Invented in 1873 by Scotsman Andrew S. Hallidie, the iconic cable car, counts its 150th anniversary this year, through the support of Market Street Railway and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. 

An experienced “maker of wire rope (steel cable),” Hallidie invented the cable car which made its “first run on August 2, 1873” according to sfcablecar.com. Attempting to find transportation up the steep San Francisco hills, besides horse-drawn carriages, he not only made it a success, but provided cheaper, faster, and efficient transportation.

Cities including New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Oakland, London, Paris, Sydney, and Melbourne, and more soon followed.

Later on, innovator Frank Sprague created the first electric streetcar in Richmond, Virginia, replacing and advancing the SF Street car, running today.

Because cable lines in Seattle and Tacoma closed in 1941, and New Zealand cable lines closed in 1957, SF was the only place with running street cable cars in America and stays that way today.

  All in northeast San Francisco, the three cable cars lines are the only cable cars left in the US.

With a total of 40 cars, they are all “painted in the authentic liveries (paint schemes)” according to streetcar.org. However, to tell the difference, the real ones run only on steel rails while the others drive on rubber tires.

Some of these views on the oldest cable car line since 1878, the California Street line, include starting at Market Street into the Financial District, Nob Hill, Chinatown, Powell Street, Grace Cathedral, Polk Gulch, Van Ness Avenue. Views on the other two include, Mason and Hyde, on Powell Street line include Union Square, Nob Hill, Chinatown, North Beach, Bay Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, Russian Hill, Beach Street in Aquatic Park. 

Jack Reardon, science instructor said, “I think they are an iconic city feature that makes great business sense to keep around, but aside from that I think that they’re cool and unique in their own right. I think we should definitely hold on to them.” 

Running every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., you too can ride the cable car at age 4+ for $8 fare, using cash, the MUNI mobile app, or Clipper card, before or on the cable car and enjoy the sights just as people from all over the world have for 150 years now!

Reese Lu ’24 added, “The cable cars should stay because they not only are one of the biggest tourist attractions, but they visually compliment the SF hills. I couldn’t imagine SF without cable cars.”