I want to use this site to share my knowledge about and interest in cable cars (also known as cable tramways). I want to keep it simple. I welcome input from any source, especially about cable cars in cities other than San Francisco. I hope to build this page up gradually as time permits. I welcome information, photographs, and suggestions.
Table of Contents
NewsCable Cars Temporarily Replaced by Buses - 25-November-2024 Because of planned street closures, California Street cable cars were completely replaced by buses and Powell Street lines ran from the car barn to the outer terminals all day on Monday and Tuesday (25-26-November). Cable Cars Threatened With Service Cuts - 13-November-2024
Roland Li's article in the 13-November-2024 San Francisco Chronicle, "S.F. Muni faces ‘terrifying’ cuts, possible cable car closures due to deficit," says that the failure of Proposition L in the November election will cause major deficits, which may lead to large service cuts and "cable car closures." I'm not sure how cable car service can be cut because Section 16.100 of the San Francisco City Charter requires Muni to maintain a certain level of service on the cable car lines. Powell Street Cable Cars Turned Back Because of Police Action - 13-September-2024
All Powell Street cable cars were forced to turn back at the cable car barn because of police action around the Powell Street BART station. The $50M Problem Lurking Behind One of SF's Biggest Attractions - 09-August-2024
Freelance writer Tamara Palmer published an essay about her experiences riding a cable car for the first time in
about 30 years. Standing on the running boards, she felt scared and got off after a few blocks. She invoked a novel
about a serial killer. She concludes " I couldn’t help but wonder after my fearsome ride if cable cars, or certain
intersections, are notably dangerous." I think she overreacted, but the essay is worth a read:
Cable Cars Replaced by Buses - 09-August-2024
All California Street cable car service and parts of Powell Street service were replaced by buses on 10- and 11-August while presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris spent two days at the Fairmont Hotel while on a fundraising visit. COVID-19 Continues - 01-August-2024
COVID-19 statistics have been going up. We had an insane month, with an awful debate between President Joe Biden and convicted felon Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention, President Biden withdrew in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.
We seem to have a stalemate in Ukraine.
The Paris Olympics started with an entertaining opening ceremony.
Powell Street Lines Delayed - 29-July-2024
COVID-19 Continues - 01-July-2024
"Respiratory illnesses are on the rise, so it's important to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine now." We haven't gotten our update yet.
Willie Mays died. That same week, the Giants and Cardinals played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham in a tribute to Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues. The ceremonies were nice, but the Giants lost. The Giants came home on the 24th, appropriately, and all the players wore the number 24. The Giants beat the Cubs on a walk-off walk.
Later in the month, Orlando Cepeda also died.
We finished the 2022-2023 school year. Slay the Holidays - 01-July-2024
The San Francisco MTA (Municipal Transportation Agency) is selling Christmas sweaters with cable car images. Get in the Groove With the Hyde Ride - 01-June-2024
This summer the San Francisco Municipal Railway in association with today's Market Street Railway is offering some special summer services. The Hyde Ride will operate three days a week, offering a single $8 fare for a round-trip from Aquatic Park up the Hyde hill, down Washington to Chinatown and directly back to Aquatic Park. This special service will feature various special equipment, including 1907 O’Farrell, Jones and Hyde Cable Car 42, operating on part of its original route, Big 19, a Sacramento-Clay cable car and Cal Cable 53, a car recently dedicated to Tony Bennett. COVID-19 Continues - 01-June-2024
Covid-19 trends are rising slightly because of a new strain. Our former so-called president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts related to election interference. He is the first former president to be convicted of a felony. He won't go to jail yet. COVID-19 Continues - 01-May-2024
Covid-19 trends continue to go down. My wife and I both got some horrible virus/bacterium that was not Covid-19.
Iran launched an unprecedented attack directly on Israel. Israel has not started its final assault on the Gaza Strip. Students are at universities across the country are erecting tents and calling
for divesting in Israeli companies and companies that do business in Israel. Many Jewish students feel threatened.
Our former so-called president went on trial in New York for 34 felony counts.
BART held a ceremonial last run of its original cars. The Giants are showing signs of life but are still hovering at or below .500.
The House finally passed aid for Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine. Cable Car Ridership Down - 22-April-2024 An article in the San Francisco Chronicle, "S.F.’s iconic cable cars are hemorrhaging riders. Here’s how bad it’s gotten" By Ricardo Cano reported that cable car ridership is still down after the COVID-19 events. COVID-19 Continues - 01-April-2024
Covid-19 trends seem to be going down. Many people seem to be coming down with Covid-19 again, but the cases may be milder.
More food aid is getting to Gaza, but there is still a risk of mass starvation. Israel is preparing to enter the last city in the south of Gaza, Rafah. President Biden called on the Israelis to be more careful of innocent lives. The whole world is calling for a ceasefire.
The House is still delaying aid to Ukraine. The Republican Party is beholden to Putin. I am sorry to have to write that.
The Giants have had a mixed record in spring training. It has been nice to see Pablo Sandoval again. He probably made his last appearance as a Giant during the Bay Bridge Series.
Our former so-called president had until 25-March-2024 to post a huge bond after losing his real estate fraud case. His lawyers were able to get the bond amount reduced and to get an additional ten days.
My students are making good progress with Code Avengers. COVID-19 Continues - 01-March-2024
California has updated its COVID guidelines on isolation.
Israel has changed the intensity of its operations in Gaza. Famine is spreading in the area.
Ukraine and Russia appear to be in a stalemate.
Dusty Baker is returning to the Giants as a special assistant.
Trump lost another lawsuit and will pay $83.3 million.
Catholic Schools Week started at Good Shepherd.
COVID-19 Continues - 01-February-2024
Covid-19 trends seem to be going down. On the other hand, nearly everyone I know has some kind of a nasty virus. Israel has paused before attacking the southernmost part of Gaza. People all over the world are calling for a ceasefire or evacuation of civilians. A US Airman immolated himself in front of the Israeli Embassy. The US and other countries have started to airdrop humanitarian supplies in Gaza.
Congress is still delaying aid to Ukraine, which is running short on ammunition. The Republican Pary appears to be beholden to Putin. 24-February-2024 marked two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Spring training has started. Brandon Crawford has signed with the Cardinals.
Trump lost a real estate fraud case and was ordered to pay $355 million.
A bee flew into the computer lab today. The first graders wigged out. Tony Bennett Cable Car Commemoration - 14-February-2024
San Francisco will celebrate Valentine's Day and dedicate California Street cable car 53 to Tony Bennett. The event will be held by the Fairmont Hotel, where Bennett first performed the song, on 14-February-2024 at 10:45 AM. Willie Mays Day - 04-February-2024
San Francisco Mayor London Breed declared Sunday, 04-February-2024 (2-4-24), to be Willie Mays Day. A ceremony at Hyde and Beach (at 2:24 pm) dedicated Powell Street Car 24 to the greatest living ball player. Many people asked why they didn't pick May 6, his birthday.
COVID-19 Continues - 01-February-2024
California has updated its COVID guidelines on isolation.
Israel has changed the intensity of its operations in Gaza. Famine is spreading in the area.
Ukraine and Russia appear to be in a stalemate.
Dusty Baker is returning to the Giants as a special assistant.
Trump lost another lawsuit and will pay $83.3 million.
Catholic Schools Week started at Good Shepherd.
Powell Street Turntable Blocked - 26-January-2024
Inbound Powell Street cable cars were forced to turn back at Washington/Mason because a cable car was stalled, blocking the Powell Street turntable. COVID-19 Continues - 01-January-2024
COVID infections are rising because of holiday gatherings and a new variant, JM.1. Israel continues to lay waste to Gaza. They are losing much sympathy.
Ukraine has destroyed a significant part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Russian soldiers are reported as
surrendering to get away from abuse by their officers.
The Giants signed outfielder Jung Hoo Lee from the Korean League.
One day after it rained, I was doing yard duty with Kindergarten and most of us stood around a puddle
and observed earthworms swimming. We discussed where earthworms live, what they eat and we reached a consensus that they
don't wear shoes.
Climb Aboard History At Powell Plaza - 16-December-2023
If the weather allows, a motorized cable car will park at Powell and Market each Tuesday and Saturday. The public will be welcome to climb aboard from 7am to 7pm. I haven't found out when this will end, so don't dawdle. Climb Aboard History At Powell Plaza - 16-December-2023
COVID-19 Continues - 01-December-2023
My wife and I have finally gotten our new COVID-19 boosters and our flu shots. I should ask my doctor if we need to get the RSV shot, too. The Giants have been quiet. Congress managed to hold off a government shutdown until the new year. The war between Israel and Hamas had a cease fire based on the exchange of prisoners. Ukraine is making progress with its counterattack.
We finished the first trimester at Good Shepherd School and my students are doing well in technology and coding. Al (Tito) Quintana, RIP - 12-November-2023
Al (Tito) Quintana, retired Muni gripman and four time champion of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest has made the final pull-in. My condolences to his family. He attended many of the recent Bell Ringing Contests and gave exhibitions. APEC 2023 San Francisco - 11-November-2023
The 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum caused large areas around Moscone Center and on top of Nob Hill to be closed to traffic. The California Street cable line was temporarily replaced by buses. The inner portion of the Powell Street lines was replaced by buses from Market to Washington/Mason. Powell Street cable cars switched back at Washington/Mason. COVID-19 Continues - 01-November-2023
My wife and I have been beset by bad coughs, so we have not yet gotten our new COVID-19 boosters. We hope to get our flu shots at the same time. The Giants signed Bob Melvin as their new manager. I remember when he played for the Giants. He was very good when he managed the Athletics. Working for a team that pays people in money rather than hot dogs should be even better. Bruce Bochy's Texas Rangers beat Dusty Baker's Houston Astros in the ALCS. Dusty Baker announced his retirement. Texas and Arizona played in the World Series. We went without a Speaker of the House for most of the month. The guy they chose voted against certifying the election and is a Trump cultist. We have been able to use the computer lab at Good Shepherd and it is working well. There are reports that Russian troops in Ukraine are performing acts of insubordination.. Millbrae Earthquake - 27-October-2023
A roughly 4.0 earthquake near San Francisco International Airport (SFO) caused Muni to pause all rail lines, including the cable cars so the staff could make a safety check. Cable Car/Auto Collision - 10-October-2023 Powell Street car 28 was going down Washington Street when the gripman noticed a Tesla stopped in the intersection at Taylor. The gripman had to use the emergency brake, which drops a guillotine-like blade into the slot. The car stopped abruptly and six passengers wound up in the hospital. More than one story I have seen said the conductor applied the emergency brake. Not likely. (Source: KPIX News) COVID-19 Continues - 01-October-2023
COVID-19 is on the rise again. A new vaccine is available. I have been wearing my mask more outside of the house. The Ukrainian offensive is making progress. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to the US to address the UN General Assembly. Many Republicans are taking Putin's side, calling for an end to aid. The Giants struggled along to the end of the season. They remained in contention for a wildcard spot for a surprisingly long time. Manager Gabe Kaplan got fired with three games to go.
They moved the tabernacle at Good Shepherd Church. I have been teaching at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica, but they tore the floor out of the computer lab and redid it. When that was done, they redid the walkway outside. When all of that was done, the Scholastic Book Fair took over the room for a week. Senator Dianne Feinstein, RIP - 29-September-2023
Senator Dianne Feinstein died on 29-September-2023. She was mayor of San Francisco during the Great Reconstruction of 1983-84. Without Mayor Feinstein pushing the project, we might have lost the cable cars. She also helped to create Muni's F-line. She was President of the Board of Supervisors and became mayor when Dan White murdered Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. She did a lot to help San Francisco recover from the tragedy. Later she became California's first woman Senator. She wielded immense power as a member of the Judiciary Committee. In her last year or so, before she died on 29-September-2023, she suffered from many health problems. People called for her to resign, but I knew she wouldn't. I had been aware of her since I was in grade school. Her aunt lived across the street from my parents' house.
San Francisco's Trolley Titan - 01-September-2023
San Francisco's Trolley Titan, United Railroads of San Francisco, a new book by Emiliano Echeverria with Walter Rice, and Michael Dolgushkin with Paul Trimble, is now available as an Ebook on a DVD. I'm looking forward to reading it. This is a follow-on to Emiliano Echeverria and Michael Dolgushkin's previous book, San Francisco's Transportation Octopus, the Market Street Railway of 1893. COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-September-2023
The Giants' wheels have fallen off. They played a game wearing San Francisco Sea Lions replica jerseys. I had to explain to my wife why they had a picture of a bear. They put clubhouse manager Mike Murphy on the Wall of Fame.
COVID-19 is rising. More people are wearing masks.I started the new school year. This year I am teaching technology to K and coding to 1-3. I am also doing yard duty with K. Ukraine made an attack on Crimea. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group mercenaries, probably died in a plance crash. This may have been retaliation for his brief rebellion against Putin. COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-August-2023
Reports say that COVID-19 is on the rise again in hospitals and senior housing. I have been preparing for the new school year. Much of the nation is suffering under enormous heat. Ukraine's offensive seems to be going slowly. Russia damaged the Orthodox cathedral in Odesa.
Tony Bennett, RIP - 21-July-2023 Tony Bennett has died. My condolences to his family and his friends. Here is a sheet music cover for "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by George Cory and Douglass Cross. At one time I was very tired of this song, but I've always loved Tony Bennet. Ferry Building 125 - 13-July-2023 In July, 2023 San Francisco's Ferry Building began celebrating its 125th anniversary. I took the photo in 2015 when the clock tower was decorated to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Engineer Howard C Holmes designed the Ferries and Cliff House Railway's cable car lines and later became Chief Engineer of the State Board of Harbor Commissioners. He built the Ferry Building and many of the piers in San Francisco. I took this photo in 2013.
COVID-19 Pandemic Continues - 01-July-2023
In June the New York Times cleverly hid its covid statistics behind the paywall. I had a terrible cold but a covid test was negative. The Giants had a ten-game win streak and reached second place in the division. They have brought up several good players. We reached the end of the school year. The license for the software we were to use had expired. I had the kids use an implementation of TurtleGraphics written in Scratch. The principal took us to lunch at Nick's. Ukraine's offensive appears to be moving well. Cable Car Sesquicentennial Events - updated 01-August-2023 Ongoing events include:
2024 Anniversaries
175 years ago - 1849
150 years ago - 1874
125 years ago - 1899
100 years ago - 1924
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.
75 years ago - 1949
New York Giants record: 78-76, 5th place. Managers: Mel Ott, Leo Durocher.
50 years ago - 1974
San Francisco Giants record: 88-74, 3rd place. Manager: Charlie Fox.
25 years ago - 1999
San Francisco Giants record: 89-74 2nd place. Manager: Dusty Baker. The Giants tied with the Cubs for the National League wildcard spot and lost a one-game playoff. Go to top of page. What's New
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Ten and Twenty Years AgoTen Years Ago
Twenty Years Ago
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Last updated 01-December-2024