Electric trolley

[Richard230]

Here is something a little different:  Electric trollies have been around for a while.  But I just heard on the news that Marin County (just north of San Francisco) has approved a $200,000 contract with a consultant to investigate the feasibility of building a "high intensity" (whatever that means) battery-powered electric trolley system the 10 miles between the town of Fairfax (where my daughter happens to live) and the city of San Rafael. I believe that the trolley would connect with the County's electric "Smart Train" that is currently under construction.

Naturally, the reporter had to toss in a little funny, questioning where the money to build the trolley line would come from (certainly a legitimate concern) and mentioning that it would have to compete with Marin's bicycle-riding and BMW-driving commuters.  He also mentioned that it took 30 years between proposing the "Smart Train" and finally actually building it.

[Richard230]

Speaking of electric trollies, here is a link to a really cool video showing a cable car ride down Market Street in San Francisco during 1906, just four days before the Great Earthquake.

http://www.flixxy.com/san-francisco-1905-historical-footage.htm

When you see the vehicles in the video, just imagine that they are electric and ponder what advances have occurred to vehicle technology during the past 107 years. And then imagine what advances in electric propulsion might be in our future during the next hundred years.  I imagine a bright future.