Gripman on a cable tram C.1939
Cable trams had no ability to produce energy. A gripman controlled the movement of the cable tram by manipulating a set of levers. One lever “gripped” the tram to a moving cable that ran under the roadway. This not only moved the tram along the street but also gave it the momentum to coast over intersections (where cables crossed) when the gripman released his grip lever. The other levers operated as brakes.