| San Francisco cable cars are a living history and a | | | | morning, when city visitors are still sleeping, streetcars |
| convenient mode of transport at a time. These old | | | | are filled with common workers. Sometimes drivers |
| cars travel around the city streets, and help create an | | | | even know some passengers by their names, |
| exceptional charming atmosphere. That is why city | | | | remember where to stop and what to talk with them |
| administration does a lot to renovate old tramlines and | | | | about. |
| build new ones. | | | | At daytime the “antiquity driver” is eager |
| Nowadays trams are the true emblems of San | | | | to do the job of a professional guide – he is the |
| Francisco, just like the world-known Golden Gate | | | | best person to tell you how to get to some city stop |
| Bridge. They are portrayed on souvenirs, | | | | and where to get off. Chatting with drivers is pleasant, |
| advertisement and travel prospects. There were | | | | if they are disposed for it. Most of them are friendly, |
| some attempts to abolish trams – but those | | | | well-humoured and ready to make comments about |
| were unsuccessful. Now they are one of the most | | | | the trip. |
| popular travel city attractions. | | | | Very often tourists get really amazed when they see |
| The city pays much attention to tram rails and at the | | | | streetcars of their childhood. No, this is not an illusion |
| same time collects old cars from across the world. | | | | – trams from different parts of the world do |
| Thanks to local authorities and enthusiasts there are | | | | really ride along the streets of San Francisco. Those |
| two wonderful railway museums found in San | | | | are distinguished veterans. Most of them were built in |
| Francisco. Their exhibits can be seen on the city | | | | 1946 – 1948, however some appeared earlier. |
| streets. One of the museums specializes on famous | | | | The oldest one was “born” in 1895. |
| cable cars - small cars crawling along San Francisco | | | | Moreover, there are about 10 streetcars from Milam |
| hills. These are often shot in movies. A trip on a cable | | | | riding around the city. Those were built in 1928. |
| car is a real pleasure, especially if you manage to take | | | | Sometimes you can also see cars from England, |
| a seat with a good view over the city. But | | | | Portugal, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Germany and |
| don’t just look around, skillful drivers also | | | | Soviet Union. But these are usually well-kept, they |
| deserve your attention. But, even though cable cars | | | | don’t work every day. |
| are rather convenient and cheap, local people | | | | How it all started? In the beginning of the 1980s’ |
| don’t use them that often. The reason is simple: | | | | they wanted to deconstruct the line. When the first |
| they are too popular with tourists. Nowadays, when | | | | metro station was opened, they decided to mark the |
| travel business in USA is on the rise, large queues are | | | | occasion with a tram festival. The festival got very |
| waiting for their cable car to arrive. | | | | popular and later on old trams started their regular |
| Catching a simple streetcar is much easier. The only | | | | work. Many tourists think that this is one of the best |
| problem is that all of them are rather old. Streetcars go | | | | and cheapest ways to move around the city centre. In |
| along line F, which stretches along the famous | | | | past you could easily find a seat in a tram or a cable |
| Embarcadero Freeway in the city centre. | | | | car. However, nowadays they are always full of |
| Tram route lies along the central Market Street. | | | | people. |
| Tourists are greeted with a bell ring and early in the | | | | |