San Francisco - Cable Car Museum

Without any power of its San Francisco own, the cable car is suspended with the aid of a "grip" on an endless cable housed in a trench under the street and is thus pulled up the steep slope (gradient up to 21%). When the cable cars stop or the lines cross over, the "gripman" releases the cable, clamping it on again when the car moves off. Four powerful braking systems ensure safety when going downhill (the speed of the cars, which always have right of way, is a steady 9.5mph/ 15kmph). At the termini the "gripman" and "conductor" together - often with the help of the passengers - turn the car round on a turntable.

The first stretch was opened in 1873. By 1880 there were eight lines in operation covering a total network of 110mi/180km. Today only 11mi/17km remain. Since 1964 the system has been declared an historic monument.