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Really rotten music all the way through

30,000 pounds per square inch is not force. It's pressure.

Lopsided comics

Beginning in the late 1890s, there were cable cars in use in Columbus, Ohio, where I presently live. They were discontinued in 1948.

8/2024......We're in Columbus, Ohio, and we visited SF, in 1988 & 1989. We enjoyed taking the cable cars. I loved watching the cable car operator, he had to operate the brake and gripper,....he was a colorful chap. We were in town for a week each time, and we tried to take the cable cars every day. It was so FUN. We have a friend who grew up in SF, and he was our guide, and he took us to all the tourist spots and other's off the beat and path. On our own we walked the length of The Golden Gate bridge, and took a bus back. I think we were about 35 years old, healthy and not overweight. We did an awful lot of walking. We saw a dead person floating face down under the Golden Gate bridge, he had committed suicide, about 30 minutes before we crossed the middle of the bridge. We didn't see him jump. It was so tragic and weird to see a perfectly well dressed person, floating face down, in the water. We went to dozens of groovy outdoor cafes, to eat croissants and sip cappuccino. Coffee houses were just beginning to come to Ohio, even before Starbucks. In the city of SF, we were at one iconic outdoor cafe, and while we were enjoying our coffee, a movie crew arrived and filmed an advertisement, with (unknown) actors, for a line of women's stockings. We were asked to become the "background" people. We were instructed not to look at the camera, and continue to eat, converse and drink our coffee. I tend to gesture with my hands when I talk, and I was told that was perfectly fine, and to continue. We would mostly likely be in "soft focus", but they wanted it to be real looking. They had to film a lot of "takes", to get the actors to their marks, while they talked, and I think the male actor had to lift the female actor up in the air, for a moment of jubilation. That was SO cool, and memorable. We're still together, and we're both 70 years old.

wow thats such a cool piece of history! I want to ride them, one day

Are terrestrial cable cars worth it? I mean, compared to electric buses, trams and trolleybuses, could it be considered a good option over them? They are certainly beautiful but I wonder how good they would be in terms of cost, capacity and operation

Not the same without the traditional Rice-a-Roni ads on the front!

I've been extremely fascinated with this system ever since I rode it the first time I visited SF. The fact that the entire railway is purely mechanical - absolutely no motor needed on board the cars themselves - is just amazing to me, no matter if it's an inefficient system and a maintenance nightmare as some might say. Also I love how dated this video is, I think you can even see that shitty old Embarcadero freeway in the background of one of the shots lol

Does it have a retro encabulator though?

Visited SF as a child of about 8 which would have been the summer of 1964. I thought the cable car ride was great. Until a very large local jumped on it and blocked my view of pretty much everything but his very wide backside. The explanation of the interaction of the grip and the two types of pulleys answers two long-standing questions I've wondered about for decades but never bothered to research.

🎈 it's a celebration!! 😀🎉

My wife and I had our first ride on Xmas Day, 2009. Loved it. We make a point of riding the cable cars each time we come back. Historical note: the round-the-corner pulley system was invented in Dunedin, New Zealand, for their cable cars.

Anyone remember that derailment that happened near the cable car museum? Even though the crew was not on board, they should have left one of the two crew members onboard to throw the wedge brake into service once the car ran out of control.

Great video. But why did you call the wine a savvy plonk? 😂

Love the content of the video, but could do without the opening an closing "ode to cable cars" theme song... a bit cringeworthy but I really liked the explanation of the controls. Fascinating!

its no wonder electric and gas overtook this system can you imagine the maintenance nightmare that would be trying to run this in a place with snow and ice?

I remember visiting the cable car museum on a City Tour field trip that I took 25 years ago in the 3rd Grade. It's located on Mason Street and the motors are so loud that it made it hard for my dad, my teacher, my classmates and I to hear what she was saying aloud that day. In fact, I went on a cable car ride with my friend 6 years ago in April 2017. It was a blast and I hope to do that again someday.

No back ground music needed.

i wonder if the lever is still called a gypsy

Not sure what was more fascinating - the video itself and the information or seeing the now-vintage automobiles all over.

Which company made this video

My partner and I rode the cable cars in the 1990s, and they were so much fun to ride! I understand why they were taken over by tourists: they connected Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf with Union Square and Market Street, and provided stunning views of the bay!

Cable cars are so much fun and a unique way to get around,the riding experience is like no other

The 70's was the last time that the cable cars were still real public transportation. As a kid, I remember when you could just hop on to get where you were going. By the mid to late 80s, it was just a tourist ride. I only rode it late night when I was a student at SFSU in the late 80s. The conductors would usually recognize you as a local and not even check your muni pass.

Fascinating. I may never get to California, but I'm a transit buff. I love this video.

cool how it's done vid thanks

You left out a lot of stuff, like why the grip end of the car has a door, why halfway down the grip is a small rod that the grip man can turn or why there are doors on the slots in some places. I know the answers to these questions. Also the red grip doesn't always work, look up the crash in 1968, Hyde and bay. Going down Hyde the grip man lost the cable and he couldn't stop the run away cable car, it missed my mom's car by inches.

I think this movie plays on a loop in the Cable Car Museum on Powell. I didn't sit and watch it at the time I was there so it is fun to see it here.

that 1980s computer graphics for a 1800s cable car is a mix of cyber punk and steam punk

Wow San Francisco looks different back then. Just visited there for the first time. Rode the cable car haha. Was an awesome city to visit. - east coaster

Funny the song’s lyrics near the end sings the fares… 5 and under free, 17 and under $.25, 18+ $1…. Now it’s $8 for everyone!

Один из самых красивейших городов мира и мой любимый!

Steve, do you happen to have more information about the song at the start and end? I really love it. But I can't find it anywhere online, seems to be have made for this video? But at the end, there are someone singing it "live" out in the street. Any information appreciated.

I never knew cable cars and street cars were to diffrent things. I was way to use to being in new orlins

What an absolutely fascinating video thanks so much for sharing. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Cheers from Australia.

Informative video, but whoever wrote that song needs sending to Alcatraz… 🤣

Время моей молодости 😀😀😀😀😀

А сейчас такой транспорт есть в городе?

Как интересно! 👍👍👍

San Francisco is one of the rare instances (particularly in the united states) where people fought to keep their public transit and succeeded. There are still lost lines such as the SF terminal railway and the 3rd and Townsend train station, but it's great that this is around, even though it's mainly a toursist attraction these days.

I only ever took the Powell street line. At one time we had a super entertaining conductor. He was a black man and was probably the friendliest guy I'd ever met! The guy literally got out and ran along side while going downhill and even started bouncing the cable car up and down! (This was in 2012)

wow....SF streets were so clean!!!

🤔😀 The Trolley System Is A Exact Mirror Principle Of That Of A Hi Speed Detachable Chairlift At All Ski Area.. For ANYONE Watch This Video & Then See How A Detachable Grip Works On All Chairlifts.

wish the CC still cost a dollar lol

it’s so unreal to watch this and know that this form of mass transit has been used in SF since the 1800s…i’m sure there was some monetary kickback from the city or from MUNI for them to make this film, but still, good on you GE!

I wish the city was still as it was portrayed in this video

A gift but they charge 7$ a trip

Video should be renamed... When you say "cable cars" to most people they think of suspended cable cars as used typically in mountainous areas not this type barely used anywhere but SF.

I miss living in SF