Posted 31 January 2005 - 04:58 PM
Stats:
Capacity: Current: 1,600 people per hour at 1,000 feet per minute Design: 2,000 pph at 1,000 fpm.
Length: 3.1 miles - longest single stage people carrier in the world. Others are longer, but have angle stations with two drive terminals or they do not carry people.
Cabins: 112 - 8 passenger each. Manufactured by CWA Switzerland.
Drive: 1,500 hp - Toshiba electric motor coupled to a Kissling 48:1 gear reduction box which is coupled to a Cat type planetary gearbox in the drive sheave (bullwheel).
Aux. Drive: 800 hp - Mitsubishi V-12 Diesel coupled to hydraulic pumps which drive hydraulic motors coupled to main gearbox.
Grips: 2- VR 400 detachable grips - operating principle is very similar to a human fist closing around a finger of the other hand.
Haul Rope: Length - 34,450 feet; Weight - 7.5 lbs/ft.; Diameter - 2 1/8" (55mm); Type - 6 x 36 Warrington/Seale; Grade: xx+ improved plow steel
Counter Weight: 10' x 10' x 8' containing 30 cubic yards of concrete at 3,700 lbs/yd. for a total weight of 55 tons.
Foundations: Lower terminal counter weight tower support pad: Concrete - 158 cubic yards; Reinforcing Steel - 20,000 lbs.
Upper terminal drive sheave support pad and tower: Concrete - 226 cubic yards; Reinforcing Steel - 15,000+ lbs.
Towers: 45 towers contain a total of: Concrete - 740 cubic yards; Reinforcing Steel - 83,000 lbs. Anchor Bolts - 55,000 lbs.
Each tower foundation is a pad 2 feet thick and ranges in size from 8' x 10' to 19' x 14'. A 6' to 8' tall x 4' to 6' diameter pedestal is then poured on top of this pad. Reinforcing steel connects the pad to the pedestal. Galvanized steel culvert material was used as a form for the pedestal and support of the anchor bolts during pouring of concrete.
General Construction Notes:
Excavation: Upper and lower terminals were excavated using a large track mounted backhoe. Some blasting was required at upper terminal.
Tower foundations were excavated using track hoe or rubber tire hoe when access permitted. Towers on steep roadless terrain such as Towers 32-39 were dug with a machine called a super hoe. This machine has adjustable wheels and arms which allow it to work on slopes as steep as 45 degrees.
Concrete: Reinforcing steel, followed by concrete, was trucked to accessible locations. Steel was then placed by crane and concrete was poured from trucks or pumped to foundation holes.
Helicopters: Three different helicopters were used to place steel, concrete and towers in roadless areas. Ericson Sky Crane placed Towers #9, 27, 32-39 in about eight hours. Tower #27 was placed in three separate pieces.
Other Silver Mountain Trivia:
Von Roll Tramways of Switzerland was the General Contractor for the entire project.
Ground breaking occurred in the spring (April) of 1989. The gondola opened to the public on June 30, 1990. Finishing touches to the chairlifts were accomplished in time for skiing on Thanksgiving Day, 1990.
If all the gondola and chairlift towers were laid end to end, they would stretch over a mile.
Most of the concrete, steel and towers for Chairs 1, 2 and 3 were placed by helicopter.
Jeff
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