47 replies to this topic

[Bogong]

skiersage, on 28 June 2010 - 08:47 AM, said:

Somehow I am having a hard time believing this fact. The first chairlift built in the U.S. was constructed in 1936. It doesn't seem right that the first j bar came after the first chairlift. I would think the j bar was invented first but I don't know when that would be. Does anyone else have any info on the subject

I've found one of the sources saying that J-bars date from the 1940's. It's right here in the ski lifts glossary. http://www.skilifts....ld/glossary.htm

I'll modify my claim to... The oldest known J-bar was built at Charlotte Pass in Australia in 1937 in time for the 1938 ski season. 
(Remember, the ski season down here is June - October.)

[RibStaThiok]

I believe the oldest operating lift in north America, if not at MRG is up in Alaska, I can't remember the name of the hill right now, but this lift was built by Union Pacific Railroad for Sun Valley, along with another one, which still stands in Sun Valley but is non-operational. The other lift was purchased by that hill in Alaska and moved up there and to this day is still in use. It's also a single.

[hipennine]

boyercam12, on 20 August 2010 - 01:16 AM, said:

Les Rousses

Tuffes1-SLPoma1950AdelbodenI der Aebi1-SLvon Roll1989 LlandudnoGreat Orme Tramway 148-SSBDoppelmayr1902/01
LlandudnoGreat Orme Tramway 248-SSBDoppelmayr1903/01ShawneeTomahawk4-CLFPartek1996Jiminy PeakCricket3-CLFPartek1996

That's all for now.

Unfortunately, the reference to The Great Orme seems to confuse the "Tramway" (similar to SF Cable Car) with the Cabin Lift which was actually opened in 1969, not 1901 !

See: http://www.greatorme...k/cablecar.html

[seilbahnbilder.ch]

If you are interessted in The Great Orme Cable Car, check out this link: http://www.alpinforu...hp?f=58&t=28461

I was there two years ago. There is also a nice, old gondola and a Poma platter ("Summerskiing").

[RibStaThiok]

A little more info on the supposed oldest chairlift still in operation in America.
http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Mount_Eyak

[RibStaThiok]

One more link. Cool article.

http://www.svguide.c..._chairlifts.htm

This post has been edited by RibStaThio: 22 August 2010 - 10:26 PM

[AlphaBet]

I find it really amusing that the first chairlift was built at the Union Pacific facility in Omaha, NE, since I live in Omaha and have to drive at least 8 hours to get to a ski area with a vertical drop greater than 300'.

[SkiLiftsRock]

RibStaThio, on 22 August 2010 - 10:25 PM, said:

One more link. Cool article.

http://www.svguide.c..._chairlifts.htm

Thanks :)

[yosemitemtb]

Thanks for making the 1973 Hall double chair I was working on today seem so modern! It runs up the same track as "The Queen Mary" upski, built in 1936 but now very long gone.

[Walt Askier]

According to this article it appears to be the Hemlock chair at Boyne Mountain. It started life as the Dollar Lift in Sun Valley in 1936 and was one of two lifts installed that year. At the time, there were no other chairlifts in the world, so that would make it the oldest.

It was sold to Boyne in 1948, and later upgraded from a single to a double. They also replaced the wooden lift towers and motors along the way so there's a bit of "grandfather's axe" going on here. (i.e. "This is my grandfather's axe. I've replaced the axehead twice and the handle four times, but it's still my grandfather's axe.") But the terminals and bullwheels are still the original. Is that enough original equipment left to make it count as the oldest?

The chair is still operational, but they only run it on high traffic days since there's a high-speed six-pack that runs parallel to it.

[Andoman]

Walt Askier, on 01 October 2010 - 07:45 AM, said:

According to this article it appears to be the Hemlock chair at Boyne Mountain. It started life as the Dollar Lift in Sun Valley in 1936 and was one of two lifts installed that year. At the time, there were no other chairlifts in the world, so that would make it the oldest.

It was sold to Boyne in 1948, and later upgraded from a single to a double. They also replaced the wooden lift towers and motors along the way so there's a bit of "grandfather's axe" going on here. (i.e. "This is my grandfather's axe. I've replaced the axehead twice and the handle four times, but it's still my grandfather's axe.") But the terminals and bullwheels are still the original. Is that enough original equipment left to make it count as the oldest?

The chair is still operational, but they only run it on high traffic days since there's a high-speed six-pack that runs parallel to it.

It's also run for all summer activities and fall color tour.

[skier691]

Andoman, on 01 October 2010 - 01:45 PM, said:

It's also run for all summer activities and fall color tour.

Runs almost daily in the summer, and for free!... the only original parts are the upper terminal latice steel structure, the lower bullwheel structure and the lower bullwheel (No rubber liner-steel on steel and its Babbitt Bearing.) Everthing else is a modification.

[skierdude9450]

The oldest detachable Poma lift built in 1936 at Les Gets, France is still in it's original location and operates regularly. Sure it's not a chairlift, but it's one of the oldest installations still in service.

Some pictures from remontees-mecaniques.net (everything is in French by the way)
http://www.remontees...rtage-2483.html

[vonroll101]

A 1950 2 passenger Vonroll type 101 in Germany still operates every day. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=WGdu_ipk6J8

[SkiLiftsRock]

vonroll101, on 10 October 2010 - 01:08 PM, said:

A 1950 2 passenger Vonroll type 101 in Germany still operates every day. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=WGdu_ipk6J8

Thanks. That was a cool video. looks like a little bumpy ride going into the terminal.

[vonroll101]

SkiLiftsRock, on 11 October 2010 - 07:59 PM, said:

Thanks. That was a cool video. looks like a little bumpy ride going into the terminal.

Thats the cool thing about A Vonroll VR101.Have you ever rode on one?

[SkiLiftsRock]

vonroll101, on 12 October 2010 - 06:11 PM, said:

Thats the cool thing about A Vonroll VR101.Have you ever rode on one?

I never have been on one. Is it different?

This post has been edited by SkiLiftsRock: 12 October 2010 - 06:20 PM

[vonroll101]

SkiLiftsRock, on 12 October 2010 - 06:17 PM, said:

I never have been on one. Is it different?

Vonroll Type 101 lifts are getting very rare..Nothing like todays lifts.its all done by gravity feed not tires to launch you onto the cable.Counterweight instead of Hydraulic Tension. Here is a 1965 video of A Vonroll Type 101 http://www.youtube.c...h?v=PeHbCjnN97A

[vonroll101]

SkiLiftsRock, on 12 October 2010 - 06:17 PM, said:

I never have been on one. Is it different?

Vonroll Type 101 lifts are getting very rare..Nothing like todays lifts.its all done by gravity feed not tires to launch you onto the cable.Counterweight instead of Hydraulic Tension. Here is a 1965 video of A Vonroll Type 101 http://www.youtube.c...h?v=PeHbCjnN97A