Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry of San Fran
There are several sources referring to the "suspended cable cars" as a funicular at the Salesforce site. The Wikipedia definition (and others) define it as:
A funicular (/fəˈnɪkjʊlər/), also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a type of cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope.
I've ridden on a funicular in Italy - it was a railway up a steep incline. The key word for a funicular is "railway" and there is no rail at the Salesforce. With that said, it appears that the word funicular may be redefined in San Francisco.
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This, at Schloss Hohensalzbug in Austria, is a funicular. You can see the cable and the rails. For us San Franciscans, think cable car--very similar except a funicular usually just goes up and down the slope and I believe the car is permanently attached to the cable rather than having a "grip" that can grab the cable and release it.
http://gondolaproject.com/2012/12/06...ug-funiculars/