Cable Cars, San Francisco

There has been some confusion about the number of Cable Car lines still running, so check out the link below for a map and explanations about the routes. This is the system in short. The larger two brake double open-ended California line runs from the Financial District to Van Ness. This line is more likely to have local commuters with whom one can chat, but the views are fewer and there aren't any hair raising turns. The other two lines run up Powell toward Fisherman's Wharf. Most tourists will want the Powell-Hyde Street line because that takes one right to the cable car turn around at the Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory. But, both lines have some excellent rises, descents, and great hair raising turns. On weekends, it's often easier to walk around the city and then use the cable car as a return to the foot of Powell, often for free. Unless the car is standing room only, it's pretty easy to climb on anywhere along the route. I find the downhill and curves the best part of the ride anyway, but for those only visiting once in a generation, take a complete ride. These cars are truely unique antique transportation. When visiting the Cable Car Museum, be sure to go down the steps and watch the pulleys moving the cables under the street. Many visitors to the museum don't go down the stairwell.

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Most people who come to San Francisco do not know that there are two different cable car systems. One, the usual tourist known one, starts at Union Square, which is in the center of downtown. The second starts at California and Market Street. I take all my out of town friends to the second one as it is always least crowded. Also this second cable car, connects with the tourist know one, Powell street at the top of the hill. Therefore, you can get off at the top, and change to the other one and go down to Fishermans' Wharf.
Also, at the top of the hill you can get off and visit Chinatown. Best part of that is that you are walking downhill.
A BIG TIP: At the beginning--when you are getting ready for the cable car to come for boarders, stand at the point where you will be at the front of the car. That way you can stand or sit on the outside for a better view and for camera shots.
Most of the people who ride the Cable Cars are tourists. Locals don't bother with the expense. They use the bus system, which is pretty good, except it is not a cable car.
While on the car, ask the brakeman about the cable car museum. This museum is free and is along the route of the Powell Car. It is near Chinatown. So you can take a quick look and go have some authentic Chinese cuisine.

The Cable Cars ,in San Francisco are a unique thing and they are the only railway in the street where the cars are not powered on their own .
Under the rails there is a large cable that is powered and moved by a central powerhouse and this cable underneath continuous moves and the Cable Car then is '' Gripping '' on to this Cable.
Then a '' Gripman '' controls the movement and the speed of the Cable Car which I will show later in another picture.
It is all wonderful to watch this and amazing how this'' Gripman '' then controls his Cable Car.Very very interesting to see all this
DO NOT MISS a CABLE CAR ride when in San Francisco.
In this picture the Cable Car is at the '' Turnaround at Powell & Market street the route goes down to '' Fishermans Wharf ''
It goes back up ,then gets turned around .

In this picture you see the Powell & Hyde
Cable Car.There are two lines ,one is the Powell & Hyde ,and the other the Powell & Mason Cable car
The Powell /Mason line begins at Powell & Market streets runs North to Bay street via Powell ,Jackson.Columbes & Bay streets.
This line was built in 1888.
The Powell /Hyde line begins at Powell & Market streets and runs Nort and West to Hyde and Beach streetsvia Powell ,Jackson,& Hyde streets.
This line was created in 1957.

In this picture you see a Powell & Hyde Cable Car and you can see how the people ride in these Cable Cars ,they fill them to the Rim there of course are seats but when the sets are filled then you fins a spot on the running boards seems odd and a bit unsafe ,but people love it (including Hansi ) .
The '' Gripman '' is in charge and he decides how many people get on board .
Reallly COOLLL stuff.

This gentleman is called the '' Gripman ''This person is responsible for the passengers in the Cable Car.He oversees how many get on and also of course controls the stop and go of the Cable Car using these long handles that go underneath the Cable Car .
I do not know excactly how ,I do know that is was noisy and very tough job to do.
I was amazing to see how steep the streets were up and down.

Cable Car transportation in San Franciso are both fun and inexpensive.The cost is $3.00 per person one way and $6.00 per person return. I paid for our return tickets ahead of time so as not to have to wait in line again on the way back. While I got in line for the tickets, Hans got in line for the cable cars, which were quite long on the day we went. the tickets were on a collector series card telling about the history of the cable car which you can keep as a souvenir. The conducter simply takes the part of the ticket which says $3.00. All in all it was a fun way to get around San Francisco.

very unique to get around SanFran, the Cable Cars and they are powered by cables who run under the tracks, I suppose thats where they got their name from.
you have to ride them its fun and beats walking and running the streets up and down. and not only the tourist rides them, the locals do so too and an oppertunity to get the know them.
learn more about them on their website