In 1873 Andrew Smith Hallidie originally started the
San Francisco cable car after witnessing a horse and car accident losing traction on a hill in 1869, is one of those must do experiences when in the city. Considerably more expensive than riding other forms of Muni as it's more expensive to run and maintain with its more limited capacity, labor intensive for every car. It's fun watching the cable car being rotated on the turntable to its new destination.
These require two people to operate, one is the grip person, which basically watches for traffic safety of pedestrians, motor vehicles, controls the movement of the cable car using a control to grip a moving cable traveling at 25mph underneath its track. To stop the cable car, the operator releases the grip of the moving cable and applies another control for the breaks using pine wood, accounting for the smell of burnt wood, which must be replaced every 72 hours. The second person is the conductor to collect fares, signal the operator for stop requests with one clang, signal clear to go with two clangs on a secondary bell, switch tracks if needed, assist with secondary breaks in the rear when descending downhill.
The route I like best is on the Powell and Hyde Streets line just before its steep descent along Hyde St about six blocks away heading towards Fisherman's Wharf standing on the front of the car with its breathtaking view as it descends downhill along with the smell of burnt pine wood used for braking. Bring a warm jacket in case it's chilly. The Powell and Mason Street line takes a different route to a different part of Fisherman's Wharf lacks the dramatic view from a high hill. The California Street line runs from California and Market in a straight path to Van Ness Avenue, have bi-directional cars, so it switch tracks differently without the need of a turntable at the end of the line as the other two lines. Any of the three lines has a stop to Chinatown.
Fares,
routes, and
schedules begins running shortly before 6am running to sometime after 1am. Seniors 65 or older with valid ID may ride before 7am or after 9pm for considerably less cash fare. Souvenir tickets are available in limited quantities at the Powell & Market, Hyde & Beach ticket booths, 949 Presidio Ave., Room 103; San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau at 900 Market St, or
online for various passes available. It would be worth considering if you intend to ride Muni, including its cable cars, or BART within city limits. Take some time to visit The
Cable Car Museum located at Mason/Washington Streets, by way of the Powell and Hyde or Powell and Mason cable cars, open to the public October to March, 10am-6pm, admission is free where you can see the cables in motion and its also the barn where the
cable cars come out, go in, and maintained.