In Seattle on Queen Anne avenue they utilized counterbalanced trolley cars. A tunnel was dug underneath the trolley car tracks. Within this tunnel was a miniature narrow gauge railroad. On the tracks were counterbalance cars. When a car went up the hill, it would clamp onto a counterbalance car at the top of the hill. it would be connected to the car with a long steel cable. The motormen would signal the counterbalance operator, who would load the counterbalance car with concrete weights depending upon how many people were in the trolley. there was essentially a small Subway operating beneath the trolley tracks. The cars used overhead wires and electrical propulsion while going uphill. On the way downhill the counterbalance cars prevented runaways, although there were several. The counterbalance assisted in braking.
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