1st cable cars in New York City, on the Brooklyn Bridge

New York City`s first cable car line opened in 1883 on the new Brooklyn Bridge. Cable Cars were moved by steam-driven machinery in a powerhouse, which continuously drew a loop of wire cables through a slot beneath the street.

When the cable car operator wanted the car to go forward, he gripped the running cable with a special device. When he wanted to stop, he released the moving cable. Cable cars were useful on streets that were too steep for horses.

Steam-powered cable became less valuable once electricity became available for trolleys and resulted in ending the run of cable cars in New York City in 1909.