45 replies to this topic

[SidBurn]

This year marks the end of two iconic ski lifts: the Jackson Hole tram and the Silver Queen Gondola. The tram will be taken down altogether and although the SQ will remain, the famous egg-shaped cabins will be taken off and replaced with Omegas which resemble almost every other gondola in the nation. Which are you least looking forward to: JH without a tram or Aspen without the classic SQ cabins?

[Peter]

Losing the entire tram is a way bigger deal than losing some cabins. If Jackson was just replacing the tram cars, no one would be upset.

[SidBurn]

Skier, on Feb 9 2006, 04:27 PM, said:

Losing the entire tram is a way bigger deal than losing some cabins. If Jackson was just replacing the tram cars, no one would be upset.

I agree, but the Tram doesn't have a unique design for a tram. Comparatively speaking, it can be easily replaced. The Silver Queen was one of the few lifts of its kind outside of Europe and the lift just won't have as much soul with regular cabins.

[Peter]

Here is a picture from the JHMR website of the CWA cabins that will be on the new tram. Pretty ugly...

Attached File(s)

•  tramFutureImage.jpg (6.04K)
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[SidBurn]

Skier, on Feb 9 2006, 05:06 PM, said:

Here is a picture from the JHMR website of the CWA cabins that will be on the new tram. Pretty ugly...

I see your point. Is that pic for real? If they do put in a new tram, they have to paint it red at least. But at least we know there will be a new tram

[Kicking Horse]

I hate the cabins on Silver Queen. Anything can be better.

[SidBurn]

Kicking Horse, on Feb 9 2006, 05:55 PM, said:

I hate the cabins on Silver Queen. Anything can be better.

Yea, but think about it, Aspen without the classic Silver Queen cabins would be like Jackson Hole without the tram...oh, nevermind

[Kicking Horse]

I see where you are coming from. But it's a pain in the butt to get in them and out of.

[Peter]

The Jackson Hole tram car is not red because the sides are tinted panoramic windows.

[SkiBachelor]

I actually like the looks of that CWA 80 person aerial tram cabin. This model seems to fit in pretty well at the resorts over in Europe and it will fit in nice at Jackson Hole I think. However, it will be interesting to see who will build the new tram at Jackson Hole since there are quite a few POMA lifts there. But it seems that Jackson Hole is the type of resort that goes with the lowest bidder since it has a pretty good mix up of different lift manufacturers.

[SidBurn]

SkiBachelor, on Feb 9 2006, 08:18 PM, said:

I actually like the looks of that CWA 80 person aerial tram cabin. This model seems to fit in pretty well at the resorts over in Europe and it will fit in nice at Jackson Hole I think. However, it will be interesting to see who will build the new tram at Jackson Hole since there are quite a few POMA lifts there. But it seems that Jackson Hole is the type of resort that goes with the lowest bidder since it has a pretty good mix up of different lift manufacturers.

So does that mean it has been decided for sure that JH will get a new tram and it will have the design depicted above?

[SkiBachelor]

Read this: http://www.jacksonho...nfo/pr.tram.asp

[Peter]

If they are looking for the cheapest, maybe they will go with Superior Tramway, who bidded 5 million instead of 12 million like the big companies for the tram at Crystal Mountain, WA.

This post has been edited by Skier: 09 February 2006 - 09:18 PM

[SkiBachelor]

I thought Superior was just doing the fabrication while like Doppelmayr/Garaventa would design and build it? It's a lot cheaper to have that stuff made here than having it shipped over from Europe. However, if Superior is building the tram 100% on its own, this tram would have a lot of problems since this would be the first aerial tram the company has built. That's a big step for a small lift company that only builds fixed grip lifts on the side!

[SkiBachelor]

This is kind of off topic but not really. With Jackson Hole planning on removing the aerial tram this summer, why doesn't it sell the tram to the city of Portland, Oregon? It's an easy way for Jackson Hole to make a few million and the city of Portland not having to spend $55 million for one which will run up to OHSU? I'm sure all the necessary things can be done to make sure that the current Jackson Hole tram is up to standards if it is sold to the city of Portland. I think most concerns are with the tower foundations rather than the actual lift. The towers are also high enough to cross over I-5 and up to the hospital and it would be a perfect fit!

[Lift Dinosaur]

I doubt if the City of Portland's design team even considered buying a 40 year old USED tram.

[liftmech]

Figure if the tram was sound enough to be used in a different location, JH wouldn't be replacing it...

[SkiBachelor]

Well, on Jackson Hole's website it said that it would cost $16 million to get it up to today's standards and it was just easier to buy a new tram for a few million more. However, Portland's tram is going to cost over $55 million now it sounds like and I can't see how that's possible when Jackson's new tram will be A LOT cheaper.

[aug]

SkiBachelor, on Feb 10 2006, 04:17 PM, said:

Well, on Jackson Hole's website it said that it would cost $16 million to get it up to today's standards and it was just easier to buy a new tram for a few million more. However, Portland's tram is going to cost over $55 million now it sounds like and I can't see how that's possible when Jackson's new tram will be A LOT cheaper.

if you want a tram and just the tram that might be in the ball park , but if you want custom cabins , space age looking towers, high dollar architechture buildings that are solid enough not to vibrate and disturb any surgical operations(it will be connected to a hospital) and buying off land owners who don't want the tram in their backyard and to have to deal with the city govt. yea i can see why the original price tag (25mil)skyrocketed to over 55mil and may exceed 80 - 100 mil when it is all said and done.

[SkiBachelor]

It looks as if the top terminal has actually been started and is just sitting there waiting for the machinary to installed before the rest of the building in completed. I was up there 2 years ago when I thought the lift was going to be built. The tram will terminate right next to the parking garage but there is a new hospital wing/building that the tram will be connected to but the tram will be on the far side, so vibration should be minimal.