News In Brief

Overhauled cable car line restarts in San Francisco

San Francisco's fabled cable cars, freshly painted maroon and blue like the originals from the 1870s, are climbing Nob Hill again after a 21-month shutdown for a massive overhaul.

The California Street line, one of three that underwent a $58.2 million renovation to replace machinery that dated back to the 19th century, reopened Sunday to the cheers of hundreds of happy tourists.

Residents along the line were given balloons and buttons reading: ''They're back on our streets!''

The rest of the 10.5-mile system, the Hyde Street and Fishermen's Wharf lines , are scheduled to restart June 21, in plenty of time for the Democratic National Convention in July.