Cable Cars/Trolleys
 

I know this will seem dumb but what is the difference between a cable car and trolley? We're doing to SF next month and don't want to seem like an idiot. Thanks

The cable cars run on underground cables and only traverse a relatively small part of San Francisco. They are great fun and are a must when in San Francisco. Trolleys are powered by overhead electric tracks and cover a much broader area. They are also very old and beautiful. The way to use public transportation in San Francisco is to buy a pass for the amount of days you will be in the city. Otherwise it can get quite expensive.There is a cable car museum in the city that shows how the system works.

>>Trolleys are powered by overhead electric tracks and cover a much broader area. They are also very old and beautiful.<<

The line that runs above ground down Market & to the Wharf is old & beautiful. The other lines that run underground down market, then above ground (except for 1 line) are very new & modern.

There are 3 cable car lines
Powell & Hyde
Powell & Taylor
California

The Powell & Hyde is the most scenic & fun. Both the Powell & Hyde and the Powell & Taylor start at Powell & Market.

Stu Dudley

Stu, have you forgotten that we call the J,K,L,M,N and F streetcars, not trolleys. Even MUNI calls the F a streetcar, although elsewhere they might be called trolleys.

Strictly speaking, a trolley can run on rails too -- or not, as in Boston's "trackless trolleys" that are, essentially, electric buses (on rubber tires) powered overhead by giant wands in contact with very electrified powerlines.

If you google "San Francisco Cable Cars" and "San Francisco Streetcars", you can see for yourself!