How they work - what's happening out of sight on the San Francisco Cable cars?

Here's a more in-depth look at the workings of San Francisco's unique cable cars. What goes on below the slot - how does the cable stay in tension and how does the grip work?
I've already looked at the history and taken a ride in this film • The incredible San Fra...
This is a closer look at the technology developed in the 1870s and 1880s which keeps them moving for the delight of tourists from all over the world.
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[@johnnyzweig6258]

The Depression Pulley was driving me nuts for years! How can you grip the cable from above and not bump into the pulley that's holding the cable down when it goes through a concave depression? Finally I have my answer. Thanks a ton!

[@dbdrdbag]

Very detailed and clear explanation of how the cable cars work! Thank you!

[@sgt.gunslinger1532]

So basically its like a chairlift mechanism, just not as automatic. Cool video

[@oslro]

How do they replace the cable when that time comes around?

[@clydecessna737]

Well presented.

[@seanmcgee8184]

Great content answered several of my long thought of questions THANX!

[@riccodelestaque7720]

Très intéressant, merci.

[@mprce52]

That sounds unbelievably expensive to maintain

[@pierrecamionneur3510]

Excellent Merci.

[@owenjones9659]

Ok who else thought that Jeremy Clarkson was narrating this?

[@user-eb5cb6ud1p]

Some historical trivia: Several US cities including NYC installed cable-car systems at the end of the 19th C. They wanted an alternative to stringing overhead wires, but found out that moving cables underground were far more trouble-prone and expensive. Most systems were gone by the early 1920s. Even SF eliminated all but 3 lines, keeping only those for steep hills along with their value as tourist attractions.

[@sfmike711]

These cities didn't experiment ... they actually installed and ran cable systems. Read the exhaustively extensive tome "the Cable Car in America" by George Hilton (there's a revised edition). It details the development of the system and covers every city in the US and internationally that had cable traction. It even tells about planned systems that were abandoned when the electric streetcar was developed. It's well worth the purchase price and will leave you appreciating the Victorian-era invention which still runs the exact same way 150 years later.

[@user-eb5cb6ud1p]

@@sfmike711 Thanks for that info including the book title. I realize that I mis-spoke with the word "experimented", and have edited my original response. I have a lot of documentation on early streetcars but very little regarding cable-car systems. Interestingly, last year was the 150th anniversary of San Francisco's first line. I was very fortunate to study German with Dr. Alan Rice, who in addition to being a master linguist was one of the top experts in US traction history. I think I learned more about streetcars from him than I did about scientific translation, hah!

[@wrightmf]

I heard SF wanted to eliminate the cable cars completely but yet the cable cars are SF's iconic symbol. Like the Eiffel Tower was only to be a temporary structure but it became iconic symbol for Paris. And the cable cars let you ride on the outside.

[@user-eb5cb6ud1p]

@@wrightmf Based on info I’ve seem, both are absolutely correct. The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be torn down a few years after the centennial fair ended but as you say it became a total icon. And SF’s plans to eliminated the last 3 operating cable lines ran into a lot of public opposition, especially b/c of how much tourism they bring. They and the St. Charles streetcar are the only two mobile attractions on the register of National Historic Landmarks!

[@sjoerd5629]

And what happens when a driver forgets to let go of the cable for a drift curve or the crossing with the other line?