NationMaster - Encyclopedia: San Francisco cable car system

The San Francisco cable car system is the world's last permanently operational manually operated cable car system, and is now an icon of the city of San Francisco in California. San Francisco cable car, 1994, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... San Francisco cable car, 1994, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Cable Car in San Francisco A San Francisco cable car A cable car or cable railway is a mass transit system using rail cars that are propelled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 3rd 410,000 kmÂ² 402. ...

The cable car system forms part of the intermodal urban transport network operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni as it is better known. Whilst the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters, their low speed, small service area, and premium fares make them primarily a tourist attraction. Two forms of public transport operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni): on the left, a bus (the 38 Geary line) and, on the right, the F Market historic streetcar. ...

History

Beginnings

The first successful cable-operated street railway was the Clay Street Hill Railroad, which opened in 1873. The promoter of the line was Andrew Smith Hallidie, and the engineer was William Eppelsheimer. The line involved the use of grip cars, which carried the grip that engaged with the cable, towing trailer cars. The design was the first to use grips. The Clay Street Hill Railroad was the first successful cable hauled street railway. ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calaber). ... Andrew Smith Hallidie was born in England. ... William E. Eppelsheimer (1842-?) was a tramway engineer known for his work on cable car systems. ...

The line started regular service on September 1, 1873, and it was such a success that it became the model for other cable car transit systems in San Francisco and elsewhere. It was a financial success, and Hallidie's patents were enforced on other cable car promoters, making him a rich man. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calaber). ...

Accounts differ as to exactly how involved Hallidie was in the inception of the line, and to the exact date it first ran. See the article Clay Street Hill Railroad for more information on this subject. The Clay Street Hill Railroad was the first successful cable hauled street railway. ...

Growth

The next cable car line to open was the Sutter Street Railway, which converted from horse operation in 1877. This line introduced the side grip, and lever operation, both designed by Asa Hovey. Subsequent experience showed that the bottom grip was preferable because of the relative ease of dropping and picking up the cable. The Sutter Street Railway was originally a horsecar line in San Francisco. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1878 Leland Stanford opened his California Street Cable Railroad (Cal Cable). This company's first line was on California Street and is the oldest cable car line still in operation. In 1880, the Geary Street, Park & Ocean Railway began operation. The Presidio & Ferries Railway followed two years later, and was the first cable company to include curves on its routes. The curves were let-go curves, where the car drops the cable and coasts around the curve on its own momentum. 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Amasa Leland Stanford (March 9, 1824â€“June 21, 1893) was an American business tycoon, politician and founder of Stanford University. ... The California Street Cable Railroad (Cal Cable) was a long-serving cable car operator in San Francisco, founded by Leland Stanford. ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Geary Street, Park & Ocean Railway was a cable car operator in San Francisco, which commenced operation in 1880. ...

In 1883 the Market Street Cable Railway opened its first line. This company was controlled by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was to grow to become San Francisco's largest cable car operator. At its peak, it operated five lines all of which converged into Market Street to a common terminus at the Ferry Building; during rush hours a cable car left that terminus every 15 seconds. 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Market Street Railway Company was a commercial streetcar and bus operator in the San Francisco. ... The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark SP) was an American railroad. ... The Embarcaderos Ferry Building The Ferry Building is a terminal for ferries that travel across the San Francisco Bay and a shopping center located on The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California. ...

In 1888, the Ferries and Cliff House Railway opened its initial two-line system. The Powell-Mason line is still operated on exactly the same route today; their other route was the Washington-Jackson line, stretches of which are used by today's Powell-Hyde line. The Presidio & Ferries Railway was also responsible for the building of a carbarn and powerhouse at Washington and Mason, and this site is still in use today. In the same year, it also purchased the original Clay Street Hill Railway, which it incorporated into a new Sacramento-Clay line. 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

In 1889, the Omnibus Railroad & Cable Company became the last new cable car operator in San Francisco. The following year the California Street Cable Railroad opened two new lines, these being the last entirely new cable car lines built in the city. One of them was the O'Farrell, Jones and Hyde line, the Hyde section of which still remains in operation as part of today's Powell-Hyde line. 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Decline

The first electric streetcars in San Francisco began operation in 1892. At that time, it was estimated that it cost twice as much to build and six times as much to operate a line with cable cars as with electric streetcars. Not surprisingly, San Francisco's cable car lines soon came under pressure. Luas - tram system in Dublin, Ireland Volkswagen Cargo-Tram in Dresden on a section of grassed track. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

By the beginning of 1906, many of San Francisco's remaining cable cars were under the control of the United Railroads company (URR), although Cal Cable and the Geary Street company remained independent. URR was pressing to convert many of its cable lines to overhead electric traction, but this was being resisted by opponents who objected to what they saw as ugly overhead lines on the major thoroughfares of the city center. 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Market Street Railway Company was a commercial streetcar and bus operator in the San Francisco. ...

But at 5:12 am on April 18, 1906, those objections were swept away as the great San Francisco earthquake struck. The quake and resulting fire destroyed the power houses and car barns of both the Cal Cable and the URR's Powell Street lines, together with the 117 cable cars stored within them. The subsequent race to rebuild the city allowed the URR to replace most of its cable car lines with electric streetcar lines. At the same time the independent Geary Street line was replaced by a municipally owned electric streetcar line, the first line of the San Francisco Municipal Railway. April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... San Francisco City Hall, April 20, 1906. ... Municipalization is the transfer to municipal ownership of corporations or other assets. ... Two forms of public transport operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni): on the left, a bus (the 38 Geary line) and, on the right, the F Market historic streetcar. ...

By 1912, only eight cable car lines remained, all with steep gradients impassable to electric streetcars. In the 1920s and 1930s these lines came under pressure from the much improved buses of the era, which could now climb steeper hills than the electric streetcar. By 1944, the only cable cars remaining were the two Powell Street lines, by then in municipal ownership, and the three lines owned by the still independent Cal Cable. 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... It has been suggested that Roaring Twenties be merged into this article or section. ... // Events and trends A public speech by Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist movement The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the global depression. ... TheBus, established by Mayor Frank Fasi, is Honolulus only public transit system. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Fight back

In 1947, Mayor Roger Lapham proposed the closure of the two municipally owned lines. In response a joint meeting of 27 women's civic groups, led by Friedel Klussmann, formed the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars. In a famous battle of wills, the citizens' committee eventually forced a referendum on an amendment to the city charter, compelling the city to continue operating the Powell Street lines. This passed overwhelmingly, by 166,989 votes to 51,457. 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Roger Dearborn Lapham (6 December 1883 – 16 April 1966) was a shipowner and businessman who was elected Republican mayor of San Francisco from 1944 to 1948. ... Mrs Friedel Klussmann (? – 1986) was a prominent member of San Francisco society. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ...

In 1951, the three Cal Cable lines were shut down when the company was unable to afford insurance. The city purchased and reopened the lines in 1952, but the amendment to the city charter did not protect them, and the city proceeded with plans to replace them with buses. Again Klussmann came to the rescue, but with less success this time. The result was a compromise: a protected system made up of the California Street line from Cal Cable, the Powell-Mason line already in municipal ownership, and a third hybrid line formed by grafting the Hyde Street section of Cal Cable's O'Farrell, Jones & Hyde line onto a truncated Powell-Washington-Jackson line (now known as the Powell-Hyde line). 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

This solution required some rebuilding to convert the Hyde Street trackage and terminus to operation by the single-ended cars of the Powell line, and also to allow the whole system to be operated from a single car barn and power house. But much of the infrastructure remained unchanged from the time of the earthquake.

Rebuild

By 1979 the cable car system had become unsafe, and it needed to be urgently closed for 7 months for repairs. Even after this it was clear that the system still needed a lot of work, and in 1982 it was closed again for a complete rebuild. This involved the complete replacement of 69 city blocks' worth of tracks and cable channels, the demolition and rebuilding of the car barn and powerhouse, new propulsion equipment, and the repair or rebuild of 37 cable cars. The system finally reopened on June 21, 1984, just in time to benefit from the publicity that accompanied San Francisco's hosting of that year's Democratic National Convention. This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1984 Democratic National Convention was held in San Francisco, California in July of 1984, to select a candidate for the 1984 United States presidential election. ...

Recent

Since 1984, Muni has continued to upgrade the system. Work has included rebuilding a further car, the building of a further 9 brand new replacement cars, the building of a new terminal and turntable at the Hyde and Beach terminus, and a new turntable at the Powell and Market terminus. 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The cable car system is principally used by tourists rather than commuters. The system serves an area of the city that is already served by a large number of buses and trolleybuses. The Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines both serve only residential and tourist/shopping districts (Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, Nob Hill, Aquatic Park and Fisherman's Wharf), with the "downtown" end of both lines a substantial distance from the Financial District. The California Street Line is used more by commuters, but still not to the same extent as the parallel and faster 1-California trolleybus.
TheBus, established by Mayor Frank Fasi, is Honolulus only public transit system. ... Trolleybus public transfer in Bratislava, Slovakia A trolleybus (also known as electric bus, trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram or simply trolley) is a bus powered by two overhead electric wires, from which it draws electricity using two trolley poles. ... Union Square is the central shopping, hotel and theater district in San Francisco. ... An interesection of Chinatown in San Francisco. ... Looking south-east Columbus Street (on the left), Stockton (on the right), and Green Street (not visible). ... Nob Hill refers to a small district in sunny San Francisco, California adjacent to the intersection of California and Powell streets (and the respective cable car lines). ... The historic fleet moored at Hyde Street Pier, with Alcatraz and Angel Island in the background. ... Fishermans Wharf sign Fishermans Wharf is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, U.S. It is mainly a tourist attraction, known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Ghirardelli Square, Ripleys Believe it or Not, ferry rides to Alcatraz and restaurants... Trolleybus public transfer in Bratislava, Slovakia A trolleybus (also known as electric bus, trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram or simply trolley) is a bus powered by two overhead electric wires, from which it draws electricity using two trolley poles. ...

Operation

Network

The current cable car network consists of three lines: San Francisco cable car at Powell & Market terminal Photograph taken by Chris Wood on the 26th May 2003, with original filename DCP_0810. ... San Francisco cable car at Powell & Market terminal Photograph taken by Chris Wood on the 26th May 2003, with original filename DCP_0810. ...

There is also a set of non-revenue tracks from the California Street line along Hyde Street to join the Powell-Hyde line at Hyde and Washington. This is used by cars from the California Street line to reach the car barn. Market Street is a street in San Francisco, California that runs from the Ferry Building on San Francisco Bay at the north eastern edge of the city going southwest and terminating as a major throughfare at Castro Street. ... The historic fleet moored at Hyde Street Pier, with Alcatraz and Angel Island in the background. ... Fishermans Wharf sign Fishermans Wharf is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, U.S. It is mainly a tourist attraction, known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Ghirardelli Square, Ripleys Believe it or Not, ferry rides to Alcatraz and restaurants... Market Street is a street in San Francisco, California that runs from the Ferry Building on San Francisco Bay at the north eastern edge of the city going southwest and terminating as a major throughfare at Castro Street. ... The Embarcaderos Ferry Building The Embarcadero is the name given the eastern waterfront of San Francisco, California, along San Francisco Bay. ... Nob Hill refers to a small district in sunny San Francisco, California adjacent to the intersection of California and Powell streets (and the respective cable car lines). ...

There are turntables at the three terminals served by the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines, and these two lines are served by a common fleet of single-ended cable cars. The California Street line, on the other hand, is served by a separate fleet of double-ended cars and its two terminals are simple single-track stubs. Download high resolution version (1524x2032, 767 KB)A San Francisco cable car in December, 2004. ... Download high resolution version (1524x2032, 767 KB)A San Francisco cable car in December, 2004. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

The cable car system connects at both its terminals on Market Street with the F Market heritage streetcar line. The Taylor and Bay terminal, and the Hyde and Beach terminal, are both short walks from the F Market line. F Market PCC cars at Jones Street terminal. ... A scene on a heritage railway. ...

Cars

Both types of car ride on a pair of four-wheel trucks. The term California Street car, as in a car running on the California Street line, should not be confused with the term California Car. The latter term applies to all the cars currently operating in San Francisco, and is a historical term distinguishing this style of car from an earlier style where the open grip section and the enclosed section were separate four-wheel cars (known as the grip car and trailer). To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between one metre and ten metres. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between one metre and ten metres. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between one metre and ten metres. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between one metre and ten metres. ... Bogies This game was started by BBCs Dick and Dom as part of their hit childrens TV show, Dick and Dom in da Bungalow. ...

Car barn, power house and museum

The car barn is located between Washington and Jackson Streets just uphill of where Mason Street crosses them. Cars reverse into the barn off Jackson Street and run out into Washington Street, coasting downhill for both moves. To ensure that single-ended cars leave facing in the correct direction, the car barn contains a fourth turntable. Cars are moved around the car barn with the assistance of a rubber-tired tractor. By mdoege@compuserve. ... By mdoege@compuserve. ...

The car barn is situated directly above the power house and the Cable Car Museum. The museum's entrance is at Washington and Mason. It contains several examples of old cable cars, together with smaller exhibits and a shop. Perhaps of more interest are two galleries which allow the visitor to overlook the main power house, and also to descend below the junction of Washington and Mason Streets and see the large cavern where the haulage cables are routed out to the street. Categories: United States-related stubs | Museums in San Francisco | Transport museums ...

There are four separate cables: one for the California Street line, one each for the separate parts of the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines, and one for their common section. Each cable is 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, running at a constant speed of 9.5 mph (15.3 km/h), and driven by a 510 horsepower (380 kW) electric motor via a set of self-adjusting sheaves. The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ...

Grip men and conductors

The driver of a cable car is known as the grip man. This is a highly skilled job, requiring the grip man to release the grip at certain points in order to coast the vehicle over the pulleys or another line, and to anticipate well in order to avoid collisions with other traffic that may not understand the limitations of a cable car. Only a small proportion of people who attempt the training course actually pass it. As of December 2005, there has only been one grip woman. Download high resolution version (1524x2032, 719 KB)Cable car controls. ... Download high resolution version (1524x2032, 719 KB)Cable car controls. ...

Besides the grip man, each cable car carries a conductor whose job is to collect fares and manage the boarding and exiting of passengers. With the common practice of carrying standing passengers on the running boards of cable cars, passenger management is an important task.

Prospective cable car crews are screened to ensure that they have a good personality and are suitable for dealing with large numbers of tourists and leaving a good impression of the city, and some crew members are locally well-known personalities. On the third Thursday of every July in Union Square, a cable car bell ringing contest is traditionally held between cable car crews.

References

Cable Car in San Francisco A San Francisco cable car A cable car or cable railway is a mass transit system using rail cars that are propelled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. ...

External links

Categories: Wikipedia map requests | Heritage streetcar systems | San Francisco Municipal Railway | San Francisco, California | Street railways | United States National Historic Landmarks Two forms of public transport operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni): on the left, a bus (the 38 Geary line) and, on the right, the F Market historic streetcar. ... Muni Metro Map Muni Metro is a mass transit system operated in the City and County of San Francisco by the San Francisco Municipal Railway. ... Looking south along the private right-of-way near 20th Street The J Church is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco, California. ... The K Ingleside is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco. ... The L Taraval is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco, California operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway. ... The San Francisco State University Station at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Holloway The M Oceanview is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco. ... The N Judah is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco, California operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway. ... The S Castro Shuttle is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco, California. ... The Market Street Subway is a subway tunnel in San Francisco, California, United States. ... The Twin Peaks Tunnel is a 2-mile long subway tunnel in San Francisco, California, United States running under Twin Peaks. ... F Market PCC cars at Jones Street terminal. ... This is a listing of all of the bus and rail transit routes operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway in San Francisco, California // Local lines Express lines Express lines only run during peak hours, going towards Downtown in the morning and away from Downtown in the evening, with the... The Third Street Light Rail Project is a project to extend Muni Metro lines in San Francisco, California. ... The Central Subway is an extension of the Muni Metro light rail system in San Francisco, California from the Caltrain commuter rail depot at 4th & King streets to Chinatown. ... AC Transit (in full, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District) is a regional bus agency serving parts of Alameda County and Contra Costa County in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. ... Golden Gate Transit is a public transportation system in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, United States. ... SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit District) is a public transit agency in and around San Mateo, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. ... The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is a public rapid-transit system that serves parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, Richmond, Fremont, Hayward, Walnut Creek, and Concord. ... Caltrain is a commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. ... Rescue Muni was founded in 1996 by San Francisco transit riders seeking to improve the reliability, service, and safety of the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). ... The Key System (or Key Route) was a company that provided mass transit in the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, San Leandro, Richmond, Albany and El Cerrito in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area from the 1900s until 1960 when the system was sold to a newly formed public... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Contents

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