This very unique chairlift operates in a one way triangle with one loading station and two non-loading turn stations.A map of the route.Arriving at the end of the ride.Loading station overview. There are three bullwheels here.Tower 25.The lift is Hall with SkyTrans modifications.One of the turns along the ride.Tower 17.T16.The ride is mostly through forested areas.Tower 15.A half tower.The first angle station.Bullwheel and custom sheave assemblies.Leaving the main station.Departure area.Middle bullwheel with drive and tensioning.The drive bullwheel.Looking down two of the three segments.Unloading zone.Drive and unloading areas.The first angle change.The last few towers of the ride.The lift actually ascends a decent sized hill for a zoo ride.View up at T20.Lower part of the final segment.Middle lift line.Hall half towers.T8 near the first angle change.Hall sheaves and a modified chair.View down at tower 5.The first few towers after boarding.
Because the center bull wheel in the trio at load/unload is the tensioning and has to move horizontally. When it moves the angle between the center bull wheel and outer two will change. Using two more allows the angle to be just about anything it needs to be, because the alternative is to either have the rope change alignment on those first/last towers (bad) or replace the bull wheel with lots of horizontal guide sheaves, which would be even worse as far as complexity and extra parts.
There is one other triangular skyride in Mexico (J.M. Romo), a Hopkins, that is tensioned by two bullwheels at the drive station. One is driven and the other one isn’t. Each one rides on its own tension carriage.
Lift Blog 
WOW one of the best fixed grips I’ve seen yet, and to do it with an old hall!
LikeLike
Here, here!
LikeLike
wheres the tension system?
LikeLike
Tensioning: See Photo 17: Middle bullwheel and tensioning.
LikeLike
Why does it need 3 bullwheels in the load/unload turn? Seems like a lot of extra parts.
LikeLike
Because the center bull wheel in the trio at load/unload is the tensioning and has to move horizontally. When it moves the angle between the center bull wheel and outer two will change. Using two more allows the angle to be just about anything it needs to be, because the alternative is to either have the rope change alignment on those first/last towers (bad) or replace the bull wheel with lots of horizontal guide sheaves, which would be even worse as far as complexity and extra parts.
LikeLike
There is one other triangular skyride in Mexico (J.M. Romo), a Hopkins, that is tensioned by two bullwheels at the drive station. One is driven and the other one isn’t. Each one rides on its own tension carriage.
LikeLike
Anyone else notice the costume riding the lift in pic 27?
LikeLike
Check it out:
LikeLiked by 2 people
I guess Hall likes building triangle lifts with this and the Sterling Vineyards gondola (RIP) in triangle shapes.
LikeLike
Link from Peter’s weekly update. incident that took place.
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/what-caused-the-skyfari-ride-to-break-down-monday-at-southwicks-zoo-in-mendon/3773083/
LikeLike