 - Seattle's Queen Anne Hill counterbalance, which had replaced the Front Street Cable Railway, was replaced by buses.
    Sep 29 - The Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) closed on San Francisco's Treasure Island

    New York Giants record: 72-80, 6th place. Manager: Bill Terry.

    50 years ago - 1966
    Apr 16 - Former Mayor Roger Lapham, who tried to get rid of the cable cars, died
    Jul 21 - Five Powell Street cable cars crashed together when car 505 caught a loose strand in its grip inbound at Powell and Ellis
    Oct 15 - San Francisco's cable cars were added to the National Register of Historic Places as entry #66000233

    San Francisco Giants record: 95-67, 2nd place. Manager: Herman Franks. The Giants began a string of five straight second place finishes. They had the best record in baseball over that period, but never won a pennant.

    25 years ago - 1991
    Apr 10 - A parade celebrated the rebuilding of Powell Street Car 16. It was painted in Muni Blue and Gold.

    San Francisco Giants record: 85-77, 3rd place. Manager: Roger Craig.

    2015 Anniversaries

    225 years ago - 1790
    Apr 17 - Benjamin Franklin died.

    150 years ago - 1865
    Jan 31 - The Union Congress approved the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery
    Mar 04 - Lincoln's second inauguration. "With malice toward none; with charity for all...let us strive on to finish the work we are in...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations..."
    Mar 25 - Lee's Army of Northern Virginia makes its last, unsuccessful, attack against Grant at Petersburg.
    Apr 02 - The Confederates evacuated Richmond
    Apr 04 - Lincoln toured Richmond
    Apr 09 - Lee surrendered to Grant at the town of Appomattox Court House
    Apr 14 - Lincoln was shot by murderous coward John Wilkes Booth
    Apr 15 - Lincoln died
    Apr 18 - General Longstreet surrendered to Sherman
    Apr 26 - Murderous coward Booth was shot and killed by Union soldier Sergeant Boston Corbett
    Dec 06 - The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, was ratified

    125 years ago - 1890
    ? - Denver City Cable Company (Denver, Colorado) West Denver line converted to electricity
    Jun 07 - The San Diego Cable Railway started service.
    Oct 20 - Ferdinand Lemott (Jelly Roll) Morton, American composer and piano player, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana

    New York Giants record: 63-68, 6th place. Manager: James Mutrie.

    100 years ago - 1915
    Feb 21 - The Panama Pacific Exposition opened in San Francisco
    Dec 16 - Turk Murphy, traditional jazz trombonist and band leader, was born
    Dec 29 - San Francisco's new City Hall opened

    New York Giants record: 69-83, 8th place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1940
    Feb 17 - Seattle's James Street cable car line was abandoned. Unlike the other Seattle cable lines, it was not replaced by buses.
    Apr 14 - Seattle's Madison Street cable car line was replaced by buses.
    Aug 10 - Seattle's first cable car line on Yesler Way was replaced by buses.
    Sep 02 - Seattle's Queen Anne Hill counterbalance, which had replaced the Front Street Cable Railway, was replaced by buses.
    Sep 29 - The Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) closed on San Francisco's Treasure Island
    Oct 26 - Melbourne's surviving cable tram lines were all replaced by buses

    New York Giants record: 72-80, 6th place. Manager: Bill Terry.

    50 years ago - 1965

    San Francisco Giants record: 95-67, 2nd place. Manager: Herman Franks. The Giants began a string of five straight second place finishes. They had the best record in baseball over that period, but never won a pennant.

    25 years ago - 1990

    San Francisco Giants record: 85-77, 3rd place. Manager: Roger Craig.

    2014 Anniversaries

    225 years ago - 1789
    Apr 01 - The first Congress under the new Constitution met in New York, New York.
    Apr 30 - George Washington took the oath of office as the first President.
    Jul 17 - The French Revolution started with the storming of the Bastille.
    Sep 25 - Congress submitted the proposed Bill of Rights to the states.

    150 years ago - 1864
    Feb 17 - Confererate submarine HL Hunley attacked and sank Union blockading vessel Housatonic. This was the first time a submarine sank an enemy vessel. After the attack, Hunley went down with her crew
    Mar 09 - Lincoln appointed Grant to command the armies of the United States
    May 04 - Grant advanced towards Richmond, pursuing a war of attrition
    May 05 - Two-day Battle of the Wilderness
    May 08 - Four day Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse
    Jun 01 - Three day Battle of Cold Harbor
    Jul 20 - General Sherman's Union Army beseiged Atlanta, Georgia
    Sep 02 - Sherman captured Atlanta
    Nov 08 - Lincoln was reelected
    Nov 15 - Sherman began his march to the sea, laying waste to 300 miles of land
    Dec 21 - Sherman reached Savannah, Georgia

    125 years ago - 1889
    Jan 01 - The Penn Avenue line of Pittsburgh's Citizens Traction Company started service
    Jan 01 - The Butler Avenue branch of Pittsburgh's Citizens Traction Company started service
    Mar 09 - A car of Cincinnati's Mount Auburn Cable Railway fell off a trestle, injuring ten people
    Mar 13 - Seattle's Front Street Cable Railway started service
    Apr 12 - The Butte City Street Railroad started service
    Apr 30 - The Temple Street Cable Railway in Los Angeles opened an extension to Hoover Street
    May 12 - A Seattle Front Street Cable Railway car lost the cable and ran away. One passenger was thrown out of the car on a curve and killed
    Jun 01 - The Jackson Street line of the Sioux City Cable Railway opened for service
    Jun 08 - The East LA/West LA line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway opened for service
    Jul 01 - The Holmes Street line of Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway opened for service
    Jul 12 - The Kansas City Cable Railway extended its Ninth Avenue line to Elmwood Avenue
    Jul 14 - A runaway on Cincinnati's Vine Street Cable Railway killed one woman and injured several other people
    Aug 03 - The Westlake Park/Boyle Heights line of the opened for service
    Sep 14 - The East LA/West LA line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway extended to Jefferson
    Sep 21 - The north line of the Spokane Cable Railway began service
    Sep 28 - The Westlake Park/Boyle Heights line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway extended to Evergreen
    Oct 01 - The Washington and Summit line of the Kansas City Cable Railway opened for service
    Oct 01 - The Larimer Street line of the Denver City Cable Railway opened for service
    Oct 13 - In Los Angeles, the Second Street Cable Railway had to shut down when the cable broke and the company could not afford a replacement
    Oct 15 - A broken cable on Cincinnati's Mount Auburn Incline caused a runaway which killed five people and injured many more
    Oct 31 - The south line of the Spokane Cable Railway began service
    Nov 01 - (approximate) The Goss Street/16th Street/17th Avenue line of the Denver City Cable Railway opened for service
    Nov 02 - The East LA/West LA line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway extended on Downey
    Dec 07 - The Westlake Park/Boyle Heights line of the Los Angeles Cable Railway extended to Grand
    Dec 11 - The Providence Cable Tramway started service
    Dec 20 - Kansas City's Union Cable Railway, intended to demonstrate the unique Terry grip, started and ended service
    Dec 24 - A terrible storm damaged beyond repair the Second Street Cable Railway in Los Angeles, already shut down because of financial problems. The same storm severely damaged the Los Angeles Cable Railway

    New York Giants record: 83-43, 1st place. Manager: James Mutrie. The Giants defeated the American Association champion Brooklyn team in the post season Temple Cup series.

    100 years ago - 1914

    New York Giants record: 84-70, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1939
    Jan 01 - The Market Street Railway raised its fare to seven cents. Rival Muni stayed at five cents. This helped to kill some of the surviving cable car lines
    Feb 18 - The Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) opened on San Francisco's Treasure Island

    50 years ago - 1964
    Oct 01 - The surviving San Francisco cable cars were declared a National Landmark

    San Francisco Giants record: 90-72, 4th place. Manager: Alvin Dark.

    25 years ago - 1989
    Oct 17 - A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco just after 5 PM

    San Francisco Giants record: 92-70, 1st place. Manager: Roger Craig. Beat the Cubs in an exciting playoff, but lost the earthquake-interrupted World Series to the Oakland Athletics.

    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 09 - The Pittsburgh Traction Company started service on its entire 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.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2012 Anniversaries

    225 years ago - 1787
    May 25 - The Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia, charged with revising the Articles of Conferation.
    Jul 13 - Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance.
    Sep 17 - The Constitutional Convention approved and signed its proposed new Constitution.
    Dec 07 - The first state to approve the new Constitution was Delaware.

    200 years ago - 1812
    Jun 08 - President James Madison signs the declaration of war against Great Britain, beginning the War of 1812.

    150 years ago - 1862
    Feb 06 - Union soldiers under General Grant captured Fort Henry in Tennessee
    Mar 08 - Confederate ironclad Virginia attacked the Union blockading squadron at Hampton Roads and sank two ships
    Mar 09 - Union ship Monitor fought the Virginia to a draw in the first battle of ironclads
    Apr 06 - The Battle of Shiloh began. 23,000 were killed or wounded in the two days
    Apr 24 - Flag Officer David Farragut's Union fleet took New Orleans
    Jun 25 - The Seven Days' Battles begin in Virginia, leading to a Union withdrawal towards Washington, DC
    Jul 01 - President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act, calling for the construction of a transcontinental railroad by two companies
    Aug 29 - Confederates won the two-day Second Battle of Bull Run
    Sep 02 - The Union Pacific Railroad was organized at a meeting in Chicago
    Sep 04 - Lee's first invasion of the north
    Sep 17 - In the battle of Antietam, 26,000 were killed or wounded as the Union Army under General McClellan turned back Lee's invasion of the north
    Sep 22 - Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
    Dec 13 - Conferderates killed or wounded over 12,000 Union soldiers under General Burnside in the Battle of Fredericksburg, while losing only 5,000 men

    125 years ago - 1887
    Jan 09 - A grip car of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway was shattered by an exploding bomb.
    Jan 13 - Dynamite destroyed a Sutter Street Railway grip car and severely damaged its trailer on Post between Larkin and Post. At least one passenger was seriously injured and the Sutter Street company offerred a $1000 reward.
    Feb 06 - A grip car of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway was destroyed by an bomb at Fillmore and Geary.
    Feb 16 - J. E. Stiles and H. C. Dean were arrested and charged with bomb attacks on the Sutter and Geary Street cable lines.
    Mar 04 - The strike of carmen on the Sutter and Geary Street cable lines collapsed.
    Mar 06 - The Brooklyn Cable Company opened its experimental Johnson ladder cable line in Brooklyn, NY
    May 12 - The Wyandotte line of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway opened for service.
    Jul 15 - The Brooklyn Cable Company closed its experimental Johnson ladder cable line in Brooklyn, NY
    Sep 06 - Frank J Sprague's Union Street Railway electric installation in Saint Joseph, MO opened.
    Sep 18 - The main line and the 15th Street line of Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway opened for service.
    Sep 26 - The Daily Alta California reported that The Casebolt Overhead Cable Road in Oakland's Blair Park was operating successfully.
    Oct 02 - The Mount Adams and Eden Park Ry (Cincinatti, OH) had a serious accident because the cable looped around the grip.
    Oct 12 - A runaway car of the Kansas City Cable Railway smashed into a carriage occupied by President Grover Cleveland and his wife. Two members of the crowd were seriously hurt, and members of the crowd considered lynching the car's crew. The police rescued them.
    Oct 27 - The Wyandotte line of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway was extended.
    Nov 17 - The Troost Avenue line of the Kansas City Cable Railway started service.
    Nov 22 - The Cottage Grove Avenue line of the Chicago City Railway was extended.
    Dec 15 - The main line of Kansas City's Grand Avenue Railway was extended.
    Dec 20 - Henry Root brought suit against the North Chicago Street Railroad for patent infringement.

    New York Giants record: 68-55, 4th place. Manager: James Mutrie.

    100 years ago - 1912
    May 05 - The last day of operation of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway. Read about it in two contemporary newspaper articles:


    Dec 28 - The first day of operation of the San Francisco Municipal Railway.

    New York Giants record: 103-48, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series 4 games to 3 with one tie.

    75 years ago - 1937
    May 27 - The Golden Gate Bridge opened.

    New York Giants record: 95-57, 1st place. Manager: Bill Terry. The New York Yankees beat the Giants 4 games to 1 in the World Series.

    50 years ago - 1962

    San Francisco Giants record: 103-62, 1st place. Manager: Alvin Dark. The Giants played another three game playoff with the Dodgers (as in 1951) and again lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series, 4 games to 3. If McCovey had hit the ball two feet higher...

    25 years ago - 1987
    May 30 - Turk Murphy, traditional jazz trombonist and band leader, died

    San Francisco Giants record: 90-72, 1st place. Manager: Roger Craig. Won the NL West, but lost a 7-game playoff to the Cardinals

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2011 Anniversaries

    175 years ago - 1836
    Mar 16 - Andrew Smith Hallidie was born

    150 years ago - 1861
    Feb 09 - The Confederate States of America was founded. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was proclaimed President
    Apr 12 - Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina
    Apr 15 - Lincoln called for 75,000 militiamen
    Apr 19 - Lincoln declared an embargo against the south
    Jul 21 - Confederates won the First Battle of Bull Run

    125 years ago - 1886
    Jan 25 - The North Hudson County Railway, an elevated line in Hoboken, started service
    May 20 - The Hayes Street line of the Market Street Cable Railway opened
    May 22 - A cable tramway began running between Milsons Point and Ridge Street, North Sydney, Australia
    Jun 25 - The Ninth Avenue line of the Kansas City Cable Railway was extended to Prospect Avenue
    Jul 14 - The Second Street Cable Railway in Los Angeles started service
    Nov 22 - Victoria Street Cable Tram route (Melbourne, Australia) begins
    Dec 08 - Trainmen of the Sutter Street Railway went on strike
    Dec 13 - Plug uglies employed by the Sutter Street Railway opened fire on strikers who were trying to persuade scabs not to operate a cable car. An innocent bystander received a bullet in his brain.
    Dec 26 - A bomb exploded along the line of the Sutter Street Railway, but caused little damage. Strikers were blamed.
    Dec 27 - Strikers attacked scabs operating trains of the Sutter Street Railway and the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway
    Dec 28 - An oiler of the Geary Street Park & Ocean Railway found a bomb in the conduit. Strikers were blamed.

    New York Giants record: 75-44, 3rd place. Manager: James Mutrie.

    100 years ago - 1911
    Apr 14 - The Polo Grounds, home of the New York Giants, burned to the ground
    Nov 13 - Women in California get the vote
    Dec 19 - Lu Watters, trumpeter, band leader, and founder of the San Francisco traditional jazz revival, was born

    New York Giants record: 99-54, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series 4 games to 2.

    75 years ago - 1936
    Nov 12 - The San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge opened to auto and truck traffic.

    New York Giants record: 92-62, 1st place. Manager: Bill Terry. The New York Yankees beat the Giants 4 games to 2 in the World Series.

    50 years ago - 1961
    Nov 27 - Car 521 ran away on the Hyde Street Hill and hit 516. 12 people were injured.

    San Francisco Giants record: 85-69, 3rd place. Manager: Alvin Dark.

    25 years ago - 1986
    Jun 17 - Al Quintana won the 24th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, interrupting Carl Payne's streak

    San Francisco Giants record: 83-79, 3rd place. Manager: Roger Craig.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2010 Anniversaries

    175 years ago - 1835
    Nov 30 - Samuel Clemens was born in Florida, Missouri

    150 years ago - 1860
    Apr 02 - Tracklaying began for the new Market Street Railroad
    Jul 04 - The steam-powered Market Street Railroad made its first trip
    Jul 15 - The steam-powered Market Street Railroad started revenue service
    Nov 06 - Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States
    Dec 20 - South Carolina seceded from the Union

    125 years ago - 1885
    Oct 08 - In Los Angeles, the Second Street Cable Railway started service
    Oct 21 - The National and Pacific Cable Companies agreed to share the national market
    Nov 06 - The Binghamton, New York experimental cable car line started running
    Nov 11 - The first cable tramway service in Australia began to Richmond in Melbourne, Australia

    New York Giants record: 85-27, 2nd place. Manager: James Mutrie. Mutrie began calling his players "My Giants". The name caught on.

    100 years ago - 1910
    Mar 29 - A car of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway derailed on the 12th Street incline and was struck by the following car.
    Apr 22 - Mark Twain died

    New York Giants record: 91-63, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1935
    Feb 27 - A runaway automobile hit the California and Powell signal tower. Signalman James Chiamps later died.
    Apr 30 - The Inner Circle of the Glasgow District Subway last ran with cable traction
    Nov 30 - The Outer Circle of the Glasgow District Subway last ran with cable traction

    New York Giants record: 91-62, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Terry.

    50 years ago - 1960

    San Francisco Giants record: 79-75, 5th place. Managers: Bill Rigney, Tom Sheehan.

    25 years ago - 1985

    San Francisco Giants record: 62-100, 6th place. Managers: Jimmy Davenport, Roger Craig. This was the only time the Giants have lost 100 games.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2009 Anniversaries

    200 years ago - 1809
    Feb 12 - Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky

    125 years ago - 1884
    May 29 - The Highgate Hill Cable Tramway, the first cable tramway in Europe, started service.
    Jun 30 - The Telegraph Hill Railroad, a funicular, started service.

    New York National League club (not yet Giants) record: 62-50, 5th place. Managers: James Price, Monte Ward.

    100 years ago - 1909
    May 30 - Benny Goodman was born in Chicago

    New York Giants record: 92-61, 3rd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1934
    May 09 - West Coast longshoremen, led by Harry Bridges, go out on strike
    Jul 05 - Bloody Thursday -- San Francisco police shoot and kill two maritime strikers, Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise
    Jul 16 - A three day general strike led to the settlement of the maritime strike and the recognition of the International Longshore Workers' Union

    New York Giants record: 93-60, 2nd place. Manager: Bill Terry.

    50 years ago - 1959
    May 14 - Sidney Bechet, important early jazz musician, died in Paris

    San Francisco Giants record: 83-71, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Rigney.

    25 years ago - 1984
    Apr 26 - Bill "Count" Basie, piano player and swing band leader, died
    Jun 03 - The California Street line reopened after the Great Reconstruction
    Jun 04 - The Powell/Hyde Street line reopened and the rebuilt Washington/Mason carbarn and powerhouse was dedicated after the Great Reconstruction
    Jun 21 - The Powell/Mason Street line reopened and the city held a major celebrtion after the Great Reconstruction
    Aug 12 - A suicidal driver ran head-on into Powell/Hyde car 12, causing it to run away backwards downhill. Gripman Ray McCann and his conductor, Charles Gerstbacher, both seriously injured, were able to stop the car

    San Francisco Giants record: 66-96, 6th place. Managers: Frank Robinson, Danny Ozark.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    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

    Go to top of page.

    2007 Anniversaries

    175 years ago - 1832
    Nov 26 - America's first horse car, the John Mason, went into service in New York CIty, running from City Hall to 14th Street

    150 years ago - 1857
    Dec 09 - The Market Street Railroad was incorporated.

    125 years ago - 1882
    Jan 16 - The Presidio and Ferries Railway opened its Union Street cable car line.
    Jan 28 - The Chicago City Railway opened its State Street line, the first US cable railway outside of San Francisco.
    Sep 22 - A meeting of National League owners dropped the Troy, New York and Worcester, Massachusetts clubs and reassigned the franchises to New York and Philadelphia.

    100 years ago - 1907
    Jan 30 - Cable car service was restored on Powell from Market to the powerhouse
    Mar 01 - Cable car service was restored on the full Powell/Mason line and the shortened Washington/Jackson line
    Mar 09 - Abe Ruef was arrested at the Trocadero Roadhouse in what is now Stern Grove
    Mar 19 - The entire Board of Supervisors, except for two members, was indicted for accepting bribes from URR and other companies
    May 16 - Abe Ruef pleaded guilty to extortion.
    Jun 14 - Mayor Schmitz was gound guilty of extortion. The sentence was later overturned.
    Aug 29 - Cable car service was restored on the remnant of the Castro Street line

    New York Giants record: 82-71, 4th place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1932

    New York Giants record: 72-82, 6th place. Managers: John McGraw, Bill Terry.

    50 years ago - 1957
    Mar 02 - The Mornington Tramway, Dunedin NZ, closed. This was the last cable car line outside of San Francisco.
    Apr 07 - The San Francisco Municipal Railway's Powell/Hyde line began service.
    Sep 29 - The New York Giants played their last home game at the Polo Grounds. They lost 9-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
    Nov 11 - Demolition begins on Cal Cable car barn and powerhouse at California & Hyde. It was replaced by a Cala supermarket.

    New York Giants record: 69-85, 6th place. Manager: Bill Rigney.

    25 years ago - 1982
    Feb 17 - Thelonious Sphere Monk, American composer and piano player died
    Sep 21 - The beginning of the Great Reconstruction closes all cable lines

    San Francisco Giants record: 87-75, 3rd place. Manager: Frank Robinson.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2006 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1856
    Jan 17 - The first trial Charles Cora for killing Marshall William Richardson ended in a hung jury
    Apr 19 - The California State legislature passed an act to consolidate the City and County of San Francisco, forming San Mateo County from the remaining part of San Francisco County
    May 14 - James P Casey shot James King of William at Montgomery and Washington Streets. Both men were newspaper publishers, but King's Bulletin had recently revealed that Casey was an ex convict. Veterans of the 1851 Committee of Vigilance began to organize a new committee
    May 15 - The Second Committee of Vigilance was formally organized
    May 18 - Members of the Vigilance Committee removed both Charles Cora and James Casey from the county jail
    May 20 - James King of William died of his wound
    May 22 - The Vigilance Committee hanged Cora and Casey after King's burial at Lone Mountain
    Jul 20 - The San Francisco News Letter began publication
    Aug 18 - The Vigilance Committee disbanded

    125 years ago - 1881
    Feb 24 - The Roslyn Tramway, the first cable railway outside of San Francisco, opened in Dunedin, NZ.
    Apr 14 - The Cable Railway Company was formed.

    100 years ago - 1906
    Jan 03 - The Mount Lowe railway reopened after a severe fire
    Apr 17 - The last day of service on several San Francisco cable car lines operated by the Presidio and Ferries and United Railroads of San Francisco
    Apr 18 - The great earthquake and and subsequent fire destroyed most of San Francisco.
    May 22 - A generous bribe from the URR, arranged by Abraham "Boss" Ruef, persuaded the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Eugene E Schmitz to allow trolley wires on Market Street
    May 23 - The San Francisco Seals played the first Pacific Coast League game in the Bay Area after the Fire and Earthquake, defeating Fresno 5-4.
    Jun 21 - The Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railway resumed service, the first cable car line to return after the Earthquake and Fire
    Oct 21 - The Chicago City Railway ended cable service.
    Nov 16 - Mayor Eugene Schmitz and Abe Ruef were indicted for extortion, in part because of the payments from URR in return for allowing trolley wires on Market Street.

    New York Giants record: 96-56, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1931
    Aug 07 - Bix Beiderbecke died far too young

    New York Giants record: 87-65, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1956
    Sep 02 - Car 524 made the last trip on the Washington/Jackson line
    Dec 31 - Car 15 made the last trip on the California Street main line before it shut down for rebuilding

    New York Giants record: 67-87, 6th place. Manager: Bill Rigney.

    25 years ago - 1981

    San Francisco Giants record: 56-55, 4th place. Manager: Frank Robinson. A strike cancelled 51 games. Before the strike, the Giants were 27-32, in 5th place. After the strike, they were 29-23, in 4th place.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2005 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1855
    Mar 18 - The Mechanic's Institute was founded in San Francisco. Charter members included Andrew S Hallidie
    Jul 15 - Dedication of Saint Ignatius Church, founded by Father Anthony Maraschi, SJ, on Market between Fourth and Fifth.
    Oct 15 - Saint Ignatius Academy had its first classes, with three students.
    Nov 17 - Charles Cora, a gambler, fatally shot Marshall William Richardson, who had insulted Cora's mistress, Belle

    125 years ago - 1880
    Jan 08 - Joshua Norton, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, died on California Street
    Feb 16 - The Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railway opened in San Francisco

    100 years ago - 1905
    Jan 15 - The last cable tram ran in Sydney, Australia

    New York Giants record: 105-48, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. The Giants beat Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series, 4 games to 1.

    75 years ago - 1930

    New York Giants record: 87-67, 3rd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1955
    Oct 29 - The Maryhill Tramway, Dunedin NZ, closed.

    New York Giants record: 80-74, 3rd place. Manager: Leo Durocher.

    25 years ago - 1980

    San Francisco Giants record: 75-86, 5th place. Manager: Dave Bristol.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2004 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1854
    Mar 01 - The California Steam Navigation Company was organized
    Apr 03 - The first United States Branch Mint in San Francisco opened on Commercial Street
    Dec 25 - San Francisco's first Saint Mary's Cathedral was dedicated

    125 years ago - 1879
    May 30 - The California Street Cable Railroad extended its line from Fillmore to Presidio.

    100 years ago - 1904
    May 21 - Thomas "Fats" Waller, great American pianist, organist, singer, and composer, was born
    Nov 01 - A car of Kansas City's Metropolitan Street Railway lost its grip and rolled back to the bottom of the 12th Street incline. Passengers who jumped were injured.
    Dec 19 - Bill "Count" Basie, piano player and swing band leader, was born in Red Bank, NJ

    New York Giants record: 106-47, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. Angry about ill-treatment at the hands of American League president Ban Johnson, McGraw and Brush refused to participate in the World Series.

    75 years ago - 1929
    Aug 19 - The Upper Douglas Cable Tramway was abandoned.
    Nov 17 - The Pacific Avenue remnant of the Sutter Street Railway was abandoned.

    New York Giants record:84-67, 3rd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1954
    Feb 06 - Muni abandoned the Jones Street Shuttle of the former California Street Cable Railroad (San Francisco, California)
    May 15 - Muni abandoned the O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line of the former California Street Cable Railroad (San Francisco, California)

    New York Giants record: 97-57, 1st place. Manager: Leo Durocher. The Giants swept the Cleveland Indians in the World Series.

    25 years ago - 1979

    San Francisco Giants record: 71-91, 4th place. Managers: Joe Altobelli, Dave Bristol.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2003 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1853
    Apr 04 - The California Academy of Sciences was founded
    Jul 17 - Bishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany laid the cornerstone of Saint Mary's Church at California and Dupont

    125 years ago - 1878
    Apr 10 - The California Street Cable Railroad started service

    100 years ago - 1903
    Mar 10 - Bix Beiderbecke, influential cornet player, was born in Davenport, IA
    May 29 - Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope, great comedian, was born in London
    Jun 02 - Kansas City reached a "Peace Agreement" with the Metropolitan Street Railway, giving them a new franchise in return for converting surviving cable car lines.
    Jun 16 - Henry Ford and a group of investors formed the Ford Motor Company, Ford's third attempt at forming a company to manufacture autos
    Jul 08 - The Upper Great Orme Tramway opened in Llandudno, Wales. It is still operating
    Jul 26 - Layman's Castle at the top of Telegraph Hill burned to the ground.
    Sep 01 - Kansas City's former Grand Avenue Railroad cable lines (15th Street, Holmes Street, Walnut Street) ceased.
    Dec 18 - The Wright Brothers made the first flight in a powered heavier than air craft

    New York Giants record: 84-55, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    75 years ago - 1928

    New York Giants record: 93-61, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1953
    Jul 23 - Fighting stops in Korea for a cease-fire that has mostly held till now.

    New York Giants record: 70-84, 5th place. Manager: Leo Durocher.

    25 years ago - 1978

    San Francisco Giants record: 89-73, 3rd place. Manager: Joe Altobelli.

    Anniversaries Archive

    Go to top of page.

    2002 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1852
    Mar 18 - During a meeting at the Astor House Hotel in New York, Henry Wells and William Fargo formed express and banking company Wells Fargo
    Apr 19 - The California Historical Society was founded
    Jul 13 - The first office of Wells Fargo opened on Montgomery Street in San Francisco

    125 years ago - 1877
    Jan 27 - The Sutter Street Railway opened its first cable line.
    Jul 05 - The California Street Cable Railroad started construction

    100 years ago - 1902
    Feb 22 - The Kelburn Cable Car, a funicular in Wellington, NZ, started service.
    Feb 27 - John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, CA
    Jun 09 - Mount Auburn Cable Railway (Cincinnati, Ohio) converted
    Jul 31 - The Lower Great Orme Tramway opened in Llandudno, Wales. It is still operating
    Aug 22 - A train descending the Ninth Street trestle of the former Kansas City Cable Railway lost the rope and ran into another train, killing the gripman of the runaway train and injuring 17 passengers.
    Sep 02 - The Troost Avenue cable line of the former Kansas City Cable Railway stopped running.
    Oct 02 - The Temple Street Cable Railway in Los Angeles, California converted to electricity

    New York Giants record: 48-88, 8th place. Managers: Horace Fogel, George Smith, John McGraw. John McGraw, signed from the Baltimore Orioles as player/manager. He remained in charge for 30 seasons.

    75 years ago - 1927
    May 20 - Charles A Lindbergh took off from New York in the Spirit of Saint Louis
    May 21 - Charles A Lindbergh landed in Paris after making the first solo flight across the Atlantic

    New York Giants record: 92-62, 3rd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1952
    Jan 13 - California Street Cable Railroad (San Francisco, California) lines began running again, operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway.

    New York Giants record: 92-62, 2nd place. Manager: Leo Durocher. Willie Mays got drafted.

    25 years ago - 1977

    San Francisco Giants record: 75-87, 4th place. Manager: Joe Altobelli.

    2001 Anniversaries

    225 years ago - 1776
    Jun 29 - San Francisco and Mission Dolores were founded.
    Jul 04 - In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.
    Nov 14 - The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.

    150 years ago - 1851
    May 04 - The Fifth Great Fire destroyed San Francisco's entire business district
    Jun 01 - Horse-drawn omnibuses began running between downtown San Francisco and Mission Dolores
    Jun 09 - The First San Francisco Committee of Vigilance was organized in response to a wave of crimes, especially arson
    Jun 10 - The Committee of Vigilance hanged John Jenkins of the Sydney Ducks gang for stealing a safe
    Jun 22 - The Sixth Great Fire destroyed 14 blocks
    Jun 25 - The New Mission Toll Road opened from Clay and Kearny, out Third to Mission, along Mission to Corbett Road.
    Sep 15 - The Committee of Vigilance disbanded

    125 years ago - 1876
    Jun 14 - The California Street Cable Railroad received its franchise

    100 years ago - 1901
    Feb 14 - People's Railway (St Louis, Missouri) converted to electricity
    Mar 14 - Missouri Railroad (St Louis, Missouri) converted to electricity
    May 11 - Metropolitan Street Railway (New York, New York) converted its Columbus Avenue line to electricity
    May 25 - Metropolitan Street Railway (New York, New York) converted its Broadway line to electricity
    Jun 19 - Metropolitan Street Railway (New York, New York) converted its Lexington Avenue line to electricity
    Aug 04 - Louis Armstrong, one of the most important figures in American music, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
    Aug 31 - The first electric streetcars in Honolulu, Hawaii ran. See Streetcar Days in Honolulu for some wonderful photos from the new book of the same name by MacKinnon Simpson and John Brizdle.

    New York Giants record: 52-85, 7th place. Manager: George Davis.

    75 years ago - 1926

    New York Giants record: 74-77, 5th place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1951
    Apr 11 - President Harry S Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur. General Matthew Ridgeway took command in Korea.
    Jul 31 - California Street Cable Railroad (San Francisco, California) ceased operating when its insurance coverage lapsed.
    Aug 11 - The New York Giants trailed the Brooklyn Dodgers by 13.5 games.
    Aug 13 - California Street Cable Railroad (San Francisco, California), beset by lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy.
    Sep 05 - The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge begins.
    Sep 20 - California Street Cable Railroad (San Francisco, California), purchased by the City of San Francisco.
    Sep 23 - The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge ends.
    Oct 03 - Bobby Thomson came to bat in the 9th inning of the third and final game of the playoff series with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Brooklyn led 4-2. The Giants had runners on second and third. Willie Mays was on deck. Thompson hit "the shot heard round the world" and the Giants won the pennant.

    New York Giants record: 98-59, First place. Manager: Leo Durocher. After the Giants had been 13.5 games back in August, they tied Brooklyn on the last day of the season, forcing a three game playoff to decide the pennant. The teams split the first two games, but Bobby Thomson's "shot heard round the world" won the third game and the pennant for the Giants. The exhausted team lost the World Series 4 games to 2 to the New York Yankees.

    25 years ago - 1976

    San Francisco Giants record: 74-88, 4th place. Manager: Bill Rigney. Bob Lurie and Bud Herseth saved the Giants from moving to Toronto.

    2000 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1850
    May 1 - Alcalde John White Geary, later a general in the Civil War, was sworn in as the first Mayor of San Francisco
    May 4 - The Second Great Fire destroyed the entire block bounded by Kearny, Clay, Montgomery and Washington
    Jun 14 - The Third Great Fire destroyed the area between Clay and California from Kearny to the waterfront
    Sep 9 - California was admitted to the Union as the 31st state
    Sepr 17 - The Fourth Great Fire destroyed the area bounded by Dupont, Montgomery, Washington and Pacific
    Oct 18 - The Steamer Oregon arrived with news that California had been admitted to the Union

    125 years ago - 1875
    Sep 9 - Actress Lotta Crabtree dedicated Lotta's Fountain to the citizens of San Francisco at the intersection of Geary, Kearny and Market streets
    ??? ?? - The old Ferry Building opened at the foot of Market Street

    100 years ago - 1900
    Mar 28 - Denver City Cable Company (Denver, Colorado) West Denver line converted to electricity
    Mar 29 - Denver City Cable Company (Denver, Colorado) Welton line converted to electricity
    Apr 1 - Denver City Cable Company (Denver, Colorado) Larimer line converted to electricity
    Apr 24 - Andrew Smith Hallidie died
    May 2 - Grand Avenue Railway (Kansas City, Missouri) converted its Westport line to electricity
    Sep 4 - Front Street Cable Railway (Seattle, Washington) converted to electricity. The section on Queen Anne Hill was converted to a counterbalance.
    Oct 8 - St Louis Railroad (St Louis, Missouri) converted to electricity
    Oct 30 - Metropolitan Street Railway (Kansas City, Missouri) converted its 18th-19th Street line to electricity
    ??? ?? - New South Wales Government Tramways (Sydney, Australia) converted to electricity
    ??? ?? - Kaikorai Tramway (Dundein, New Zealand) opened

    New York Giants record: 60-78, 8th place. Managers: Buck Ewing, George Davis.

    75 years ago - 1925

    New York Giants record: 86-66, 2nd place. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1950

    New York Giants record: 86-68, 3rd place. Manager: Leo Durocher.

    25 years ago - 1975

    San Francisco Giants record: 80-81, 3rd place. Manager: Wes Westrum.

    1999 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1849
    Dec 24 - The First Great Fire in San Francisco destroyed the buildings on the south and east sides of the Plaza, causing $1 million in damage.

    125 years ago - 1874
    Feb - San Francisco Clay Street Hill Cable Railroad carried 76,500 passengers.

    100 years ago - 1899
    Mar 23 - Baltimore City Passenger Railway (Baltimore, Maryland) converted.
    Apr 29 - Duke Ellington, America's greatest composer, was born in Washington, DC.
    May 21 - Oakland Cable Railway (Oakland, California) converted.
    Jul 15 - People's Cable Railway Tenth Street line (Kansas City, Missouri) closed.
    Jul 16 - The Brooklyn Elevated Railway (New York, New York) stopped running its trains across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, using the New York & Brooklyn Bridge's cable line, except during busy summer periods.
    Jul 23 - Columbia Railway (Washington, DC) converted.
    Sep 28 - Third Ave Railroad 125th Street section (New York, New York) converted to electric. The rest of the company's cable trackage was converted by the end of the year.
    Oct 22 - My grandfather, Ernesto Cafferata, was born. He was chef and partner in San Francisco's Fly Trap Restaurant
    Dec 31 - Former Omnibus Howard Street main line and Post Street lines (San Francisco, California) were closed.

    New York Giants record: 60-90, 5th place. Managers: John B Day (who had been the Giants' first president), Fred Hoey.

    75 years ago - 1924

    New York Giants record: 93-60, 1st place. The Giants played their fourth straight World Series. They lost to the Washington Senators 4 games to 3. Manager: John McGraw.

    13.0 miles in service
    0 miles abandoned or converted

    50 years ago - 1949


    Jul 8 - The New York Giants' first two African American players, Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson, appeared in their first game. Monte Irivn entered the Hall of Fame in 1973.

    New York Giants record: 73-81, 5th place. Manager: Leo Durocher.

    25 years ago - 1974
    Apr 8 - Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, taking the lifetime home run record from Babe Ruth.
    Sep 3 - John (the Count) Montefusco made his first appearance for the Giants. He made an eight inning relief appearance, hit a two-run homer, and beat the Dodgers 9-5.

    San Francisco Giants record: 72-90, 5th place. Managers: Charlie Fox, Wes Westrum.

    1998 Anniversaries

    150 years ago - 1848
    Jan 24 - James Marshall discovered gold in the run of Sutter's Mill near Coloma, CA. This led to the Gold Rush, which shaped the future of California and San Francisco.
    Feb 2 - The treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War and formally ceded California to the United States
    Dec 5 - President James K Polk formally told the US Congress about gold in California

    125 years ago - 1873
    Aug 2 - Clay Street Hill Cable Railroad made its first test run
    Sep 1 - Clay Street Hill Cable Railroad started revenue service

    100 years ago - 1898
    Feb 1 - Mount Adams & Eden Park Railway (Cincinatti, Ohio) closed
    Feb 15 - US battleship Maine blew up in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. The incident, which may have been an accident, triggered the Spanish American War
    Apr 21 - US Congress declared war on Spain
    May 1 - Commodore George Dewey destroyed the Spanish cruiser squadron at Manila, PI
    May 25 - Washington & Georgetown Seventh Street line closed. Electric rails for the conduit electric cars had been laid while the cable cars were running.
    Jun 31 - Saint Paul City Railway Selby Street line closed. It was replaced by a counterbalance, which helped electrics up and down the Selby Street hill. The counterbalance was replaced 10-Oct-1906 by a tunnel.
    Jul 1 - The Battle of San Juan Hill, which made Teddy Roosevelt's reputation
    Jul 3 - US fleet destroyed Admiral Pascual Cervera's Spanish squadron at Santiago de Cuba
    Sep 16 - Vine Street Cable Railway (Cincinnati, Ohio) closed
    Nov 1 - Metropolitan Street Railway (Kansas City, Missouri) closed its 5th Street-Wyandotte line
    Nov 1 - The Brooklyn Elevated Railway (New York, New York) began running its trains across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, using the New York & Brooklyn Bridge's cable line.
    Dec 10 - The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War

    New York Giants record: 77-73, 7th place. Managers: Bill Joice, Cap Anson (22 games), Bill Joice again.

    75 years ago - 1923


    Jun 1 - The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 22-8 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The Giants scored at least one run in every inning, a rare feat.
    Sep 30 - Bill Terry, future Hall of Famer, played his first game for the New York Giants

    New York Giants record: 95-58, 1st place. The Giants played the Yankees in the World Series for the third year in a row, but lost 4 games to 2. Manager: John McGraw.

    50 years ago - 1948


    Jul 16 - New York Giants fans were shocked when hero Mel Ott resigned as manager and was replaced by Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.

    New York Giants record: 78-76, 5th place. Managers: Mel Ott, Leo Durocher.

    25 years ago - 1973
    Apr 12 - San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey hit two home runs in the fourth inning during a game against the Houston Astros.
    Jul 15 - San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey hit his four hundredth home run and Juan Marichal shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0.
    Aug 2 - the Centennial
    Surviving Clay Street cable car #8 was loaded onto a flat bed truck and driven on the Clay Street hill.
    Oct 25 - The San Francisco Giants traded Willie McCovey to the San Diego Padres.
    Dec 7 - The San Francisco Giants sold Juan Marichal to the Boston Red Sox, completing the dispersal of the three greatest SF Giants players up to that time - Willy Mays, McCovey, and Marichal - within a period of 18 months.

    San Francisco Giants record: 88-74, 3rd place. Manager: Charlie Fox.

    1997 Anniversaries

    100 years ago - 1897
    Mar 4 - Frank (Lefty) O'Doul born, San Francisco, California. He had nothing to do with cable cars, but he had a .349 lifetime average and managed the San Francisco Seals for many years. He's not in the Hall of Fame, but he should be.
    Jun 14 - Citizens Traction Company (Pittsburgh) closed
    Aug 31 - West Seattle Cable Railway closed
    Sep 19 - Butte City Street Railroad closed
    Sep 29 - Washington & Georgetown 14th Street Powerhouse destroyed by fire. 14th Street & Georgetown lines temporarily replaced by horses, next year by electric cars

    New York Giants record: 83-48, 3rd place. Manager: Bill Joice.

    75 years ago - 1922
    Sep 27 - Travis "Stonewall" Jackson played the first game of his Hall of Fame career for the Giants.

    New York Giants record: 93-61, 1st place. Manager: John McGraw. Defeated New York Yankees 4-0-1 for the second straight year.

    50 years ago - 1947
    Jan 15 - Mayor Roger Lapham tried to kill off the surviving San Francisco cable cars. Friedel Klussmann proposed saving them. This led to the founding of the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars (CCSCC). Lucius Beebe said Mrs Klussmann was designated to wield terror and authority once possessed by the Vigilance Committee of 1851. This led to Proposition 10, which called for saving the cable cars. It won by a 3 to 1 margin
    Jan 21- Carl Hubbell, great Giants pitcher, was elected to the Hall of Fame.
    Jun 11- Mel Ott made his last appearance as a player for the Giants.

    New York Giants record: 81-73, 4th place. Manager: Mel Ott. The team had terrible pitching, but was known as "the Windowbreakers" because of their power. They hit 55 home runs in July. They hit 221 for the season.

    25 years ago - 1972
    May 11 - The Giants traded Willy Mays to the Mets.

    San Francisco Giants record: 81-73, 5th place. Manager: Charley Fox.

    Go to top of Anniversary archive.

    Go to top of page.


    Home /What /How /Where & When /Who /Why
    Chronology/ Miscellany/ /Links /Map /Bibliography
    Copyright 1996-2024 by Joe Thompson. All rights reserved.
    Last updated 01-July-2024