샌프란시스코 (San Francisco)의 케이블카 (Cable Car)는 이 도시의 심볼이다. 좀 더 정확히 말한다면, 낭만의 도시로써 샌프란시스코를 보여주는 상징물이다.
샌프란시스코의 케이블카는 공중을 나르는 케이블카가가 아니라, 케이블로 움직이는 일종의 철도 차량이다. 길 바닥에는 철도 레일이 깔려 있고, 케이블로 동력을 받아 움직이는 것이다.
이 케이블카는 현존하는 케이블카 가운데 가장 오래된 것이며 동시에 유명한 것이라고 할 수 있다. 최초의 케이블카는 영국에서 등장했지만, 일찍이 퇴역했기 때문이다.
이 케이블카는 1873년 처음 운행을 시작했는데, 1947년 버스가 그 기능을 완전하게 대체하기 전까지는 샌프란시스코에 없어서는 안될 중요한 교통 수단이었다. 지금은 시민들의 교통수단이라기보다는 관광객들의 호기심을 충족시키는 명물로 기능을 하는데, 3개 노선에 총 25km의 구간을 운행 한다.
유명한 케이블카이니만큼 별도의 박물관 (Cable Cars Museum)도 갖고 있는데, 이 박물관은 일종의 살아있는 박물관으로써 기능을 하고 있다. 박물관은 언덕지대인 놉 힐 (Nob Hill)에 자리하고 있으며, 케이블카의 차고이자, 케이블카를 움직이게 하는 힘, 즉 동력을 전달하는 발전소를 겸하고 있다.
박물관 내부가 시끄럽고 뜨거운 열기가 후끈 달아오르는 것은 이런 이유 때문이다. 전시물품은 다 둘러볼 수 있지만, 차고와 발전소에는 들어갈 수는 없다. 그러나 바깥에서 이들 시설을 구경할 수는 있다.
박물관을 포함한 샌프란시스코의 케이블카 시스템은 미국에서 교통과 관련해서는 유일한 국가 사적지로써 지위를 누리고 있기도 하다.
이 케이블카는 1970년대 후반과 80년대 초반 안전 문제 등으로 운행이 중단된 적이 있는데, 연방 정부의 예산 지원을 받아 1984년 새롭게 태어났다. 운행중에 삐걱거리는 소리도 적잖게 나고, 나무로 돼있는 차체 등이 왠지 튼튼하게는 느껴지지 않지만, 전문가들에 따르면 향후 100년은 너끈히 탈 수 있을 정도로 운행 시스템은 견고한 편이라고 한다. 그러나 낭만적인 겉모습과는 달리 탑승하면 재미는 있지만, 안락한 느낌은 전혀 없다.
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샌프란시스코 케이블카/케이블카 박물관
