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The Secret History of San Francisco's Cable Cars
Maybe you're a local who rides cable cars all the time, but how well do you really know these symbols of San Francisco?
Here are nine cable car trivia questions. Get at least four correct and you can call yourself an honorary conductor, three to one correct gets you honorary gripman status, zero correct and you're a not-so-honored tourist from Des Moines.
1. In 1968 why was the President's daughter kicked off a cable car?
ANSWER
2. What did Andrew Hallidie do before developing the cable car?
ANSWER
3. From what street did the first cable car descend?
ANSWER
4. What unusual thing did the gripman do prior to that first cable car descent?
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5. Who was Benjamin Brooks?
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6. In 1963, a 19-year old Berkeley coed riding a cable car defied an ordinance and ended 92 years of sexual discrimination. What was her act?
ANSWER
7. What were cable cars used for following the 1906 earthquake?
ANSWER
8. Why did a court order San Francisco to pay cable car rider Gloria Sykes $50,000 in 1964?
ANSWER
9. Who was San Francisco's first African-American female cable car conductor?
ANSWER
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3 Comments:
Well, I got two correct, so I guess I am an honorary gripman...
I'm sure I learned it here that Halladie (and his dad?) were in the wire rope business prior to finding the cable car application...
And females riding on the running boards -- that was an easy one...
But you've got me going now with the info about Gloria Sykes -- that's a good one... Not the same type of thing, but kind of reminds me of Dan White's Twinky defense
I've never ridden on a cable car, and I don't think I know anyone who has... Aren't those just for tourists, or does anybody actually ride them to work and the shops? I doubt it...
But I'd like to give them a try -- our fellow blogger, Tomate Farcie mentioned that on Spare-the-Air days they let people ride for free... I'll be standing by...
And by the way, I FINALLY visited the Cable Car Museum a few weeks ago -- what a great place... Those big spinning wheels are really hypnotic...
Well, I suck. 3 correct.
I ride the California Cable Car to work every single day, rain or shine, on the outside, thank you very much. Riding inside the car is for weenies. Nothing like the fresh air and the fog at the top of Nob Hill in the morning. Not to mention, the gripmen and conductors are the best bunch, always fun to talk to. It is, quite simply, the most civilized way to get to work in the morning.
My husband got number 7 correct, but I only remembered the answer to 9 once I clicked on the answer. But I've never even been to Des Moines!
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