The city with a hundred private cable cars

Wellington, in New Zealand, has more than a hundred private cable cars. I found out why. ■ Access Automation: accessauto.co.nz/ ■ Rose's book: teherengawakapress.co.nz/all-...
Editor: Michelle Martin / @onthecrux
Producer: Virginia Wickham at Kevin & Co www.kevinandco.co.nz/
🟥 MORE FROM TOM: www.tomscott.com/
(you can find contact details and social links there too)
📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: www.tomscott.com/newsletter/
❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com/ / lateralcast
➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: / tomscottplus
👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: / techdif

[@TomScottGo]

I've got a podcast! It's called Lateral, it's about interesting questions and answers, and it's at lateralcast.com with highlights at kzbin.info - already live are episodes with Simone Giertz, Devin "LegalEagle" Stone, Wren from Corridor Crew, and loads more; and we've got Mark Rober, Xyla Foxlin, Jabrils and a load of other folks on upcoming episodes.

[@Toby_Shepheard]

Hi past Tom

[@xslvrxslwt]

nine whole days 😳

[@xslvrxslwt]

@@Toby_Shepheard Hi past Toby

[@Bibibosh]

Tom scott should revisit the Old's Elevator.

[@synthwav_]

Oooh, awesome! I'll check this out after this video :D

[@radudilirici]

Tom trying every possible rail vehicle should be its own mini-series.

[@subn0rma1]

He really took this rollercoaster thing to the maximum level

[@cadekachelmeier7251]

I only saw 1 rail on some of these, so technically they're a monorail.

[@AMPProf]

Third this motion! Calling for a fourth?!?!¡‽

[@lsedge7280]

In this case, technically another monorail.

[@Dong_Harvey]

If only he can fund the rebuild of the Irish Horse-congealing Pneumatic Vacuum Rail Rocket!

[@lasagnahog7695]

I'm blown away by the dude being aware enough to say that he's ready to pass the torch. It's refreshing to see.

[@Kstang09]

Noticed that right away, I bet he'd be a primo boss to work for. Very self aware.

[@garrisonsan]

"Bachelor's required, master's preferred"

[@sacleocheaterz]

@@garrisonsan Definitely seems more like a family-run thing.

[@seanj3667]

He also just told a large audience "this business is for sale".

[@user-gq2vn1xj2r]

Not only aware - smart. He is advertising his business for sale at a point of maximum valuation.

[@arininquotes8396]

I'm not physically disabled myself, but I really appreciate Tom emphasizing that this isn't about laziness, that some people have a legitimate and practical need for this kind of tool.

[@MichaelAW17]

What worries me is when the cable car stops working after hours. Or maybe it is not a simple fix? You could lose access to your house.

[@andrewalexander9492]

@@MichaelAW17 I would imagine that the companies which service those have 24 hours callout for their technicians. it's not much different than an elevator. If you're living in a multi-floor apartment building, and your elevator gets stuck between floors on Friday night, you don't have to wait in the elevator until the company opens on Monday morning.

[@SeanA099]

I can’t imagine having to move furniture up and down those stairs

[@bricelory9534]

Agreed - and you can tell by the stairways next to the cars in the video, that these are *serious* inclines - and having to do them day in and day out, or even with a load of groceries would be grueling to the point of implausibility for most people.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

this is no different than having elevators in a high rise. Sure we would take the stairs, but once you go past 3-4 flights of stairs you really start to feel it, especially if you're also carrying any kind of weight at all. But in Wellington's case there is no actual road access to many of those houses - a lot of them are only accessible on foot or on bicycle, and that's if you're willing to go up the mountainside. These cable cars allow them to use the space on that mountain, without destroying it to make space for roads

[@CristiNeagu]

If the cable car is $120,000, I don't even want to know how expensive the house is.

[@panda4247]

Maybe a substantial part of it is for the terrain work... (where to put the pillars, and actually installing them in the middle of the hill). That might be comparable to to laying the base of the house itself. It's definitely an interesting question to guesstimate this

[@themitochondriaisthepowerh9177]

Certified NZ housing crisis moment

[@snowkatyoutube1419]

At least $5 i think

[@yougoslavia]

It costs millions and billions of New Zealand dollars.

[@doctorgames101b]

In my perspective, It should be just as expensive as the cable car. Because most of the expenses would go towards the maintenance of the cable car(s) on the house's property.

[@mariusimholz5454]

These are also common here in Switzerland, as communes are often built into hillsides. I've never thought of them as "cable cars", more like stairlifts, but outdoors

[@ffvgaming3735]

In Switzerland when i visited i always see them being called Gondolas/Furniculars rather than cable cars which suprised me.

[@Estok8805]

I wasn't able to quickly find any information on your swiss versions online, but are your swiss versions pullled up by a cable? Because most stairlifts that I've seen operate like a toothed railway, so if your swiss versions operate like the starilifts I mention then you'd be right in not thinking of them as cable cars.

[@mariusimholz5454]

@@Estok8805 the residential ones are mostly cable cars, altough I have also seen some toothed ones. I've never ridden one since the terrace homes that use them are mostly owned by elderly people.

[@mariusimholz5454]

@@ffvgaming3735 are you talking about the public funiculars or strictly the private cable cars?

[@Maurazio]

usually they are cable pulled, with cable on the bottom. commonly called funicular although legally they may be called inclined elevator

[@Case16710]

The engineering is so clever, especially the way it keeps the car level even when the angle of the rail changes. Would have loved to see more about that.

[@curtisss]

The arm attached to the pulling cable seems to be a very clever design, definitely agree I'd love to hear more about it

[@ritterkeks]

it looks to be purely mechanical at 2:00 - as in the space between the upper and the lower rail gets smaller, resulting in the two arms forcing the car into a different angle than before. so purely a matter of correct rail placement with no additonal mechanical systems being needed imo - clever!

[@JackieBaisa]

Same here. Would love to see the engineering behind it.

[@jbrou123]

I want to see what safety system is in place in case of a cable breakage.

[@MrVook]

​@@jbrou123 Was thinking the same. Did you see the way the cable is rubbing against the rail whilst pulling the entire weight of the cable car? I wonder how often the cable would need replacing

[@Lizlodude]

1:59 I just want to take a second to appreciate that leveling system that mechanically keeps the car flat by (from the look of it) changing the thickness of the track. That's awesome.

[@YTho-ev1ej]

It’s always the simple stuff that seems so smart

[@TheHi_King]

As a New Zealander I feel overwhelmed getting to see our country in so many videos haha. Usually one off references is shocking enough! Love the videos!!

[@geese5170]

New Zealand is a truly unique place. Im American and New Zealand is very fascinating with its landscape and people. Don’t forget to appreciate the beauty of your home!

[@caydz16]

I agree tbh, it'd weird that we actually get put on the map

[@OrtonLongGaming]

THIS

[@BrayTube]

Lean into it but stay humble and just make sure you keep your feet in your gumboots! Greets from Ireland! ;¬)

[@zhurgz]

This ^^ im a wellingtonian so its very strange to see tom scott walking around our city

[@Rileysworld727]

Mark seems to be a good guy with such a positive attitude towards life. I dont know how you always find great guests for these videos, but i always feel lucky to hear from people who are passionate about what they do.

[@felixmervamee7834]

Agreed. There is nothing quite like a person who is allowed to realise a dream or make a living doing something they perceive as good and fulfilling. Great examples to look up to.

[@MatthewAHaas]

Mark seems great! Id love to have a pint with him.

[@RisingRevengeance]

If you ask for people involved in something you're probably more likely to get people that enjoy talking about it and take pride in what they do. I mean I wouldn't be happy to tell people what I did for a living but I could talk for days about my hobbies, similar stuff.

[@ssl3546]

I am sure the lady with the tattoo and crazy accent is the one who wrote to Tom and suggested the video. He gets suggestions all the time.

[@RareTS]

i would be positive too if i was making 30 mil+ off cable cars

[@matthewb3113]

A friend's parent (who is a engineer) built a smaller cable car to move groceries from the road to his summer house in Finland. It made it much easier to go down and up the stairs without having to carry heavy bags.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Two days ago I seriously contemplated getting a light block and tackle to hoist groceries up to my apartment, as I am hitting mobility limits lately. Currently, a common four-bag shopping trip is two trips up and down the stairs to get them all inside, and as a formerly fit and able person, this bothers me a lot.

[@DamienAlexander]

​@@MonkeyJedi99 get a chairlift? They're about 1500 Euro, not too bad.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@DamienAlexander I rent, so the installation of a chairlift for the common staircase is kind of a no-go. A rope hoist is something I could clamp to the railings of the external/back stairs, making it not a permanent modification of the structure, and thus not a violation of my lease.

[@thomaswilliams2273]

​@@MonkeyJedi99Just beware, all your neighbors will want to borrow it. Good way to meet them though.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

That would probably my own personal main use for them.

[@rachelcookie321]

I went on a school trip to Wellington in 2019 and as we were going around the city I noticed multiple houses with these cable cars. I kinda thought I imagined it because it seemed too cool to be real. I’m glad to get this video to confirm they are in fact real and to learn more about them. I had no idea there was so many! I only saw a handful while I was there.

[@stickykitty]

What? You didn't believe your eyes or something 😂

[@jimmio3727]

@@stickykitty I mean... when 90% of the world is lies now, do you expect any different?

[@stickykitty]

@@jimmio3727 you mean you don't trust your eyes enough when you see a cable cart you don't believe it to be real? 🤣 emkay 👏 🙄

[@barefootkiwi3026]

I normally work as a tour guide in Wellington (Tom, next time you're here, let me know and I'll find you something interesting), but over Covid, with no tourists, I worked 5 different jobs. One of those was as a courier (for the huge backlog of parcels being ordered). I got to ride a few of those cable cars which, for a Wellingtonian who doesn't know anyone with a private cable car, was a bucket list item. Some of them were surprisingly slow, but there's no other way to the house, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

[@moaningpheromones]

I moved furniture to a house with one, it had a canopy so couldn't fit big items in it, still had to use the long path. Two seats one either side. It went across more than down - unusual it went down from the street, in Grafton Rd Roseneath - long time ago, fairly sure Grafton.

[@maehaps]

They're so cool but the lady talking about the expense was also a really relatable part ahaha

[@Yozo_official]

Haha

[@joesmith942]

Other than her meat clever tattoo...

[@alalalala57]

​@@joesmith942 ???

[@BasedinReality1984]

I found her almost unbearable to listen to.

[@jonathanodude6660]

​@@BasedinReality1984 why?

[@kemp10]

If it's this challenging to access an already built house, I can't imagine what it must've been like for the construction workers building into a undeveloped hillside

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Probably used a huge construction crane to lift everything (including the workers) up and down???

[@SamTheEnglishTeacher]

@@JohnSmith-yv6eq and helicopters

[@RubyDoobieScoo]

Living in Wellington I can tell you that it's done by helicopter.

[@TheCamwa]

You 100% get it, I had to install double glazed windows in many of these places...biggest pain in the butt ever.

[@SamAronow]

@@patrickmcdonough1893 They've got a 9-ton, a 14-ton, and Maurice Micklewhite.

[@fionarogge596]

So cool to see Rose Lu interviewed!! Her book “All who live on Islands” is incredible

[@chewy99.]

You just, know that person? That’s a crazy coincidence. What’s the main point of the book, if you don’t mind me asking?

[@alterac5627]

Well, I would like to think the main point of any book is to be opened and read, but I suppose one could find other uses for a book.

[@steven_baconbits]

​@@alterac5627 i use them to level my furniture.

[@cameronjohnson4936]

I’m an ecologist that lives in Wellington, it’s so nice to see my city represented with so much care and enthusiasm

[@Rokomarn]

What does being an ecologist have to do with anything?

[@agnesagni]

I was wondering if these cable cars are not adding to the destruction of the environment by allowing people to build in places they could not so far.

[@attilajuhasz2526]

@@agnesagni I'd say less destruction since access roads are not necessary. The "building footprint" is smaller.

[@cameronjohnson4936]

@@Rokomarn several of the previous videos about New Zealand and Wellington have covered conservation topics. Perhaps with more optimism than I would have for something as terribly flawed as Predator Free 2050, but it’s nice to see coverage

[@cameronjohnson4936]

@@agnesagni interesting question! These houses are old and there are networks of pathways through the city. Due to the hills this city is quite compact, and accessibility was an afterthought to build-able land. We do have a large percentage of green space compared to many other cities due to regenerating areas where houses couldn’t be built. Ecological corridor projects are underway to connect boundaries of the city that are bush to the people and to create a single continuous section of bush that would allow safe migration of animals from the sea to the mountains north of the city

[@charlyzzz]

There are also some of these in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, which are used to access the shore from houses

[@Yozo_official]

Oh cool

[@OntarioBearHunter]

some cottages here have DIY versions to get gear and sometimes people down steep embankment to the boats.

[@Jo-tv6sj]

that's dope! love Deep Cove but need to visit more often. really wish they had a public one in New West, the hill right off the Skytrain is ridiculous

[@DuncanJimmy]

As a long-time Wellingtonian, I grew up going to and from school via the Cable Car every day and have always loved the inclinators you see around the city. Their extraordinary expense is due to the customization required for each one. Most people don't have the budget for these conveniences, so people have to just get fit walking the hills and steps required.

[@moaningpheromones]

It was only the rich who would build somewhere that needed one. The rest of Wellington doesn't have hundreds of steps per property, does it? I lived in Wellington and had six steps, most have less than fifty and not many have more than eighty. I've never heard the word inclinator until this video and from decades in Wellington only ever heard them called cable cars. Most people drive mate - or bus / train. Even if a house has 60 steps it's one minute of walking - not a huge effort. Minority of people actually walk anywhere and walk up hills.

[@DuncanJimmy]

@@moaningpheromones I lived in Kelburn near the top of the Cable Car, so it was a no-brainer to use it for direct access to Lambton Quay and then take a bus the rest of the way. As Scott says, the only reason you'd get an inclinator is for the disabled or to reach otherwise inaccessible property.

[@UberSkoobz]

I’m loving this Tom Scott New Zealand arc. I’m learning so much about my own country. Thank you so much Tom!

[@angusbodle1054]

Tom, your coverage of New Zealand has been phenomenal. I've already learned so much about my own country !

[@dansanger5340]

These are also common in my area. Maintenance is important. There was a story in the news a few years back where a private cable car broke loose and crashed, killing one of the occupants.

[@Matthew-ut6ed]

Wouldn't it be a simple matter to have some kind of inertia mechanism (like car seatbelts) so that if the cable breaks a ratchet or pin flies out and locks the car into the rail. I thought regular building elevators had this.

[@Sashazur]

@@Matthew-ut6ed I’m sure they have something like that already, but everything needs regular inspection and maintenance to ensure it works correctly when needed.

[@chrishandley1574]

@@Matthew-ut6ed The mechanism for these car puts on the brakes when tension is lost on the cable. My property is one of 10 serviced by a similar cable car and we are on the least steep part of the track. We often lose tension when we start to go down the hill and the brakes will stop the cable car and we have to reset and start again. It's only for our stop, and only when we're getting started but it gives me a lot of confidence in the system.

[@erinwiebe7026]

I live on the flat Canadian prairie where a hill is a novelty in itself. A cable car house on a steep hill in Wellington would be a very different living experience to what I'm used to.

[@GregM]

Same here. Things we take for granted here on the prairies could be a chore especially if it is raining. Groceries, moving, even getting furniture deliveries etc could be more of a chore.

[@Skatted]

​@@GregM it's all worth is for the view though

[@johntheredeemer]

My condolences 😛

[@marklittle8805]

I am guessing you live in one of those places as the late Pat Burns joked "You can watch your Dog run away for two days"

[@SurprisinglyDeep]

Way easier to bicycle around there then in Wellington I'd bet

[@leTRodz]

I live in Wellington, and I absolutely love finding new cable cars. I've lived in a few different suburbs, and it feels like every time I'm walking about, I discover a whole new, private cable car (though I always wonder if they'd let me in). What a magical little city!

[@moaningpheromones]

Go out to Wainui or Porirua and tell us about the magic. You mean the rich areas.

[@It-is-me...Melsie]

@@moaningpheromones What's wrong with being rich.

[@DC4260Productions]

Despite its branding, the Wellington Cable Car is actually a funicular because the cars are permanently attached to the cable. In a traditional cable car system, like what Dunedin lost but San Francisco retains, a person had to stand in the car and move big levers to clamp onto the cable.

[@nevillesevicke-jones1227]

Dunedin had two cable car systems... One I travelled on as a baby... the Rattray St--Ross St--Kaikorai Valley one... and the High St one which I used in its last year...1957.... the single line was every bit as good as the ones in San F running down to the Piers. Imagine that now as a tourist drawcard.......

[@hamish2979]

these are all funiculars

[@EnderEclipz]

I thank you for making these New Zealand videos. They have really opened my eyes to things that I didn't even know about in the country that I live in!

[@pdoge]

Hah I immediately recognized it! When I was an exchange student in New Zealand my homestay family had a cable car that was going roughly 600m downtown and would save you a 20 minute car ride. It was a shared wind with roughly 10 other houses and they would need to coordinate as a ride downtown and back up would take a good 10 minutes

[@hux2000]

Tom did such a great job finding the right people to talk about this. The homeowner's enthusiasm is infectious and it's always great to hear someone talk eloquently about a job they so clearly love. Great video!

[@finndenton6292]

Tom you should absolutely do a meet and greet while you're in wellington I know at least 3 people that would scream if they got to meet you (myself included) I've got a cable car that runs up to my house (exact same model as Rose's) and it is the handiest thing I've ever had at a flat, I use it practically every day and it beats the hell outta the long staircase we've got otherwise

[@reutermo]

Best part of these New Zealand videos is the accents. They are very charming.

[@BTobiasJ]

As a Wellingtonian, it is my turn to be surprised by Tom Scott making a video about what I have always seen as a mundane everyday thing.

[@Colopty]

Very nice solution that both opens up new property solutions in difficult landscape while providing improved accessibility. Though the homeowner's talk about having an additional expense is relatable.

[@gocubs1026]

Wow how is it that you always find the perfect expert on each topic

[@Yozo_official]

I agree, its amazing

[@thegees]

the guy that builds and is independently certified to inspect them is usually the expert

[@myladycasagrande863]

The joys of having a good research team!

[@rachelcookie321]

It’s likely the expert who reached out to him and asked if he was interested in doing a video on it. Tom mentions in a lot of videos that he was asked to go there by wherever he is doing a video on. I’m sure lots of people are constantly emailing him asking if he’s interested in doing a video on something because they get free advertising if Tom decides to do a video.

[@waza987]

There is a lot of these in Sydney Australia as well. Most of the ones I have seen are towards the top of the Northern beaches peninsula and many are not to access the house but to get down the step hills at the back to access the boat house of the property. And yes if you can afford any of those houses the price of the inclinator is not going to bother you it will be insignificant compared to the price of your boat let alone the house.

[@DanielPierce]

We have these in certain areas of the states , lots of lakefront properties around the US with steep hills leading down to a boathouse have these.

[@Pattoe]

Cool to see Rose Lu here. I imagine Tom and Rose could talk for days and days about things they find interesting, with Rose being an Author, Engineer and Software developer, and Tom Scott's love of linguistics, mechanics and code.

[@matthewharris-levesque5809]

I always love it when people love their job.

[@UR_HR]

A friend of mine stayed at a secluded costal property somewhere in NZ (afraid I cannot remember where) which had an antiquated version of these that provided access to the the local beach. From the way it was described to me it definitely did not have a warrant of fitness, and was compared to something out of Indiana Jones!

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Out of regulatory oversight (no inspectors..never been official....on private property..used by family and friends......Kiwi No.8 wirebuild quality See Denniston Incline history for some spectacular "cable cars".....

[@blaster-zy7xx]

Oh cool! We are on Florida and heading to Mew Zealand tomorrow! Thanks for giving us something to look for.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

the next step is to make the cable car part of the house - say you step in through a perfectly normal looking front door at the street into what appears to be a regular entryway, but really the entryway is the cable car and it moves up to the house and becomes part of the structure, so you can you step out of it into the living room or whichever, just like you would any other house

[@SeanBZA]

Also available, and just costs a lot more as you enclose it. Tom could do the same here by me in South Africa, where the Cape province ultra rich live. Areas like Bantry bay and Llandudno, where there are plenty of properties where you absolutely need to have a cable car to access them, or the number where all you have at street level is a set of garages, and a lift to the premises

[@galliman123]

The true next step is to make the cable car a house and the whole house moves up and down

[@marvindebot3264]

@@SeanBZA I've seen a couple of those with cable cars you can drive a car into because the 5 or 6-car garage is a part of the house up the cliff.

[@handymannyalex]

I manufacture these, and yes, we have many that terminate at the house, exactly as you describe

[@klhaldane]

@@galliman123 Yes! Down to the street for convenience, then up for the view.

[@annag6400]

As a Wellingtonian it's fantastic to see our city cast so into the spotlight recently. It's great you're having a good explore around and learning tons of stuff about us

[@gregfredericks5201]

Was just there last month and saw for myself these unique transports.

[@amelia-heart]

i live super close to the wellington cable car and the knowledge that tom scott himself was RIGHT THERE is tripping me out right now

[@Stratelier]

I grew up in a house on a hillside (sloped maybe 30deg) and there was no roadside access to the house. Sure, the two-car garage at the "back" (uphill end) of the property was roadside, but to get to the actual house we walked down a gentle driveway shared with two neighbors, then down a steep walkway to the door. We also had a second walkway (mostly stairs) leading to the road on the downhill side, which we used mostly for the schoolbus stop at the bottom.

[@belindathompson267]

Interesting…how did you get mail delivered? Wellington seems like a fun place to be a postie

[@Stratelier]

@@belindathompson267 Mailbox was by the garage.

[@Cgeta4]

Reminds me to switzerland with its countless cogwheel railways, going up the mountains to various villages and towns there

[@francoisdvanderwesthuizen6772]

Another engineering marvel...

[@rayoflight62]

Local problems, local solutions. Very nice indeed. The price is not eye-watering, but not insignificant either. Thanks Mr. Scott for these unique pearls from the other side of the world...

[@chopun3862]

$200000 isn't eye watering?😮

[@itsmefalconOo]

​@@chopun3862 You can probably buy land that would otherwise cost a lost more than 200k NZD and then add a cable car to it for a net saving.

[@matthewb9955]

Tom Scott is an entertainment genius. He has never uploaded a video that wasn’t great. Thanks Tom!

[@TimoZNL]

I love this format. Short, informative videos showing interesting areas and objects.

[@MazeFrame]

I know this is not the intent, but this is an absolutely spectacular recruitment ad!

[@Colopty]

Probably not the main intention though I suspect it was considered a potential side perk.

[@nesnalica]

yesnt. it did increase awareness but you still need to be certified to do maintanence or build things like this.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Also sales ad for the business..."time to pass on the torch".....

[@misplaced7858]

Well that was certainly uplifting.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

It had it's ups and downs...

[@AdiabetiKkidRex]

Tom, thank you for what you do! I really appreciate it!

[@ShadowFC_20]

I live in Auckland, New Zealand so I've been to wellington a few times. I love going there and the cable cars there are such a fantastic experience!!!

[@MikesTropicalTech]

I visited Wellington and the highlight was the WETA workshop tour, but I didn't know these existed!

[@luckdragon836]

Having a cable car ride to my doorstep would be so fun, no need to carry in groceries

[@m14mclaren]

Nice to see a video of my home town pop up in my subscriptions this morning as I commute to the city.

[@EyalBrown]

It's always lovely when Tom finds enthusiastic and genuinely happy people to include in the video

[@RobCCTV]

Yet again Tom has found a fascinating and unexpected topic to do a 4-minute ditty on. Great stuff.

[@nitrites]

In my home town, this is a very common occurrence on lake houses, many of the lake houses cant walk down the steep slopes to get to the lake and some istall these. Always fun to spot them!

[@jhaas68865]

As someone with bad knees I think this is amazing. Some people get stair lifts or home elevators but this can open up your whole land area.

[@wyattarich]

I swear I watched this already and the deva vu is UNREAL

[@vickymc9695]

Wow as a wheelchair user in rural Wales I'm really flipping jealous.

[@leejohnson3209]

Imagine being a delivery driver in that city.

[@Zestric]

I'd imagine "Put [item] in cable car" is a frequent delivery request.

[@rachelcookie321]

I imagine the people would just come down to get it. Like in apartments the person usually comes down to the building entrance instead of having the delivery driver come all the way up.

[@Kausan1]

My son was, in this area. Complete pain in the arse. Time wasting and also poor signage. He moved on as quick as he could

[@nfwolf20]

I was a delivery driver in Wellington, we often take the cable car up to customer’s house, unless they instructed us to wait down there

[@ahorrell]

I live here and let me tell you - ease of access is a huuuuuuge factor for deliveries and tradespeople. Imagine needing to install a shower or build a balcony... and that is your access! It happens all the time. Tradies often have to haul huge loads up lots of stairs in Wellington... yet another reason why the city is very expensive

[@hughmcaloon6506]

How you manage to find so many cool things to report on... glad that you do! Keep it up!

[@logeymusic]

As a New Zealander, this little trip around the country is great! Thanks for coming by Tom :D

[@geraldmerkowitz4360]

It's like an elevator, but outside. Now that I see it I'm suprised it doesn't exist in many more places

[@ingramdw1]

I recently helped my daughter move out of a Wellington house with a cable car. Unfortunately it was out of service on moving day, so we just put moving blankets on the rail, placed the furniture on top and guided it down - easy! It wouldn't have been much fun going the other way though.

[@everwhatever]

I've seen something similar in Haifa, which is built on Mount Carmel. I spotted some private houses along a particularly steep hill that had similar looking systems for getting to the main road. And there are 2 systems of cable cars in the city, one crappy one and one new, that everyone is in awe of but I haven't heard that many people using as everyday transportation. Architecture on hills is so interesting, in Haifa there are tons of houses that are built into the incline and have several entrances on different floors on different sides.

[@thisiscait]

My best friend in Sydney had an inclinator, it was awesome. You felt all tucked away from everything.

[@qtluna7917]

They become more and more common in wealthy, slightly hilly areas in Germany. I know of roughly a dozen in Heidelberg. Some of them are only for freights for now, but since more and more high tech homes spring up in the rich neighbourhoods, I assume that amount will increase.

[@wordzmyth]

I knew it was Wellington:) Also our median house price went to $1 million here. It's a nightmare.

[@BunkerFox]

Tom Scott just can't get enough of monorails

[@gaius_enceladus]

Woohoo - my city! Great video, Tom, showing off the nice waterfront of Wellington there! Well done! I hope you managed to drop in to a few cafes while here - there are some great cafes with awesome coffee and food here!

[@iamsandrewsmith]

Pittsburgh (where I live) currently has two "inclines", as they are called here. A hundred years ago, though, there were more than a dozen. Like most of the public transport network at the time, they were (poorly) run by private companies, hence most of them have disappeared. The system that you show here is fascinating, since there are some very hilly neighborhoods here in the Burgh!

[@boltonky]

As a laborer in my younger years most of the houses that had cable cars were a nightmare to work on in most cases and there used to be a few in wellington that the only access was via cable car as the paths had fallen away or been overtaken fun times :)

[@pwilkinson18]

These are common around the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland USA. They allow access to the boat docks on the water.

[@slook7094]

I've been there and never seen any of them. Where are they?

[@shept.7736]

This reminds me of Maryland, a lot of the houses had cable cars to bring them down the steep inclines and onto their docks for their boats. Always fascinated me as a child

[@TheAcorner1987]

I do like the mindset of the older gentleman, you can see he cares about his business enough to by proxy care for his customers

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

He has care and also responsibility.... he is responsible for their build safety...and the inspection team certifying them as fit for purpose as well....

[@NamaTiti]

You know what I love about the Kiwis, they can be one of the most proficient in their profession and yet they remain so humble.

[@mrnnhnz]

Good to see you've come to New Zealand/Aotearoa, and are doing some videos while you're here 🙂

[@offrails]

Never got to ride one (besides the Wellington "Cable Car") , but as a Kiwi kid growing up outside of Wellington, I do recalling seeing a couple of these in the 1980s out near the airport. My cousin did live closer to the city though and had a house that was on the hillside and required climbing a bunch of steps to get to - I loved sitting at their front window and watching the Picton ferry come and go

[@Huntracony]

Do these count as monorails?

[@burgerpommes2001]

They count as lifts/elevators

[@JohnADoe-pg1qk]

@1:18 This one is definitely not a monorail.

[@jamesfilms_]

I'd always figured a requirement of monorails (and trains) is being able to propel themselves along the rail(s), not being pulled as seen here. But if we define a monorail as something that simply runs along a single track, then yes!

[@martijn9568]

@@jamesfilms_ How about a cable car powered monorail?

[@jamesfilms_]

@@martijn9568 my head hurts

[@theend1555]

They have similar systems here in Beverly Shores, IN. Many of the houses on the lake shore are on very steep hills

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I live up here and I've never heard of them. That's awesome thanks.

[@NWIndianaElevators]

Lake Freeman (south of Monticello, IN) has a bunch of these for the houses that are on the top of the hill.

[@wordzmyth]

Glad tou came to see us in NZ Tom :)

[@Stormandfire]

Live in Wellington, have been up and down a couple of these, but I'm actually more pleased to learn what that business does, as I've passed by it countless times.

[@Kairi-ou]

Huh! I went to NZ for a holiday once, and I had always wondered just how fit you had to be to be a local there! It’s so steep! I see now, they’ve found some work arounds to the problem haha.

[@Foremarkex]

The Monorail Saga Continues.

[@zestoslife]

Booked an airbnb last year for a family holiday in wellington and we were all very excited that it came with one of these. Except wasn't as smooth or as new looking. Lots of clunking, bumping and lurching but lots of fun and safe (I think).

[@quirkedupshawty]

I’m loving all these Wellington videos!! He’s in my hometown right now!!

[@marna_li]

Tom, I love these videos that you make because I get to learn something new and cool about the world. As someone from boring northern Europe, private cable cars being a thing in New Zealand fascinates me.

[@joebleasdale5557]

“I need a cable car just to access my deck” must be a humble brag in New Zealand 😂

[@moaningpheromones]

hardly anyone has one and only the super rich.

[@BLUERENI777]

Im loving all the videos in New Zealand hope to see more.

[@aniasparkle]

A classic Tom Scott segment; this weird little not-elevator elevator thing and its surprising use. Love it :)

[@imoutodaisuki]

But… is this counted as a monorail though?

[@ClarinoI]

Not really. While it only has one rail, it isn't self propelling.

[@definedphotography]

"I've sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map!"

[@Balthorium]

I’ve heard real estate agents call them Hill-evators.

[@bigutubefan2738]

Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!

[@DarrylTalks]

I have ridden in some Wellington cable cars, there was one I rode in 25 years ago, with a curved track that weaves around trees and obstacles as it climbs to the house, we went to a party at the house.

[@UncleSkiBum]

My brother had one of these for his place in Wadestown in Wellington and it was so cool, but not great on moving day! There were about 3 or 4 properties that shared it.

[@MaxScheibenpflug]

That's one inspired and inspiring business owner. 👍

[@Heffolo]

So weird seeing all these stories based in Wellington. I always enjoyed your videos on strange or notable places, and I see how Wellington fits the bill, but it still does feel odd to see you talking about my home town. The hills are crazy here though; the trail up to some houses makes it look like you’re walking into the bush. If you haven’t already, you should check out Zealandia; there’s some interesting history there and it ties in with the predator-NZ project. Hope you’re enjoying your visit!

[@Infinite_Maelstrom]

Is Tom planning to / did he visit anywhere else here on this trip? I'd enjoy seeing videos about smaller, more kiwi places. Like Bunnythorpe, home town of GlaxoSmithKline, now a suburb of Palmy. Or Arapuni - my personal fav town. I haven't been to the South island enough to recommend any good spots though.

[@KIWIGAMERINE]

good to see you back in NZ Tom

[@MrBuyerman]

Welcome to NZ Tom. I hope you'll be finding some of the other great stories we have around the place.

[@JVlapleSlain]

Cable Cars falling off their lines is an interesting concept

[@Yozo_official]

Indeed