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You can not go in San Francisco without taking one of the four Cable Cars of the city! They are not only used by tourists. When you will be for the first time in front of the famous " Hills " of San Francisco, you will quick understand why the Americans appreciate deeply this way of locomotion.
The story began when Mister Smith Hallidie is witness of an accident on Jackson Street one morning of the year 1869. Five horses pulled a wagon, in the top of the street, when one of the horses slid brutally, making lose the balance to the four other horses. The fall untill the bottom of the hill is fatal for the five horses.
This accident decided Mr Hallidie to draw the first sketches of the Cable Car , using a system with metallic cables to pull "cars" up the hills.
The system of the Cable Car consists of one metallic cable which turns permanently, connected with two extremities. This cable is in movement thanks to a motorized wheel being situated on Washington and Mason Street. (Visit the free museum, with historical Cable Cars). The Cable Car which wishes to move, catches the cable thanks to a sort of big "crowbar" situated under its floor, and begins to move. More the traction of the crowbar is strong, more the Cable Car will move fast, according to the speed of the cable being just below the road. When you walk on the streets of San Francisco, you hear this typical noise of cables in movement, bringing the Cable Cars to their destinations.
Be not afraid about the brakes of the Cable Car... When the driver (called " Gripman ") loosens the pressure of the crowbar, the Cable Car will be move just thanks to its run-up. As streets are not flat at all, a brake was foreseen, activated by a second person (called " Brakeman ") who is behind the Cable Car. Another emergency brake is still present, but, if this one is used, the braking risks to be a little bit abrupt. An advice which we can give you : be held constantly in a handle!
The top speed reaches 15 km / hour (9 miles) which, suspended on the step, is a sufficient speed!
The first Cable Car was tested on August 2, 1873 at approximately 4 o'clock in the morning with a single car. During the afternoon, a second car was attached and for the both first days the transport was free to attract the travelers still dreaded in front of this new means of locomotion. The first line was " Clay Street ", between Kearny and Jones Street.
Today, three lines are in activities:
1-st line: " The Powell-Hyde ", begins on Powell and Market Street to end on Beach and Hyde Street.
2-nd line: " The Powell-Mason ", which also begins on Powell and Market Street to end on Bay and Taylor Street.
3-rd line: " The California line ", which follows California Street, begins at the intersection with Drumm Street to end on Van Ness Street.
To maintain alive the Cable Cars, they were classified history memorials in 1964. In the 80s, the lines were closed to proceed at a complete renovation.
To close the history, know that Cable Cars should be turned to return to their point of departure. On the whole, four big moving plates are in the extremities of lines to be able to turn the Cable Car and reorientate the driver in the direction of the conduct.
"Good route" and please , take advantage of the atmosphere of the Cable Car to like even more San Francisco....
Here is a small technical summary of the Cable Car:
| Creator: | Sir Smith Allidie |
| Inauguration: | Was tested on August 2, 1873, opened to the public the same afternoon |
| Way it works : | Towed by a cable in constant movement |
| Speed : | 15 Km / hour = 9 miles |
| Number of Cable Cars in traffic: | 4 Cable Cars crosses the city on 3 lines |
| Exhibition: | Museum of Cable Car on Washington and Mason Street |
| Miscellaneous: | Classified history memorials since 1964 |
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