San Francisco Cable Cars
The cable car system in San Francisco is the world's only permanently operational manually-operated cable car system in existence. These cable cars are also the USA's only moving National Historic Landmarks
The cable car system was launched in 1873 and its inventor was Andrew Hallidie. He wanted to solve the problem of transporting people up the city’s steep slopes after witnessing a bad accident. A horse-drawn tram slipped down a hill, dragging the horses with it. His system was a total success and by 1889 cars were running on eight lines. Before the earthquake in 1906 more than 600 cars were in use.
With the advent of the internal combustion engine the San Francisco cable cars became obsolete and in 1947 attempts were made to replace them with buses. After a public protest the present three lines with 17 miles tracks were retained.
In 1984 a car celebration was held after a two year refurbishment of all cars and tracks. The line was replaced with reinforced tracks. Some predict that the system should last for the next 100 years.
Each year a San Francisco cable cars bell-ringing contest is held at Union square, when conductors ring out their most spirited rhythms. The conductors use the bell for warning to other traffic.
The original San Francisco cable car tested by Hallidie himself in 1873 is on display in the Cable Car Barn. The cable car system remained mostly unchanged since its invention.
How the Cable Cars Work
Engines in the central powerhouse wind a looped cable under the city streets guided by a system of grooved pulleys. When the gripman in the cable car applies the grip handle, the grip reaches through a slot in the street and grabs the cable. This pulls a car along in constant speed of 9,5 mph (15,5 km/h). when the gripman want to stop the cable car, he releases the grip and applies a brake. Great skill is necessary at corners where the cable passes over a pulley. The gripman must release the grip to allow the car to coast over the pulley.
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