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A cable car on rails is a tram-like vehicle on rails for public transport which is pulled by a cable. A cable car on rails differs from other rail transport modes in that the motive power is in fixed engine that pulls the cable, and thus falls in the category of cable transport. The vehicle itself is usually unpowered. It is thus very similar to a funicular. However single cables may go up one hill and down another. The cable car grips the cable using a grip (a very large pliers). The car is stopped by letting the grip detach from the cable, and then applying brakes.

In San Francisco, California at four o'clock in the morning on August 2, 1873, Andrew Smith Hallidie successfully tested the world's first cable car.

Machinery driving the San Fransisco Cable Car An underground loop of steel cable runs continuously. The vehicles on rail use a gripping device to attach to and detach from the moving cable. Such a system is quite effective for the steep streets on the hills of San Francisco. The cable cars are still in operation and represent a world famous tourist attraction. Part of the skill of driving these is where the driver, known as the "grip man," has to release the grip at certain points in order to coast the vehicle over the pulleys. Only a small proportion of people who attempt the training course actually pass it. Prospective drivers are also screened to ensure that they have a good personality and are suitable for dealing with large numbers of tourists and leaving a good impression of the city.

Cities that have had cable cars include

1 Australia

• Melbourne, Australia
• Sydney, Australia

2 China

3 New Zealand

• DunedinAlternative meanings at Dunedin (disambiguation Dunedin Urban Area Population 113,600 Extent Dunedin, Mosgiel,Port Chalmers TerritorialAuthority Name Dunedin City Population 121,100 Land area 3314. 8km² Extent urban area, and out asfar as Middlemarch,Waik
• WellingtonAlternative meanings at Wellington (disambiguation Wellington the capital city of New Zealand, has the country's second largest metropolitan area. Wellington has a reputation for its picturesque natural harbour and green hillsides adorned with tiered subu

4 United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly

• Douglas, Isle of ManDouglas Doolish in Manx) is the capital of the Isle of Man and its largest town. It has a population of 25,347 people (according to the 2001 census), which is almost one-third of the Isle of Man's entire population. It has been the capital since 1863, and
• Glasgow, Scotland
• Liverpool, England
• London, England (Connecting ArchwayArchway is an area in North London in the London Borough of Islington. Formerly North Holloway it became known as Archway when the construction of a tunnel for the main A1 road to Scotland failed and a large cutting designed by Thomas Telford as part of h with Highgate this was the first cable car in Europe)
• Matlock, Derbyshire