Golden Gate Gazette

Besides the Golden Gate, no other sight is as iconic to San Francisco as its cable cars and trolleys. San Francisco’s street railway system formed the backbone of the city as it grew in the latter half of the 19th century. Cable cars and trolleys, or streetcars, enabled many people to move throughout the city safely and quickly to go to jobs, for business and for pleasure.

Cable cars first made their appearance in San Francisco. In 1869, Andrew Hallidie witnessed a horse-drawn car accident. The damp, coastal climate of San Francisco created slick surfaces on its steep streets. Continue Reading »