139 replies to this topic

[Smacpats]

julestheshiba, on 25 May 2016 - 05:50 AM, said:

Tamarack seems reparable.

NHskier13, on 25 May 2016 - 08:14 AM, said:

Doesn't look like it's in bad shape to me, maybe I just didn't pay much attention to detail. Either way as long as that metal structure is held up that's all it really needs. The wood replaces the terminal cover essentially, I think.

julestheshiba, on 25 May 2016 - 08:36 AM, said:

maybe just some welds, new paint, and better roofing and it would be perfect

I think the solution here is to either repair it as stated or completely install a new drive terminal (that thing has endured 40 years, the only way I could see that operating for another 15 would be newer technology installed at the base. Possibly replace Snowbowl with an HS and just transfer over the alpha drive. I really love that house type drive, but money needs to be put into the base terminal somehow or another.

As for the racing poma, it depends on usage. If Snowbowl HS happens, keep it there and if it goes down have racers cut line on HS. If it will cost too much to repair, replace.

I really doubt the solution to the Borvig is replacing the lift entirely, because everything else (Towers, return, chairs, sheaves, chair backrests, safety bars, bullwheels, grips etc.) are in awesome condition. Here's a pic of the return:

[julestheshiba]

I still just don't see how the drive is in horrible condition? Could you say specifically what is damaged?

[vons]

I agree, the drive looks fine other than some paint chipping. the wood is weathered but doesn't look to have any rot, It just looks like an old design.

[RibStaThiok]

Just because something is old, doesn't mean you get rid of it. The fact that there are still many many many lifts out there turning that were built in the late 50s and 60s is proof of that. (not counting 2 single chair lifts still running to this day, although heavily modified and upgraded)

[RibStaThiok]

And take into account that every single one of those lifts is safer now then it was at the time of install as a result of various upgrades and what not.

[fireonthemountain]

yooper skier your right that's the name I was looking for was Pullman berry, and you might be right about the original zoomer double being a roebling...now im curious...and I cant find any of the old plans or maint. books for those lifts lying around...would be neat to look at though

[Smacpats]

vons, on 26 May 2016 - 09:27 AM, said:

I agree, the drive looks fine other than some paint chipping. the wood is weathered but doesn't look to have any rot, It just looks like an old design.

julestheshiba, on 26 May 2016 - 05:53 AM, said:

I still just don't see how the drive is in horrible condition? Could you say specifically what is damaged?

I don't think anything is damaged, but I think they should at least refurbrish the terminal. It looks like it's in cruddy shape. Start by repainting it and maybe replacing the bullwheel. The other thing is that lifts just start breaking down and having problems at this age. Wouldn't be surprised if the motor got a replacement soon.

RibStaThiok, on 26 May 2016 - 11:20 AM, said:

And take into account that every single one of those lifts is safer now then it was at the time of install as a result of various upgrades and what not.

I think this is what the lift needs. A replacement I admit would be overkill.

This post has been edited by Smacpats: 26 May 2016 - 03:45 PM

[Yooper Skier]

fireonthemountain, on 26 May 2016 - 12:51 PM, said:

yooper skier your right that's the name I was looking for was Pullman berry, and you might be right about the original zoomer double being a roebling...now im curious...and I cant find any of the old plans or maint. books for those lifts lying around...would be neat to look at though

I believe we have some prints kicking around our shop from the original Barker Mountain Double ('71 P-B). I have several pics of the lift being built that were given to me. Also some PR photos of chairs and sheave assemblies. I'll see what I can dig up.

[Tramway Guy]

For what it's worth, I believe there is an original Thiokol triple chairlift in original condition at Skyline Ski Area, in Wisconsin. The area has been closed for many years, except for an occasional attempt at opening. There is also a Hall double chair.

And there used to be a Thiokol at Boston Mills, Ohio. May be still there.

[Yooper Skier]

PIctures I rummaged up from Pullman-Berry. Not sure if #1 is from Barker Double or not, 2-7 appear to be promotional pics, and #8 is flying towers on the Barker Mountain Double at Sunday River. A gentleman by the name of Ron Rape showed up by our shop a couple years ago and gave us these pics. He used to work for Berry Steel in Pennsylvania and was pretty excited we still had/have (partial) one of the few Pullman-Berry lifts ever built. I think our chairs were of a different style than those advertised.

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[sheave]

Tramway Guy, on 27 May 2016 - 06:51 AM, said:

And there used to be a Thiokol at Boston Mills, Ohio. May be still there.

This could be on my way up north... I'll try to find out more about the area.

So far nothing interesting on the route... I've been to the Zoo in Kansas City, but their chair looks like one of those SkyTrans rebuilts. The same appears to be the case for the newer fairground chair in Des Moines, but the older one should be still the first one (built in the 1970s). Can anyone name a company that used to built those colored Skyrides?
The Zoo in Montgomery and Stone Mountain in Atlanta are next on my list- nothing rare or fancy, but at least something that is hanging on a rope. After that I will finally try to take some pictures of the abandoned chair lift in Cherokee, NC.

[6207]

Von Roll built the Skyride. The sky gliders are Heron Poma. Crystal Mountain Michigan and Mt. Holiday Michigan both have a St. Lawrence chair lift. Norway Mountain Michigan still has two Sellers lifts.

[RibStaThiok]

Tramway Guy, on 27 May 2016 - 06:51 AM, said:

For what it's worth, I believe there is an original Thiokol triple chairlift in original condition at Skyline Ski Area, in Wisconsin. The area has been closed for many years, except for an occasional attempt at opening. There is also a Hall double chair.

And there used to be a Thiokol at Boston Mills, Ohio. May be still there.

Skyline- Sadly closed, but you might be able to get permission to go on the grounds to take a look, sounds like the owner is very nice as long as folks ask. Check out the page over at milsap.wordpress.com
1968 Hall Double (Main lift)
1972 Thiokol Tripple- Beginners hill.
https://milsap.wordp...-club-grayling/

Boston Hills:
1964 Hall Double
1973 Thiokol Tripple
1976 Hall Tripple
1977 Borvig Double
1977 Borvig Tripple
1986 Riblet Tripple

[_litz]

sheave, on 01 June 2016 - 06:58 PM, said:

The Zoo in Montgomery and Stone Mountain in Atlanta are next on my list- nothing rare or fancy, but at least something that is hanging on a rope.

There's a VR-101 running at Six Flags over Georgia as well.

It, and the Stone Mounatin tram, are the only two examples of wired transportation in the state.

(Sky Valley used to have a chairlift, but it's been gone for years)

If Sandy Springs actually builds urban Gondolas in a few years, that'll be a new one to go visit ...

This post has been edited by _litz: 02 June 2016 - 02:55 PM

[skier691]

Different Skyline. There was one in both WI and MI. The one in MI only had one Hall double, which us still standing.

RibStaThiok, on 01 June 2016 - 09:00 PM, said:

Skyline- Sadly closed, but you might be able to get permission to go on the grounds to take a look, sounds like the owner is very nice as long as folks ask. Check out the page over at milsap.wordpress.com
1968 Hall Double (Main lift)
1972 Thiokol Tripple- Beginners hill.
https://milsap.wordp...-club-grayling/

Boston Hills:
1964 Hall Double
1973 Thiokol Tripple
1976 Hall Tripple
1977 Borvig Double
1977 Borvig Tripple
1986 Riblet Tripple

[julestheshiba]

_litz, on 02 June 2016 - 02:54 PM, said:

There's a VR-101 running at Six Flags over Georgia as well.

It, and the Stone Mounatin tram, are the only two examples of wired transportation in the state.

(Sky Valley used to have a chairlift, but it's been gone for years)

If Sandy Springs actually builds urban Gondolas in a few years, that'll be a new one to go visit ...

There is a VR-101 at the San Diego zoo and at six flags great america in the south bay.

[6207]

6207, on 01 June 2016 - 07:38 PM, said:

Von Roll built the Skyride. The sky gliders are Heron Poma. Crystal Mountain Michigan and Mt. Holiday Michigan both have a St. Lawrence chair lift. Norway Mountain Michigan still has two Snellers lifts.

[Tramway Guy]

Taylor Design of California built at least part of one amusement park chairlift at Elitch Gardens in Denver. The towers and chairs were Hall, however.

Another name in a few fairs and at least one ski area was Goforth Brothers.

Also, the name of the lift company previously mentioned was ' Sneller', not 'Seller'.

[RibStaThiok]

Here's a photo of the old Sky Ride at the former Elitch's before it moved and was purchased by six flags.

[sheave]

6207, on 01 June 2016 - 07:38 PM, said:

Von Roll built the Skyride. The sky gliders are Heron Poma. Crystal Mountain Michigan and Mt. Holiday Michigan both have a St. Lawrence chair lift. Norway Mountain Michigan still has two Sellers lifts.

There is a VR Skyride in Des Moines?

_litz, on 02 June 2016 - 02:54 PM, said:

There's a VR-101 running at Six Flags over Georgia as well.

It, and the Stone Mounatin tram, are the only two examples of wired transportation in the state.

(Sky Valley used to have a chairlift, but it's been gone for years)

If Sandy Springs actually builds urban Gondolas in a few years, that'll be a new one to go visit ...

I've already been to the VR101 in New Jersey (SF Great Adventure) and the two in San Diego (but the shorter one was closed that day) as well as the last one with the original chairs in the Czech Republic and the one at Jenner, Germany.

Stone Mountain was nice, one of the last Von Roll trams built in 1996.

Today I made it to the abandoned Roebling double in Cherokee, NC. A local told me that it closed only six years ago because of liability issues (to me the overgrown lift line tells something different). I didn't make it to the top as it is on private property and what I heard from a neighbor I should not even try to ask for a permission.

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Also the old C&S Ghost Town double in Maggie Valley was closed (they tried to sell me their rollercoaster when I took some pictures up there two years ago - the remainings of the incline are still in the building next to the chair's top terminal).

Funny nobody so far mentioned the two remaining Goforth Bros. double chairs still operating in North Carolina (Tweetsie Railroad) and Kentucky (what used to be Gun/Funtown Mountain - currently closed as this park just got a new owner).

This post has been edited by sheave: 04 June 2016 - 06:17 PM