17 Fun Facts and Silly Stories about the San Francisco Cable Cars

San Francisco’s cable cars have been turning heads (and climbing hills) for 150 years. They’re loud. They’re proud. They’re the only moving National Historic Landmark. And they’ve got stories—some sweet, some strange, and a few that are downright rebellious.

Ready to ride through some of the best tales? Grab the handrail, watch your step, and let’s roll!

1. Ding-Ding! These Bells Speak Fluent San Franciscan

Forget walkie-talkies—the cable car crew uses bells to chat. One ding means stop. Two dings? Go ahead. Four dings? Back it up! There’s even a special code to say “use the rear brake” or “let’s switch cables.” It’s like Morse code but with more charm (and fewer dots).

2. The Horses Didn’t Die in Vain… But Also, Maybe They Didn’t Die at All

You’ve probably heard the story: Andrew Hallidie invented cable cars after seeing horses tragically slip down steep cobblestone streets. Touching, right? Totally false. Hallidie was a wire-rope guy from a mining family who saw an opportunity to make bank moving people instead of ore. The horse story? Just good marketing.

3. Mona Hutchin: The Teen Who Rode into History (and Jail)

In 1965, a 19-year-old Berkeley student named Mona Hutchin hopped onto the outside of a cable car, which women were forbidden from doing. When she refused to move, she was arrested. Public outrage followed. Protests erupted. The city backed down. And women have been clinging to the running boards ever since—thanks, Mona!

4. The Housewife Who Defeated City Hall with a Turnaround and a Smile

Mayor Roger Lapham wanted to get rid of cable cars in 1947. Enter Friedel Klussmann: socialite, activist, and cable car’s ultimate ride-or-die. She rallied the city, got a voter initiative passed, and saved the cars. Today, the Powell Street turnaround bears her name—ultimate San Francisco revenge.

5. Santa’s Cable Car Sleigh—Because the Reindeer Were on Break

Back in the day, nothing kicked off the holiday season like the “Santacade.” A cable car transformed into a sleigh, complete with a rooftop toy workshop and the Big Guy himself, rolled down Market Street to Emporium. Macy’s couldn’t compete, so they put mannequins on the roof instead. Festive AND weird.

6. The Rich Got Richer—and Got a Private Cable Car Line, Too

Leland Stanford (yes, that Stanford) didn’t want to walk three blocks from his mansion to the cable car. So in 1878, he just built a line that stopped at his front door. Convenient? Extremely. Legal? Eh… not quite. He got sued for patent infringement and had to pay Hallidie $30,000. Still beats walking.

7. Cable Cars: The Ultimate Neighborhood Gentrifier

Before cable cars, Nob Hill was just a steep inconvenience. But once people could get up there easily, the wealthy moved in fast. Mansions popped up, and Rincon Hill—the former fancy neighborhood—was left behind like an out-of-fashion hat.

8. Bell-Ringing Is a Sport, and Byron Cobb Is the GOAT

Every year since 1949, San Francisco has hosted a Cable Car Bell Ringing Competition. Gripmen (and women!) show off their rhythm and flair. Byron Cobb? Six-time champion. The guy can turn a safety signal into jazz. Even Phyllis Diller showed up once to ring a few herself.

9. These Brakes Don’t Quit—Because They Literally Can’t

Cable cars go through wooden brakes every 72 hours. Made from Douglas fir (knot-free to avoid screeching), the old ones used to be pine—meaning the streets used to smell like Christmas when they stopped. Brake-changing is a full-time job. That’s one high-maintenance icon.

10. Ghost Tracks and Haunted Plans—Cue the X-Files Theme

Many old cable car tracks were ripped up in the 1940s, but their memory lingers… and maybe more. A Halloween “Haunted Cable Car” tour inspired by the ghost lines is in the works. Whether or not it’s spooky, it’s a killer excuse to ride at night and yell “Boo!” at tourists.

11. We Were the 1 in 29 Who Didn’t Quit

Once upon a time, 29 cities in the U.S. had cable car systems. Now? Just San Francisco. We’re the last city standing, and we’ve got the t-shirts, posters, and Rice-a-Roni boxes to prove it.

12. Tony Bennett’s Heart Rode a Cable Car

Tony sang it best: “To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars…” And he meant it. He debuted I Left My Heart in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel, just steps from the clang of the Powell Line. There’s a statue of him there now, probably humming softly to himself.

13. Macy’s Put Mannequins on the Roof in 1949. Why? Because San Francisco.

To outdo the Santacade, Macy’s loaded mannequins onto a cable car roof as part of a promotion. Dressed to the nines, frozen in time, and probably confused about transit fares, they made quite a scene. Did it work? Unknown. Was it unforgettable? Definitely.

14. There Were Once 600 Cable Cars in the Streets. Now We’ve Got 40.

Before the 1906 earthquake, cable cars swarmed the city—600 strong. But after the quake destroyed the tracks, many lines were replaced with electric streetcars. Today? Just 40 cable cars operate across three lines. They may be fewer, but they’re fiercer.

15. Fannie Mae Barnes Gripped Her Way into History at Age 52

In 1998, Fannie Mae Barnes became the first female grip operator—after 125 years of men-only grips. She even carried the Olympic torch up Hyde Street in 2002. Strong arms. Stronger legacy.

16. Rice-a-Roni: It’s Not Just a Jingle—It’s Cable Car Canon

That “San Francisco treat”? It was made by locals and advertised on the cable cars. The cars helped make Rice-a-Roni a household name, and the packaging still features a cable car. The next time you make boxed pilaf, give a nod to the Powell-Hyde Line.

17. Yes, It’s a National Landmark—and It Moves Better Than Most of Us

In 1964, San Francisco’s cable cars were declared a National Historic Landmark. They were the only moving landmark in the country—until New Orleans’ St. Charles Streetcar joined the party in 2014. But let’s be real… we’ve still got the better soundtrack.

Bonus Round! 5 More Fun Facts That Just Couldn’t Stay Off the List

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18. The First Cable Car Was Basically Two Cars in a Trench Coat

Originally, cable cars had a “dummy car” with the grip mechanism and a separate trailer for passengers. But riders kept climbing into the dummy, so they added seats and called it a day. The current design? A mashup invented in 1883 that we still use.

19. You Can Still See Clues Painted on the Street

Look closely and you’ll spot stencils like “LET GO” and “XX” on the pavement near intersections. These markings tell grip operators when to release or stop the cable. It’s street art with a purpose—and no, it’s not an escape room.

20. They Weigh Over 15,000 Pounds. That’s Like… 5 Rhinos.

Made of oak, steel, Alaskan spruce, and brass, these are no lightweight rides. Yet somehow they glide up and down San Francisco’s hills like ballet dancers in loafers. Heavy, but graceful.

21. They Run on One Giant Endless Rope (That’s Not Actually Endless)

The cable under the street is a steel rope spinning constantly in a channel called “the slot.” Grip operators literally grab it to move. The “endless” cable is powered by four electric motors in a powerhouse. It’s 1800s tech—still going strong.

22. You Can Ride the Oldest, Biggest Cable Car (But Only on Saturdays during the 150th Celebration)

For the 150th anniversary, Muni is rolling out its largest and oldest working cable car every Saturday from May to October. If you want a ride that’s big on both history and square footage—this is your moment.

Final Stop: A Ride Through Time

From street protests to Santas, from soaring hills to historic thrills, cable cars are more than just transit—they’re time machines with bells. Whether you’re a history buff, a local romantic, or just someone who loves the clang of old-school cool, there’s a story here for you.

So this Cable Car Day (or any day, really), grab a seat, hang onto the pole, and enjoy the ride.

150th Cable Car Anniversary Fun Fact:

Get ready to travel back in time as the oldest cable car, car No. 42, triumphantly reclaims its tracks for the 150th anniversary of San Francisco’s cable car system. This vintage beauty, hailing from 1906, is shaking off its decades-long cattle-transporting slumber in Southern California to make a majestic return.

With much fanfare, it will navigate the Hyde Street line, its wooden frame clanking to life once more. This heartwarming resurrection comes as a part of the Municipal Railway’s cable car system celebration, marked by Mayor London Breed’s ride on the fleet’s eldest gem—a 1883-built carriage—across the California Street line.

And that’s not all. Car No. 42 isn’t just showing up for the party; it’s sticking around. Starting this coming month and through November, you can catch this historic time-traveler in action on the first Sunday of every month.

Learn more about the world-famous Cable Cars:

• How Cable Cars Work: The Mechanics Behind San Francisco’s Iconic Ride

• Now is the time to Learn How to Ride the Cable Car Like a Pro

• Cable Cars are 150 Years old in Summer 2023 – Read about the Celebration

• Hyde Street Cable Car and Turnaround

• Cable Cars and Cable Car Museum – A Must-Ride Experience