[Cable Car Film] (sound)

1814 has handled as much as a 300% overload revolving at 294 revolutions per minute through reduction gears this 300 horsepower motor turns the gigantic 12T driver it is this driver which actually propels the endless cable through the streets after leaving the driver the cable goes spinning round the big Winder and out into the underground conduit for its Journey beneath the Streets of San Francisco slack in the cable which varies with the load and pull up on it is taken up by the tension wheel this acts almost like a yo-yo in slow motion that is the cable speed is 9 M an hour there are approximately 17 M of cable in use in San Francisco and the longest single cable is a little over 3 and 1/2 miles hurrying endlessly to the outside world spins the lifeline of the traditional cable cars protected by that familiar steel line slot constantly scanning the cable is a strand alarm which instantly detects any rough or worn spots with a flashing signal and a warning Bell the equipment is stopped immediately for inspection but repairs are usually made after the system is shut down at midnight the damage section is cut out and the two ends of the cable are unraveled these are forced together Preparatory to making the actual splice which is about 60 ft in length and requires about 6 hours to complete the Rope is merely used to hold the cables while the work is being done all but the last two strands are handled in the same manner so we see the cablemen ready to complete their exacting job [Music] The Strand is cut to length and is unraveled further along the cable the long length of strand from the joining cable end is then wrapped to take its place remember there can be no evidence of a splice no bulges and no depressions otherwise the cable will wear quickly and may cause trouble in its Journey Through the underground conduit when the substitute strand is wrapped into the old strand's position it is pounded firmly into place the last two opposite strands are quickly but carefully taped by the skilled workmen these will be used as a core for the repaired section a section as good as new the old core of the cable which is made of rope is then pulled out it comes out easily that is it does if you know how every step in this operation From First to Last requires first class knoow when the old core is removed the newly taped core is wound into the center of the cable here's how it is done and the work crews make it look as uncomplicated as grandma handling yarn at completion of winding in the taped core the joining rope core is cut to meet it exactly finally the entire splice is pounded firmly together it's quite a trick making the two hammers meet the cable at precisely the same instance nothing wrong with it now this mechanism is known as a grip and is mounted in the cable car to grab the moving cable how does it work simple the cable is held between the two jaws and to stop the car the lever is pushed forward thus releasing the cable to start the lever is pulled back causing the Jaws to take hold again this lower section of the grip extends through the track slot and remain s below the surface of the street tremendous pressure is exerted on the cable by easy operation of the grip so that the Jaws won't grip too suddenly and start the car with a jerk the cables are bathed with a lubricant inquiries about cable cars come from all over the world India Africa the Orient everywhere yes the cable car is a trademark for the City by the Golden Gate regular daily Cable Car Service is provided by the old Powell Street line now part of the municipal Network and was originally built in [Music] 1887 there was also the California Street cable railroad company's line the California cable cars are 30 ft long and seat 34 passengers yes a great crowd of 34 but they've carried as many as 135 breath holding commuters at Peak periods all you need is a toe hold and a prayer these cars have a center Cabin with open bays at both ends when this car reaches the terminal it crosses over onto the return tracks by means of a switch and is ready to go in the opposite direction the gripman motorman to you merely leaves one end the car and goes to the other it's as simple as that now he's ready for the return run when the gripman pulls the lever the jaws of the grip grab the cable and the car is promptly put in motion traveling of course at the same speed as the cable movement it may not be fast but it's sure with the mun cars it's different these are a mere 25 ft long and seat 30 passengers at only one end of the cabin is there an open Bay here to get ready for the return trip the car rolls onto a turntable a flat 16t disc with a wooden top set flush with the street at pow and Market there's usually a crowd waiting to get aboard an attendant releases the turntable lock then the gripman and conductor push the car around but bystanders often cheerfully lend a hand especially those who are waiting to get aboard it's part of the cable car tradition it is necessary to push the car off the turntable Preparatory to its return trip the muni car's takeoff is similar to that of the California line means of locomotion is by grasping the moving cable with the grip when ready to start the gripman merely pulls the long handle of the lever the grip grabs the cable and up how we go one of the busiest and most widely known thoroughfares in all San Francisco and our car holding tightly onto its cable Delights the visitors and Native San franciscans with the unending Panorama of famous landmarks Union Square the St Francis Hotel and many other points of interest dear to the hearts of San franciscans and visitors alike unfold before us [Music] how of the cables cross at intersections why don't the cables get fouled many of us have asked ourselves that question the answer can be explained at this typical Crossing of Powell and California streets note that the two lines cross without trouble no tangling of underground cables here we have a diagram view of the Crossing note the position of the grip of cable and pulleys and also the slight dip in the tracks also we have the crossing of the California line and the cable to be crossed when a car approaches the crossing the gripman releases the cable the car coasts across the intersection the gripman pulls the lever the grip grabs that friendly cable again and the car is under cable control now once more the car approaches the intersection the grip releases the cable the car coasts over the crossing and enters the track dip permitting the grip to seize the cable again this procedure is only necessary for one of the Crossing Lines which in this case is the Powell Street Car the opposing California cars are unaffected the pow Street gripman releases the cable and the car coasts calmly over the tracks the gripman makes a grab for the cable again and the car now attached to the Unseen cable continues on its rolicking way the next car approaching will repeat the performance afraid of a runaway car don't be for every car has several brakes the conductor controls a handbrake the gripman has his track Brake Plus a foot brake here yes they can really stop for emergency there is the slot breake which means stop right now it is a wedge-shaped piece of metal that is forced into the slot the brakes are released by the conductor and griffan and the car moves down the hill but still safely under cable control on a downgrade gripping of the cable means additional safety [Music] no wonder the conductor is callous curves are navigated in two ways and are known as the pull curve and the free or let go curve these turns always thrill the visitor with a quick tipping swing of the car all brakes of course must be off as a precautionary warning the gripman always calls out hold on look out for the curve the passengers brace themselves and no one takes a header into the [Music] street a pull curve is one in which the car's grip continues to hold onto the cable while making the turn with the cover plates removed next to the curved grip slot we easily see the mechanism the full length of the curve is lined with a series of pulleys guiding the cable almost but not quite in the position into the car's grip the grip actually just misses the pulley and holds the cable slightly away from them while making the turn as the car makes the turn the grip holds the cable away from the pulley and the cable slips back onto the pulley as the car continues around different from the pull curve is the let go curve in the let go curve the gripman releases the cable and the car simply coasts around but only few passengers are aware of such technicalities to them one curve is very much like another it was Hills like this that were responsible for the cable car and Hyde Street is the steepest Cable Car climb in San Francisco today it was to these Carmen that glette Burgess pinned his Immortal poem The Ballad of the Hide Street grip almost 22% grade but easy does it with a backdrop of alcat BR Island a picturesque car comes up a picturesque Hill many Scenic and historic views unfold before the toy likee cable cars such as San Francisco's famous Waterfront and close to colorful Fisherman's warp here crab meat shrimp and other Delicacies of the deep may be had from the shouting singing vendors in season the fishing boats make daily trips often racing each other home to be the first with the day's catch just like a sightseeing bus here's KO Tower the cable car lines pass many landmarks in one part of the city and another Traverse Pleasant residential districts old and new well-kept homes with spacious grounds and Marine Views Homes reflecting wealth culture and refinement the homes of pioneers and the homes of modern industrialists cable cars give a friendly introduction to the city we pass an exact replica of an early church in Spain Old St Mary's Church built in 1854 and standing at the Gateway to incense burning Chinatown narrow streets and alleys here qu bazaars sing song of shopkeepers shuffling and chatter of thousands of orientals strange customs and strange dress all within a few steps of our cable car up and and up we go a top historic Knob Hill where stands the Mark Hopkins Hotel originally the site of a pretentious home built by the millionaire Mark [Music] Hopkins the world famous Fairmont Hotel and the Pacific Union Club the former Mansion of James C flood Bonanza King in the late 1800s a glittering brass fence costing $660,000 surrounded it yes we bow to the marvels of the Modern Age to the great engineers and Geniuses of speed but we reserve a very special salute to The Men Who Pioneer the cable car the dinky swaggering wonderful cable car can anyone can anyone ride the old cable cars without a nostalgic thrill for the long gone yesterday May those Brave and swaying old relics those treasured old relics the ancient cable cars of San Francisco never reach the end of the [Music] line for