 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
...yes, but what an eyesore!
Good engineering on mountains is achieved with minimum visual impact, IMO
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Excellent site. Anyone know of any similar European ones?
There's a T-bar I used at one resort (I can't remember where but think it's Val d'Isere) who's line and wheel layout I'd love to see in plan as I just couldn't work it out whilst using it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
David, True, in fact very true!
I hate the fact that they are there, especially when im undertaking my other love of walking in the summer and get greeted with lots of eerie looking ski lifts, with the chairs dangling ominously...wish someone would invent the teleporter!
They are (unfortunately) essential for a decent ski holiday.
Still think they are fascinating tho!!!
PS Here is the eurpoean site http://www.poma.net/
and doppelmayr http://www.doppelmayr.com/engl/dm_get/index_e.html
(cool page on avalanche rockets!)
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Fri 16-04-04 12:16; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
In Tignes last Dec, I was sitting at breakfast (late!) and noticed the Palafour (?) lift stop. And remain stopped for 35 minutes. Now that chair must be a good 10 minute ride and it was a freezing morning with driving snow. Those poor people near the top would have been there nearly 3 quarters of an hour - as would everyone else by the time it all got going again and they could also get off. We went up the lift after breakfast (took the one on the left, not the suspect right) and it was still ffreezing 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dealing with structural matters for a living I always look at the suspension, fixings, size and condition of the chairlift on which my life depends.
The design is generally neat but not enough to drop my jaws. I am partcularly interested in the support columns because there has been one report of a reinforced concrete pillar collapsed under load. When the design was revealed even a graduate would know it wasn't safe. A supporting structure can also fail if its foundation has been eroded.
In general the steel components of the chairlifts are pretty robust and the main cables are amply overdesigned. Modern chairlifts supporting infrastructures are also well protected by the good engineering practice and design codes. I have never had a worry of my safety. Don't want to sound an alarm but most of the time our lives hinge on a couple of bolts!
The chairlifts will have to design to withstand a certain wind speed but they would be shut down well before the design limit is reached, which will still have the appropriate safety factors on materials and loading discrepancy.
The unsatisfactory aspect of a chairlift system to me is the drive unit. Unlike steel beams and tubes which can have an increase in safety factor by adding thickness or enlarging the dimension, electric motors are not easy to over-design to improve its service life. No doubt it is in the resort owner's owner to maintain his equipment but the fail safe approach is to have a redundancy, i.e. fit two motors and let the second one takes over when the first one breaks down. This may add considerable cost to our ski pass. Until that happen, we have to be anticipate occasional stoppages in the mid air.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With regards to eroding, I was told that in Italy a lift must be replaced every 20 years, by law - that's all of it, supports, and all. That may only apply to Cable cars, but I don't think so. I only know of the main cable car at Courmayeur being replaced purely for this reason, but other lifts would probably be upgraded at the same time so it's hardr to know with them.
The 20 bit may be wrong but it's of that sort of order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
I think the most impressive lift that I have ever seen is the Olympic Gondola in Val d'Isere. The most impressive thing about it is that it runs on cable car tracks, but goes on a continuous detacheable loop like a gondola. Every time that I see it I try and work out exactly how it does it. I guess that makes me a cable car geek as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have serious doubts that the Italians are legally bound to replace lifts every 20yrs. Or maybe they are, but being in Italy they just ignore the law! There are certainly some very dodgy old cable cars in Cervinia and Courmayeur for example. My favourite cable car is the one out of Samnaun at the back of the Ischgl system - it's big, glossy, new, over-engineered, and double deckered!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I have to 'fess up' and say that I really don't like these big 100 Plus 'cattle waggons'. There is no logic in thinking that they are less safe than a small cable car, but I breath a sigh of relief everytime I get off - I actually take a longer route to avoid them if I can. What a wimp 
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Frankly, I've never wondered how any of them work. I just hope they do! And I like the ones you can sit down in (on?).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Anybody fond of the coffee cup lift in Val Thoren/Les Menuires?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Plake wrote: |
| I have serious doubts that the Italians are legally bound to replace lifts every 20yrs. Or maybe they are, but being in Italy they just ignore the law! There are certainly some very dodgy old cable cars in Cervinia and Courmayeur for example. My favourite cable car is the one out of Samnaun at the back of the Ischgl system - it's big, glossy, new, over-engineered, and double deckered! |
They may look dodgy and old, but they're probably about 18 years old. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
What about the 'yogurt pots' in Flaine ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
