5 replies to this topic

[n0ax]

Hello, I was viewing chairlift.org a couple days ago and saw the Mt. Sunapee Summer Gondola mentioned. I was intrigued by this lift, as apparently the cabins were "attached" to a Roebling Double. If the cabins were merely attached, it would be thought that the cabins would be attached in a pulse configuration. In the images from Sunapee, the cabins look like they are utilizing a Mueller detachable grip and are not in a pulsed configuration. Does anyone have any more images of such a lift, also how was the lift heavily modified to add a gravity attach system and still operate as a double during the winter (Or was it completely rebuilt as a Mueller Gondola)?

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[RibStaThiok]

In 1966, the summit double chair was converted to a gondola for summer rides. From 1987 to 1989, triple chairs replaced the North Peak and Summit lifts.

http://www.newenglan...lift.php?id=161
http://www.mountsuna...pee/history.asp

[william b]

n0ax, on 03 November 2016 - 11:54 AM, said:

Hello, I was viewing chairlift.org a couple days ago and saw the Mt. Sunapee Summer Gondola mentioned. I was intrigued by this lift, as apparently the cabins were "attached" to a Roebling Double. If the cabins were merely attached, it would be thought that the cabins would be attached in a pulse configuration. In the images from Sunapee, the cabins look like they are utilizing a Mueller detachable grip and are not in a pulsed configuration. Does anyone have any more images of such a lift, also how was the lift heavily modified to add a gravity attach system and still operate as a double during the winter (Or was it completely rebuilt as a Mueller Gondola)?

I don't have first hand experience with this lift, but my former boss did, and I can pass on a little background. This Roebling (O. D. Hopkins from Contoocook NH bought out Roebling) double chairlift was modified in 1970 give or take, to utilize Mueller gondola cabins in the summer. They installed and removed the necessary machinery in the terminals each season to open and close the Mueller double-clamp detachable grips and turn them around. I don't know how many cabins there were... the lift was 6000-plus feet long, and they would launch a cabin every minute, if they were doing what they were told. I believe the lift ran the same speed as the double chairlift. I also believe this lift crossed over the North Peak lift. The chairs were stored on specially made racks that were used for moving and storage. Back in the day, New Hampshire had four gondolas operating in the summer. Sorry, no photos.

wbl

[_litz]

That sounds like a lot of work ... how long did it take (and did it have to be re-inspected prior to use)?

[william b]

_litz, on 06 November 2016 - 12:59 PM, said:

That sounds like a lot of work ... how long did it take (and did it have to be re-inspected prior to use)?

I was not involved with the process, so I do not know how long it took, though it seems like quite a bit of work to do between each season. The State of New Hampshire would have conducted inspections prior to each season.

wbl

[ceo]

I skied Sunapee a few times as a kid and remember seeing the gondola machinery in the Summit Double terminals, and the crossing over the North Peak lift.