SFMUNI wrote: ↑15 Mar 2022, 19:44
crossovers don't have cables on the actual crossover track, the cable car just coasts through or rolls back with gravity through the crossover.
The information I have read online on several different sites states that on crossovers the line that was build first has the cable 'on top'. Car on that line can hold on to the cable while passing the crossover. Cars on the other (newer) line need to release the cable before passing the crossover, as the cable goes under the cable of the other line.
SFMUNI wrote: ↑15 Mar 2022, 19:44in the yard, none of the tracks are powered, crews push the cable car around or the car is pushed/towed by a truck. most mainline switches are on downhill slopes, so its not necessary to have a switch with a cable in it to provide forward motion for the cable car.
In the simulator, I tried building the depot tracks on a slight slope, so you can enter and exit on gravity alone. However, the AI can't deal with it; it won't release the brakes to leave the depot if the vehicle is starting on a non-powered track (and it has no diesel engine to start). So on the stabling tracks, there is power, and then you simply coast through the switches to go onto the main line. But you can also just release the brakes and slowly drive out on gravity.