23 replies to this topic

[SkiBachelor]

Alright you guys, here's some cool info from SAM which I found today. This article is about the Yan bubbles that were on the Quicksilver lift. Now look at the lift stats for the Quicksilver lift. The Quicksilver lift had a different type of detachable grip than the standard Yan HSQ Type 7 grip. Not does that emply that these were the only bad designed grips while the others worked fine?

Note this is from SAM so it's copyrighted.

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[SkiBachelor]

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[vancouverguy]

It could very well be that the 11C grip (the one used on the Quicksilver) was the only design that was faulty. Though, the two designs were probably not that much different, and, the 11C was probably only designed in order to support the added weight of the bubbles.

[SkiBachelor]

Yea I knew that they were made for the weight of the bubbles because the other ones couldn't handle the weight, but I was trying to make the point that did all the YAN HSQs have to have been retrofitted?

[vancouverguy]

Well, there was an accident on the one at Sierra-at-Tahoe, and I think the grips were blamed there, as well. The Yancakes were also known for having mechanical quirks that were hard to iron out (eg. emergency brake engaging, instead of gently stopping the lift), probably because Yan fast-tracked development. I do think that in most cases it was probably prudent to retrofit the lifts to remove the mechanical difficulties, as well as for preventing accidents.

This post has been edited by vancouverguy: 14 January 2004 - 04:17 PM

[SkiBachelor]

Sierra accident sounded like it was poor maintenance. It wasn't the grip, but a sheave that fell off. However, I don't know all the details. I don't recall having any e-brake failure except the Quicksilver lift. Who knows, it seems that Sun Valley had a strong reputation with Yan, while a few resorts bought on of their lifts and switched to another manufacturer right away, like Sunday River.

[Eric]

I think all the Yan hsq's accidents were due to poor maintenance. Why does Lake Louise still have the Friendly Giant ? I don't blame Jan Kunczinski. He used to work for Poma.

[KZ]

If those were meant for more weight, you would think they would be stronger. The accident at Sierra was due to poor maintenice

[Eric]

Why they don't put a Gondola from top to summit to replace the Friendly Giant ?

It would be sad to lose the last lift engineering Hsq

[SkiBachelor]

Lake Louise does have plans for putting in a new gondola, however I don't know when they are doing it. I just saw it on a resort design site, ecodesign.com I think.

[Eric]

Do you think they will remove the F. G. HSQ

[SkiBachelor]

No, it looks like it will run the line of the old gondola. They are going to be building a village at the base, I guess it would be where the old gondolas bottom station was. I don't know much about it, just what I saw from a drawing.

[KZ]

Also, dont they have deer valley's hsq? If they do, then they may put in another.

[floridaskier]

I thought DV's HSQ was sold as scrap metal...? Thats what TR said...
That would be really cool though

[Whistler]

Just an interesting fact here, The New Whistler Creekside Gondola (which replaces the ill-fated Quicksilver) uses a fair amount of the old Yan Towers, just with new Poma Heads. You can tell this because of the ladder on the tower, (which is drastically different than the ones Poma uses, and at the area where the tower joins the head, the Yan "V" shape is present. Most of these Yan Towers are mid-way up the line. I'll get some pics next weekend and post the two towers (the poma ones, and the Yan ones, for comparrison). It's kind of neat to know that the Quicksilver still has a slight existance on Whistler Mountain.

This post has been edited by Whistler: 17 January 2004 - 06:57 PM

[vancouverguy]

I never noticed that before...

[Whistler]

i've been living hear for almost a year now and i just noticed that today.

I also discovered the remains of a YAN counterweight right at the unloading area of the platter lift by Blackcomb Base II. My guess is that was the remains of the double chair that Blackcomb had when it opened. I'm gonna take pictures when i go back, probably not until thursday or Wednesday at the earliest. I've got a big school project to finish first.

[vancouverguy]

I think the beginner double was moved downhill when the Wizard Express was installed, and renamed the Magic Chair. It is possible that it was upgraded to a triple with chairs from the Cruiser, Fitzsimmons and Stoker lifts, when they were replaced.

[Allan]

We have ALL the Cruiser/Stoker chairs :) We have 10 extras in the maintenance room, and about 50 in the bottom parking lot.