A Muni cable car makes its way down Mason Street, installed with shared outer rail for two diverging routes at the end of this block, pre-'82-'84 track reconstruction. The kind-hearted genius inventor who invented the original cable system was Andrew Hallidie, who engineered cable technology after witnessing a horse car accident in which the animals were killed after being dragged down a hill. Hallidie was so impacted, he devised a better way. His Clay Street Hill Railroad began transporting the public on September 1, 1873. Lines currently go to two Fishermans Wharf destinations - Bay/Taylor and Hyde/Beach Streets from Powell/Market, and run along California Street up and over Nob Hill, from Drumm to Van Ness.

Photographed by Paul Joyce.
Added to the photo archive by Paul Joyce, May 21, 2006.

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