CWA X-model cabins in the bottom station.Cabin parking rails in the bottom station at Lionshead.Tower 1 was upgraded by Doppelmayr CTEC more recently.Leaving Lionshead and crossing over Gore Creek.Garaventa CTEC tower 5.This was the largest gondola CTEC ever built.The upper part of the line with Pride Express on the right.View back towards the Gore Range.Arriving at Adventure Ridge.Top terminal building on the arrival side.Contour turnaround.View down from the top at tower 21.The top station has a larger parking and maintenance bay to complement the one at the base.Riding down in the summer.Towers 15 and 16 with the top of Born Free Express on the right.T13.Descending into Lionshead.Arrival side at the Lionshead station.Bottom terminal building and lift line.View of the line from Lionshead.Tensioning system at the return.Lower part of the line in winter.Cargo carrier on the line.There are some really tall towers on this lift.
16 thoughts on “Eagle Bahn Gondola #19 – Vail, CO”
Billy B.May 16, 2017 / 10:12 pm
Do you know the name of the grips used on the Eagle Bahn? I know that they are double grips, but I can’t remember what the grips themselves are called.
I don’t think it was just the lifting frame. It looks to me like it was the entire crossarm. They probably found something about it (e.g. structural issue) that they didn’t like and opted to replace it. It doesn’t look like a CTEC design.
Why do they even have lifting frames on depression towers? is there a winch point at the bottom of the tower? It really serves no purpose other than something for Lift maintenance to cling on to so they dont accidentally fall off the catwalks.
There are usually concrete anchors with metal eyes in them for rigging to pull the haul rope down. And if you then need to lower the assembly to the ground you use the “lifting”frame.😉
The Eagle Bahn Gondola has lots of sag, meaning either there’s less tension or the gondolas are just really heavy. Also, the deceleration on the lift is really weird and cool.
I’d attribute this partially to the lift’s profile being much higher off the ground than the parallel Born Free Express, which hugs the terrain more closely.
Do you know the name of the grips used on the Eagle Bahn? I know that they are double grips, but I can’t remember what the grips themselves are called.
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I think they are called AK grips.
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How come Tower 1’s lifting frame was replaced?
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I don’t think it was just the lifting frame. It looks to me like it was the entire crossarm. They probably found something about it (e.g. structural issue) that they didn’t like and opted to replace it. It doesn’t look like a CTEC design.
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That’s a Doppelmayr frame.
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Must’ve been replaced around 2009 or so.
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Here’s what tower 1 originally looked like:
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Why do they even have lifting frames on depression towers? is there a winch point at the bottom of the tower? It really serves no purpose other than something for Lift maintenance to cling on to so they dont accidentally fall off the catwalks.
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There are usually concrete anchors with metal eyes in them for rigging to pull the haul rope down. And if you then need to lower the assembly to the ground you use the “lifting”frame.😉
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Are you sure this gondola holds 12 people? It looks like a 6 person gondola to me.
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They usually load 8 to 10. With people standing it could definitely fit 12.
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The Eagle Bahn Gondola has lots of sag, meaning either there’s less tension or the gondolas are just really heavy. Also, the deceleration on the lift is really weird and cool.
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I’d attribute this partially to the lift’s profile being much higher off the ground than the parallel Born Free Express, which hugs the terrain more closely.
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They’re weighted with ballast tanks, if you’re quiet, you can hear the water splashing around.
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Those don’t look like the normal AK grips. They look a bit stronger and more complex
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They’re the gondola variant of the AK grip.
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