This 1930 replica of a Grip Car represents Chicago's once vast (a one time the largest in the world) cable car system of the late 19th century. Cable cars operated by a grip car grabbing or releasing a moving underground cable. At the end of each line would be a loop taking the car a block over and back the way it came. Chicago’s Downtown is referred to as “The Loop” because of these cable cars, although; many Chicagoans mis-credit it to the Elevated Railroad loop, which was not constructed until the early 20th century. The electric motor made the cable car obsolete and the last run was made in 1906. This car was built by the Chicago City Railway in 1930 using the knowledge of the then retired cable men for the Museum of Science & Industry. |
Date:
3/21/2014 |
Location:
Chicago, IL Map ![Show Chicago on a rail map](/images/map_us.gif) |
Views:
223 |
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Tim Fennell |
Locomotives: |
Author: Tim Fennell
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![Chicago City Railway #532](http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/100042/_MG_7670.jpg) |
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This picture is part of album: Museum of Science & Industry |