13 replies to this topic

[SkiBachelor]

Here is a picture of a lightning shield on tower 11 on Telluride's gondola. This lift gets struck by lightning a lot and shuts the lift down a lot, and since they added these shields, the lift can start right back up again. Just thought you guys might like to see this.

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[floridaskier]

Do they have this on other towers on this lift too?

[SkiBachelor]

Yea it's on all the towers I believe that are likely to get hit by lightning. So basically the summit towers.

[liftmech]

That's nifty! We ought to put one on the top terminal of B-lift so we can quit replacing derail switches every summer...

[SkiBachelor]

BTW, they are also going to see if the tramway board will allow them to run the lift when there is a lightning strike in the area.

[floridaskier]

THe tramway board will probably make them put the lightning shields on all the towers if they want to run it in lightning storms

[Allan]

I have a story about a lightning strike from big white, and why a lift should NEVER be run during a storm. This was last spring - the powder triple chair was being run off because of a storm in the area, well they weren't quick enough. Lightning struck the haul rope near the top terminal - flinging the lift operator off the ramp like he was a rag doll. Since the electric motor was still running, it got fried. They took the motor from the falcon double to replace it (which is STILL closed...) That's my thoughts :)

[KZ]

I didnt hear about the lightning strike, but i remember when big white was happy about getting the Falcon motor in to powder. Funny how resorts leave out the minor details.

[Allan]

Yeah :) One of their lift ops works for us now - told me the whole story.

[floridaskier]

Resorts never seem to tell the whole story, do they

[mikest2]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I just came across this one. That is my chair, the Liftee was not flung to the ground, he just drew an arc from the sound powered phone to his ear ( the phone is ok ). The lift was hit right as the last skier hit the top ramp. We rebuilt the gearbox, although there was no apparent damage. The motor smelled real bad so we replaced it (it looked a lot like a roast left in the oven for a week) and sold the old one for scrap. We went over every bit of wiring and the whole drive controller (1979 Lloyds/Softac) and found nothing. After chasing Drive phantoms for a whole year. all I can say is: If you are hit by lightning. you may want to just replace all your drive controller guts. We did steal the motor from the Falcon, but a triple always trumps a double !!

[Whistler]

Hey an off topic question for you Mikest2, where did the Telus Park Chair come from? I've heard it was relocated from somewhere. True?

[Peter]

The bottom drive terminal was relocated from somewhere (not sure where), but the towers, chairs, and fixed return terminal are all new.

[mikest2]

The Telus Park Chair is the old Horizon from Panorama. We reused the drive, return, rope, assemblies and tower tubes. We bought new chairs, grips, tower yokes, rollback brake, and a few new assemblies.