This lift came via Alyeska and opened a major expansion area in 2013.Poma Alpha bottom station.Lift overview.View up the lift line.Poma grip, hanger and taco.View down the first section.Tower 8.Breakover towers.Unload ramp and return bullwheel.Top station overview.Many of the towers are extremely tall and this lift sometimes closes for wind.View up the lift line.Splice tower number 12.Middle part of the lift line.Another look down line.Motor room.
I think most if not all Poma fixed grip quads have the same ling gauge as their detachable quads. I’m not sure if that is the case with Omega series and LPA detachables, but it was at least before and during the use of the Challenger terminals.
Wikipedia claims that both the Alpha and Delta (?) were designed to have the possibility for detachable conversion. Are there any examples of that anywhere?
I’m not sure about the delta terminals, but this might be the closest you get to that. It was built in 1982. It would be interesting to see a Delta used for a detachable lift though.
You are correct. While some manufacturers seemed to use wider gauge for detaches, every Poma of several generations that I’ve worked on had the same. Makes economic sense, if nothing else; one standard towerhead regardless of lift speed. Occasionally there are exceptions, such as our Eagle telemix which has a wider line gauge than our Flyer standard sixpack because of swing clearance issues on the modified chairs.
Responding to your comment “They were, as well as the super-simple vault-drive and single-mast return seen on a few lifts in the 80s (Midway Shuttle at Crystal, for example).”
Are there examples of operating fixed grip quad chairs that look like this? If so, i’d love to see a picture of one.
Pucci at Timberline.https://liftblog.com/pucci-timberline-lodge-or/ I looked all over remontees-mecaniques and racked my brain but I couldn’t find any other examples. Must have been a short-lived model, as the three North American detaches were that year.
Yes, but that’s not the only factor in placing the drive. Access, power, operational considerations (a remote or roadless top terminal) all play a part in those decisions.
Hopefully this chair has a better life here than it did at alyeska. Chair 4 as it was was hated by all of us. Hopefully it has a more powerful motor driving it because that chair was long and gutless that chair 1 had a faster line speed than it. We used to wait for chair 1 to open just because it was longer and faster than that slow Poma. I don’t miss Chair 4 but I miss chair 1 and it’s fantastic midway station
Lift Blog 
Looks like this lift was designed to be upgraded to be a HSQ when it was originally installed at Alyeska based on its gauge.
LikeLike
Makes sense, as it was the only out-of-base lift.
LikeLike
Didn’t Chair 1 start nearby until just a few years ago?
LikeLike
I think most if not all Poma fixed grip quads have the same ling gauge as their detachable quads. I’m not sure if that is the case with Omega series and LPA detachables, but it was at least before and during the use of the Challenger terminals.
LikeLike
Wikipedia claims that both the Alpha and Delta (?) were designed to have the possibility for detachable conversion. Are there any examples of that anywhere?
LikeLike
I’m not sure about the delta terminals, but this might be the closest you get to that. It was built in 1982. It would be interesting to see a Delta used for a detachable lift though.
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd3-des-lattes-poma-2164.html
LikeLike
They were, as well as the super-simple vault-drive and single-mast return seen on a few lifts in the 80s (Midway Shuttle at Crystal, for example).
LikeLike
You are correct. While some manufacturers seemed to use wider gauge for detaches, every Poma of several generations that I’ve worked on had the same. Makes economic sense, if nothing else; one standard towerhead regardless of lift speed. Occasionally there are exceptions, such as our Eagle telemix which has a wider line gauge than our Flyer standard sixpack because of swing clearance issues on the modified chairs.
LikeLike
Responding to your comment “They were, as well as the super-simple vault-drive and single-mast return seen on a few lifts in the 80s (Midway Shuttle at Crystal, for example).”
Are there examples of operating fixed grip quad chairs that look like this? If so, i’d love to see a picture of one.
LikeLike
Will, the Midway Shuttle was relocated to Loup Loup, WA. https://liftblog.com/loup-loup-wa/
LikeLike
I know, I’ve skied at Loup Loup, a great spot.
Just curious if there were any others.
LikeLike
Pucci at Timberline.https://liftblog.com/pucci-timberline-lodge-or/ I looked all over remontees-mecaniques and racked my brain but I couldn’t find any other examples. Must have been a short-lived model, as the three North American detaches were that year.
LikeLike
Just curious why they chose bottom drive and tension? Isn’t bottom drive less energy efficient?
LikeLike
Yes, but that’s not the only factor in placing the drive. Access, power, operational considerations (a remote or roadless top terminal) all play a part in those decisions.
LikeLike
Hopefully this chair has a better life here than it did at alyeska. Chair 4 as it was was hated by all of us. Hopefully it has a more powerful motor driving it because that chair was long and gutless that chair 1 had a faster line speed than it. We used to wait for chair 1 to open just because it was longer and faster than that slow Poma. I don’t miss Chair 4 but I miss chair 1 and it’s fantastic midway station
LikeLike
It was horribly slow and gutless or it broke down way more than old chair 1 hahaha
LikeLike
It looks like it needs a new coat of paint
LikeLike
Well, when I was there last season, Grey chair had a new paint scheme on the bottom terminal.
LikeLike