Photos: San Francisco Cable Cars

G'day all

On my return back to Australia, I took a 1 day stopover in San Francisco, and this place has it all going!

Of interest to any railfan and non-railfan is the opportunity to ride the world-famous San Francisco cable cars! These cars are definately a fun ride, particularly when you're climbing up some really steep gradients.

Of more fun, is the fact compared to where I'm from, you're legally allowed to ride on the running boards of the cars and hang off the side of them! Very fun and scary when you're paralleling traffic, and crossing cars in the other direction (I managed to do a high-5 with the conductor of a passing trolley :D )


The Cable Car route I travelled on was the Powell St - Hyde one, which I believe travels on the steepest gradient of all the cable car routes. More information can be found at:
http://www.sfcablecar.com/
http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/
http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/rider/cablecar.htm


Powell St














Jefferson St Terminus
















Hyde St




Ride aboard the Powell-Hyde Cable Car






















Also, I'll be uploading a video soon of the journey aboard the cable-car unit, so stay tuned!


More photos can be found at: http://gallerymaikha.photoblog.me.uk/c1071002.html

Hi,

Great shots. Looks like you had a great time touring the USA.

Did you hear one of the Cable Car drivers say the famous phrase, " Pay your fare, the Fare is Fair ! ".

Hope you helped the driver turn the cable car around on the turntable, that also was great fun.

Do the cable cars still use a two by four length of Pine for braking ? The length of 2 X 4 is pressed against the track and white smoke clouds rise from the tracks. The length of wood doesn't last long. Again, a great sight.

great shots. I love to railfan the Bay Area and your pictures remind me of why I do.