November 2026 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- November 1, 2026

I launched The Cable Car Home Page on AOL thirty years ago, in November 1996.

I just put the November 2026 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/

It includes some new items:

1. Picture of the Month: Non-existent Powell Street Car 30. Generated by AI (Microsoft Copilot).
2. The Thirtieth Anniversary of The Cable Car Home Page - November, 1996 - November, 2026
3. On the Why page: "30 Years in the Hole," a new article about where I have been and where I am going with the site.
4. Added News and Chronology items about gripman Val Lupiz being knighted by Emperor Norton
5. On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: I added screen shots to the article about the film noir Woman on the Run

Ten years ago this month (November 2016):

1. Picture of the Month:
2. An 1894 photo of a Saint Paul City Railway grip and trailer cable train. (Source: Minneapolis Journal / 22-September-1935 and Minnesota Historical Society, Accession number YR1956.3944)
3. On the Other Cities page: A ten year update about the St Paul City Railway. This was my last new article about a Hallidie-type cable car line until I discover one I missed or the people in Dunedin open a new one.
4. On the Who page: A new item about Thomas Lowry, who founded the St Paul City Railway.
5. On the More Muni Photos page: Muni's 2026 Heritage Weekend
6. On the Motion Pictures Which Feature Cable Cars page: I added an article about the movie Yours, Mine and Ours
7. On the Cable Cars in Pennsylvania page: An update about the reopening of the Johnstown Inclined Plane

Twenty years ago this month (November 2006):

1. 15-Nov-2006
2. Added News item about the 25th Annual Senior Citizen's Holiday Luncheon, hosted by the people of the Cable Car Division

   01-Nov-2006

3. Picture of the Month:
4. A photo of Car 10 and a special tenth anniversary dash sign by Val Lupiz
5. Tenth Anniversary - November, 1996 - November, 2006
6. Added "Ten Years After" to the Why page -- what has changed since I started this site
7. Added a new page on Old-Time Radio Shows Which Feature Cable Cars, with an 07-Jul-1949 episode of Candy Matson and 09-January-1938 and 30-March-1947 episodes of The Jack Benny Show.
8. Added News and Bibliography items about repeated shutdowns and an obituary for mechanic Rick Fong

In January 2024 I started on a long overdue process of cleaning things up on my site. I started with the development pages.

Actually, I guess I started the year before with making most thumbnails 200 pixels instead of 100.

25 years ago - 2001
Nov 11 - A fire broke out in a car of the Swiss Gletscherbahn Kaprun (Kaprun Glacier Railway) funicular as it passed through its tunnel. 3500 meters of the 3900-meter line run in the tunnel. 155 people died. The fire was started by an improperly ventilated electric heater in one of the operator cabs. The line was built in 1974

Coming in December 2026: With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit the late Joe Lacey's article Christmas on the Cables, and the Decorated Cable Cars page.

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

The Cable Car Home Page also has an Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/cable_car_guy/

Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-November-2026)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-October-2024)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-June-2026)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (updated obsessively)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/

Yes on Proposition H -- October 27, 2026

strongermuniforall.com

I don't live in The City anymore, but public transit in San Francisco is threatened by big deficits. If I did live in San Francisco, I would vote Yes on H.

From strongermuniforall.com:

"San Francisco’s public transit system is facing a once-in-a-generation funding crisis. After years of pandemic disruption and lost revenue, Muni is confronting a $307 million annual deficit—a shortfall so large it rivals the combined budgets of the city’s parks and library systems.

"City leaders are cutting waste to reduce the deficit by eliminating hundreds of unnecessary management positions and vacant positions. But without a stable, dedicated funding source, Muni service will be severely cut, resulting in up to 20 bus routes canceled and doubled wait times. These cuts will reverse our city’s economic recovery, increase traffic, and make daily life harder for working families.

"San Francisco already faces the third-worst traffic congestion of any U.S. city. Major Muni cuts would push more people into cars, worsening gridlock, commute times, and street safety for transit riders, motorists, and cyclists alike.

"The Stronger Muni for All campaign keeps Muni safe, reliable, and affordable. It ensures single family residences pay the least while larger homes and commercial buildings pay more."

New Cat #129 -- October 26, 2026

 

Halloween is coming.

I took the photo on 20-September-2026. I enhanced it with AI (ChatGPT).

Yes on Measure RTM -- October 25, 2026

regionaltransitmeasure.com

Please vote yes on Measure RTM (Regional Transit Measure). Public agencies transit in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara are threatening major service cuts because of impending deficits. The downturn in traffic because of Covid-19 and the end of Covid-19 subsidies have left them in a deep hole. 

I will vote yes on Measure RTM.

COVID-19 Booster and Flu Shot -- October 24, 2026

coverbrowser.com

We went to the Kaiser drive through in South San Francisco and received our Pfizer booster shots and pflu shots all in one arm. There was hardly anyone there.

Public Execution -- October 15, 2026

nokings.org

Our seemingly drunken Secretary of Defense, who is so insecure that he calls himself "secretary of war," has decided that the execution by firing squad of Malik Hassan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, will be live streamed. This is evil and stupid. We are better than that. It may inspire more terrorist acts.

Religious leaders are appalled. Even Republicans are objecting. 

Brooklyn Paper

Pacifica Classic Car Parade -- October 14, 2026

Pacifica had a classic car parade on Independence Day. This was my first time out of the house after leaving the hospital. I'm not good at identifying cars, but I think this is a 1951 Pontiac Chieftain. I love the color and the chrome stripe on the hood. When I was a kid, I liked spotting the hood ornaments on Pontiacs.