Cable cars were well suited to Seattle's steep hills. The North Seattle Cable Railway Company began construction on the Queen Anne cable car line in 1890. On Queen Anne Avenue, the car was linked by cable to a 16-ton counterbalance weight. As the weight slid down the hill in its underground tunnel, it pulled the cable car up. When the cable car came down the hill, it pulled the weight back up to the top.
<p>This photo, taken around 1900, shows two cable cars on Queen Anne Avenue, in the area some people still call "The Counterbalance." The huge weight is underground and cannot be seen in the photo. The counterbalance system stayed in operation until 1940, when Seattle's cable cars were replaced by buses.
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<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Cable railroads; Counterbalance.; North Seattle Cable Railway Company; Streets</li></ul>
<div class="fn value">
Webster &amp; Stevens</div>
circa 1900 <div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1900-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>