Lift Engineering's Grand Slam Tram
sheave
25 Dec 2021
I had the chance to visit Denver's Water World twice in 2019 and 2020 to take pictures of LE's last remaining jig-back system. First installed in 1993 at Circus Circus in Vegas, it was relocated to Denver a few years later when the casino decided it became too expensive to operate. You can still see parts of the terminal structure at Circus Circus, but the casino denied they ever had a lift running on their premises.
Since my visit last year, the lift has been renamed to "Alpine Springs Express Gondola" and the park has integrated new rides in the lower terminal.
Here are two videos that show the lift at Circus Circus.
https://www.youtube....h?v=l_0_FjZM7WQ
starting at 4:36
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=cZ31w1FuvUk
at 17:48
Since my visit last year, the lift has been renamed to "Alpine Springs Express Gondola" and the park has integrated new rides in the lower terminal.
Here are two videos that show the lift at Circus Circus.
https://www.youtube....h?v=l_0_FjZM7WQ
starting at 4:36
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=cZ31w1FuvUk
at 17:48
Lift Dinosaur
03 Jan 2022
I did the Non Destructive Testing on this installation for 10 years. Interesting piece of equipment in a unique setting!
Dino
Dino
C W Craven
03 Jan 2022
Well let me say that the demise/removal of the grand slam tram was due to the addition of another hotel room tower (between the casino and the adventure dome). The tram was in the way and was removed, as were the manor shuttles.
Although the tram was not being used, at the time, I believe there were several factors that influenced the lack of operation in my opinion: in no particular order....... If patrons were riding the tram (passing over the loading dock, hotel dumpsters, main kitchen exhaust etc) the were not walking thru the casino past the slot machines, restaurants, and shops. As I recall it took min of 4 operator / tix sellers to run the tram, Access to the loading platform on the strip end was a pain via stairs/elevator, and lastly low ridership.
C W
Although the tram was not being used, at the time, I believe there were several factors that influenced the lack of operation in my opinion: in no particular order....... If patrons were riding the tram (passing over the loading dock, hotel dumpsters, main kitchen exhaust etc) the were not walking thru the casino past the slot machines, restaurants, and shops. As I recall it took min of 4 operator / tix sellers to run the tram, Access to the loading platform on the strip end was a pain via stairs/elevator, and lastly low ridership.
C W
sheave
09 Jan 2022
C W Craven, on 03 January 2022 - 02:04 PM, said:
Well let me say that the demise/removal of the grand slam tram was due to the addition of another hotel room tower (between the casino and the adventure dome). The tram was in the way and was removed, as were the manor shuttles.
Although the tram was not being used, at the time, I believe there were several factors that influenced the lack of operation in my opinion: in no particular order....... If patrons were riding the tram (passing over the loading dock, hotel dumpsters, main kitchen exhaust etc) the were not walking thru the casino past the slot machines, restaurants, and shops. As I recall it took min of 4 operator / tix sellers to run the tram, Access to the loading platform on the strip end was a pain via stairs/elevator, and lastly low ridership.
Although the tram was not being used, at the time, I believe there were several factors that influenced the lack of operation in my opinion: in no particular order....... If patrons were riding the tram (passing over the loading dock, hotel dumpsters, main kitchen exhaust etc) the were not walking thru the casino past the slot machines, restaurants, and shops. As I recall it took min of 4 operator / tix sellers to run the tram, Access to the loading platform on the strip end was a pain via stairs/elevator, and lastly low ridership.
According to the person that was involved with the relocation, the decision to get rid of it was already made before that for the new hotel. The hotel owner simply wasn't very happy about the tram.
Backbowlsbilly
15 Jan 2022
Awesome set of pictures! Especially the ones of the lift in its original alignment at Circus-Circus, hard to find pictures of that.
I worked on this lift for two summers as a liftie, lots of good memories. Certainly a interesting lift!
I worked on this lift for two summers as a liftie, lots of good memories. Certainly a interesting lift!
