Andrew Hallidie ran the first cable car up Clay Street in 1873, and the system that survives today was declared a moving National Historic Landmark in 1964. The cars have no engines: each grips a steel cable running under the street, pulled by machinery in a single powerhouse.

The three lines

  • Powell-Hyde: the most scenic, over Nob and Russian Hills, past the top of Lombard Street, with the bay and Alcatraz ahead as you drop to Aquatic Park.
  • Powell-Mason: a slightly shorter route ending near Fisherman's Wharf.
  • California Street: runs east to west across Nob Hill from the Financial District. Usually the shortest queue, and the most local-feeling ride.

Skipping the long line

The turnaround at Powell and Market is where the queue builds, sometimes for an hour. You can board at any stop along the line instead, where the gripman will take you if there is room, or start at the other end of the route. Early morning and evening are quieter everywhere.

Paying

Buy a single ride or a day pass through the Muni mobile app or on a Clipper card; a day pass that covers buses and streetcars too is better value if you ride twice. Conductors can take cash on board, but have the exact amount.

Riding well

The running boards on the outside are the fun place to stand: hold the pole, keep your bag on your shoulder, and listen for the bell. Sit inside on cold or wet days. Children should sit, not stand on the boards.

The Cable Car Museum

At Washington and Mason, the museum sits inside the working powerhouse. From a gallery you look down on the huge wheels turning the cables under the city, and it is free. It is the best twenty minutes in San Francisco for anyone who likes machines. For the rest of the transit system, see getting around San Francisco.

A short history

Andrew Hallidie, a Scottish-born engineer who made wire rope for mines, is said to have been moved to act after seeing horses struggle up a wet, steep hill. His Clay Street line opened in 1873 and the idea spread quickly: by the 1890s San Francisco had more than twenty cable car lines, and cities around the world copied the system. Electric streetcars, the 1906 earthquake and then buses replaced almost all of them.

In 1947 the mayor proposed scrapping the last lines. A citizens' campaign led by Friedel Klussmann fought back, and the cable cars were written into the city charter. Since 1964 they have been a National Historic Landmark, and they remain part of the working transit system, not a museum piece.

How a cable car works

Under each line runs a steel cable moving at about nine miles an hour, pulled continuously by huge wheels in the powerhouse on Mason Street. The gripman pulls a lever that closes a grip, like a giant pair of pliers, on the cable to move, and releases it to coast or stop, using brakes on the wheels and on the track. Each car needs two crew: the gripman at the front and a conductor at the back, who also works a rear brake. At the end of the Powell lines, the cars are turned by hand on wooden turntables.

Riding tips

  • Board from the side or the step at the back. Wait until the car has fully stopped.
  • When standing on the running board, keep everything inside: passing cars and trucks come very close.
  • Have your pass ready on your phone; conductors check as you go.
  • The cars run in rain, but the outside boards get wet and slippery.

Frequently asked questions

Which line is best?

Powell-Hyde for views, California Street for the shortest wait. If you ride only once, ride Powell-Hyde from the top of Nob Hill down to the bay.

Is a cable car ride worth the price?

As a single ride it is more expensive than a bus. With a day pass it is included, which makes it good value.

Do cable cars run at night?

Yes, into the evening, and night rides over the hills are lovely. Service hours vary; check the transit app.