Uni-GS model top terminal.Looking up the lift line.Down the line.Drive terminal.Another view of the top.Upper lift line.Lift line.Lower lift line.Bottom terminal.Bottom station with 90-degree loading.Doppelmayr Worldbook entry.
I know the worldbook entry lists the speed as 5 m/s. But in all the years I’ve ridden this lift, it always felt like the fastest lift at Timberline. I could’ve sworn this lift runs at 1,100fpm. The terminal speeds are also a little faster than the average detachable too.
As far as I know these only showed up on DoppelmayrCTEC lifts from 2007 through at least 2010. I think it’s a modernization of the old CTEC “Vail” chairs that only lasted a couple years before being axed in favor of the Doppelmayr EJ. I’ve only seen these on UNI-GS lifts. Anyone know the name?
Some other lifts you’ll see these on are Apex and Moonbeam at Solitude, Lady Morgan at Deer Valley, and Crescent at Park City. The latter two have several other lifts with the Vail chairs that appeared on many CTEC lifts (though interestingly none at Beaver Creek, which has a bunch of lifts from that era and originated the Vail design) from the merger through 2006. The latest one I’ve found is Morningstar at Holiday Valley, NY, from 2010, when most other UNI-GS customers had switched to the UNI-G with EJ chairs. Couloir at White Pass is another 2010 UNI-GS but with EJ chairs. Those two were the last two UNI-GS lifts built.
Who knows how anyone decided on these. What was the cost difference between the UNI-GS and (much better looking) UNI-G in the merger era? How about between the Vail chairs and the EJ chairs?
These are, if not straight Garaventa carriers, then a close design copy. They got the moniker ‘Vail’ because they first showed up there. All other Garaventa/CTEC lifts had CTEC carriers. If you look at the couple Garaventa/CTEC lifts at Baker (chair 5, 2002, and chair 6, 2004) they have them as well. We speced them because the bail was not directly in the way of stuffing kids. The design was of course acquired by Doppelmayr in the merger.
Lift Blog 
Look at the Worldbook entry. It lists the town of the Timberline Resort in West Virginia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know the worldbook entry lists the speed as 5 m/s. But in all the years I’ve ridden this lift, it always felt like the fastest lift at Timberline. I could’ve sworn this lift runs at 1,100fpm. The terminal speeds are also a little faster than the average detachable too.
LikeLike
What type of chairs are these?
LikeLike
As far as I know these only showed up on DoppelmayrCTEC lifts from 2007 through at least 2010. I think it’s a modernization of the old CTEC “Vail” chairs that only lasted a couple years before being axed in favor of the Doppelmayr EJ. I’ve only seen these on UNI-GS lifts. Anyone know the name?
Some other lifts you’ll see these on are Apex and Moonbeam at Solitude, Lady Morgan at Deer Valley, and Crescent at Park City. The latter two have several other lifts with the Vail chairs that appeared on many CTEC lifts (though interestingly none at Beaver Creek, which has a bunch of lifts from that era and originated the Vail design) from the merger through 2006. The latest one I’ve found is Morningstar at Holiday Valley, NY, from 2010, when most other UNI-GS customers had switched to the UNI-G with EJ chairs. Couloir at White Pass is another 2010 UNI-GS but with EJ chairs. Those two were the last two UNI-GS lifts built.
Who knows how anyone decided on these. What was the cost difference between the UNI-GS and (much better looking) UNI-G in the merger era? How about between the Vail chairs and the EJ chairs?
LikeLike
Thanks for the thorough response! The wind slats on these chairs make them some of the most uncomfortable I have ever ridden on.
LikeLike
These are, if not straight Garaventa carriers, then a close design copy. They got the moniker ‘Vail’ because they first showed up there. All other Garaventa/CTEC lifts had CTEC carriers. If you look at the couple Garaventa/CTEC lifts at Baker (chair 5, 2002, and chair 6, 2004) they have them as well. We speced them because the bail was not directly in the way of stuffing kids. The design was of course acquired by Doppelmayr in the merger.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was, I think, the Grouse Mountain Express lift that originated this chair model.
LikeLike
Maybe it was first in the US, but there are plenty in Europe older than that.
LikeLike
LikeLike