12 replies to this topic

[DonaldMReif]

I know that the lift itself is a 1990 Poma high speed quad, and I also know that the lift is designed to be converted into a gondola at night.

A question I have, however, is this: are the grips of the gondola cabins different from the grips of the chairs?

I ask this because when I was looking at skierdude9450's gallery on the lift, I noticed that the metal detachable strip seems to have tracks for two types of grips.

Look here:
 Zephyr Express photo - weird detach strip.jpg (84.56K)
Number of downloads: 168

[Lift Kid]

What you are seeing there is a wear pattern on that detach rail. I am fairly certain that the two wear patterns would be from the two different carrier types. Although I do not know for sure, I would guess that the quad chairs utilize a TB-41 grip, and the gondola cabins utilize a Double TB-41. In that case, the primary roller (is that the correct term?) may hit the rail differently.

My theory. The lift mechanics may be able to chime in with more accurate information.

Here is a picture of a double TB-41 vs. a regular TB-41.

[skierdude9450]

I'm pretty sure that the gondolas use the same grips since they're 4 passenger cabins. I doubt that there would be room in those terminals for a double grip. That is a very interesting picture that I've never noticed before. However I'm pretty sure that the left track is the one that the grips would run on. The track on the right doesn't seem to follow the contour of the compression rail.

[underoos]

I'm a mechanic at WP. Not sure what you were seeing in the photo, but the chairs and gondolas both use the same TB-41 grips.

[aug]

the metal strip gets a a groove over time from the metal rollers on the TB-41 and can be re- oriented to wear on a different area of the metal strip. you can also flip it over to use the other side. hence the 2 wear patterns

[Lift Dinosaur]

aug, on 08 February 2011 - 05:44 AM, said:

the metal strip gets a a groove over time from the metal rollers on the TB-41 and can be re- oriented to wear on a different area of the metal strip. you can also flip it over to use the other side. hence the 2 wear patterns

Bingo!
Dino

[DakarNick]

When have they used the gondolas? I don't go up to WP much. I didn't even know they put gondola cabins on there.

This post has been edited by DakarNick: 08 February 2011 - 01:45 PM

[DonaldMReif]

DakarNick, on 08 February 2011 - 01:43 PM, said:

When have they used the gondolas? I don't go up to WP much. I didn't even know they put gondola cabins on there.

They are used at night to transport diners up to dinner at Sunspot Lodge, located at the top of the lift.

[DakarNick]

Thanks, I didn't know that. How many cabins and where do they store them?

[liftmech]

Not sure on the number, but they're stored at the bottom in the largish lift shack/grip shop-- correct, underroos?

[DakarNick]

Cool, thanks guys!

[underoos]

liftmech, on 08 February 2011 - 06:33 PM, said:

Not sure on the number, but they're stored at the bottom in the largish lift shack/grip shop-- correct, underroos?

As was said, the gondolas are used for dinners at Sunspot, as well as special events at night. There are 20 gondola cabins that are stored in the maintenance building. There is a rail system from the terminal to the building so we can put gondolas on or take them off the line. The cabins are put on in groups of 4 at a time, replacing a group of 4 chairs. The transfer rails are actuated automatically to save a little time.

[WPET]

the only difference on this top terminal in a door closer and a door opener rail. The closer rail is more visible on the light side somewhat pointing down - you can see in through the ladder into the terminal. And that roller is attached to the chair stem. Other than that everything is the same.