Coupled San Francisco cable cars? & question about cable car sidings?

[Red_Rattler]

While checking this stop here (http://goo.gl/maps/BJ4qM), I note that it has a siding, as shown in the simulator versions.

But while trying to find where the cable car ends just before that, I came across this map view here (http://goo.gl/maps/XsbEH), which shows three cable cars bunched together as if they are coupled. I first thought it might be one of those parts of Google Maps, that overlap, where the next section doesn't really quite line up, but then I noticed the shadows, and each shadow is slightly different. So I did a Street View and got this (http://goo.gl/maps/nMkp8)

So are they coupled to form a cable car train (of sorts). They can't be stabled there surely, as they are on main track.

Now the sidings. In the first link, it shows a siding near the turntable. The cables naturally goes one way, so would I be correct in that if the siding is needed, they are pushed in by hand or some other way?

And also, are the turntables still "MAN"ual?

Also, what an odd place to have a terminus, which brings up this question. Did the Powell & Mason cable car line go further originally?

 

[NSWGR_46Class]

All the answer you seek can be found using google.
As to the in bound cars being parked on the main track - this is common practice all round the world today
Quite a few places in NSW do this - Canberra for one.
Richmond and Carlingford also I am pretty sure also

While checking this stop here (http://goo.gl/maps/BJ4qM), I note that it has a siding, as shown in the simulator versions.

But while trying to find where the cable car ends just before that, I came across this map view here (http://goo.gl/maps/XsbEH), which shows three cable cars bunched together as if they are coupled. I first thought it might be one of those parts of Google Maps, that overlap, where the next section doesn't really quite line up, but then I noticed the shadows, and each shadow is slightly different. So I did a Street View and got this (http://goo.gl/maps/nMkp8)

So are they coupled to form a cable car train (of sorts). They can't be stabled there surely, as they are on main track.

Now the sidings. In the first link, it shows a siding near the turntable. The cables naturally goes one way, so would I be correct in that if the siding is needed, they are pushed in by hand or some other way?

And also, are the turntables still "MAN"ual?

Also, what an odd place to have a terminus, which brings up this question. Did the Powell & Mason cable car line go further originally?

 

[magickmaker]

It's actually not possible for SF cable cars to couple, as they don't have any form of coupling.

As to the siding, yes the cars are moved by hand there. Driver pushes from the front, conductor pushes from the rear. Looking at those cars, I think they're just stabled there to keep them out of the way but at the same time ready when needed. It's not uncommon to see this done, at least from my experience.