The Madison Street cable car line began running in 1890. It carried passengers and freight between the Seattle waterfront and Lake Washington. The cable cars were pulled along their tracks by a series of cables running under the street. Cars rode one cable between the waterfront and the powerhouse, coasted a short distance, and caught a second cable to the lake. In the early days, most of the route was wooded.
<p>This 1893 photo shows the Madison Street Railway Company's power house, located south of Madison Street between 22nd and 23rd Avenues East. At this time, the line's two cables were powered by steam. In 1911, the power source was changed to electricity.
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<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Cable railroads; Madison Street Cable Railway Company--Buildings</li></ul>
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Frank_La_Roche" class="extiw" title="w:en:Frank La Roche"><span title="American photographer, 1853-1934">Frank La Roche</span></a>
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1893<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1893-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>