The Forgotten History of Telphers: A Look Back at a Pioneering Transportation Technology

Telpher was a term used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe a type of cable car or gondola that was suspended from a wire and powered by an electric motor. The word "telpher" is derived from the French words "télé-," meaning "remote," and "fer," meaning "iron."

Telphers were used for a variety of purposes, including transporting people and goods across rivers, valleys, and other obstacles. They were particularly useful in areas where it was not feasible to build a traditional railroad or roadway.

Telphers were often used in mining operations to transport ore and supplies between mines and nearby towns. They were also used in construction projects to transport workers and materials to remote sites. In some cases, telphers were used as a form of public transportation, carrying passengers between cities and towns.

Over time, the use of telphers declined as other forms of transportation, such as automobiles and airplanes, became more widely available. Today, the term "telpher" is largely forgotten, but it remains an interesting footnote in the history of transportation technology.