Cairngorm Mountain The White Lady Chairlift 1961 - 2001

Footage of Cairngorm mountain from 1968 & 1970.
The Car Park and White Lady chairlifts were the first and longest in the UK. They were also detachable, side facing chairs which were aimed towards hikers and sightseers as this was a year round chairlift system.
The chairlifts were replaced in 2001 by a funicular railway.
Also featured:
The original, single track road from Aviemore to the Cas car park built in 1960.
The White Lady Chair began in the middle station building, connected to the car park chair, before being relocated to the roof in 1976.
Coire Cas T-bar drive before being raised onto the gantry in 1977.
Sheiling T-bar was used extensively before the car park T-bar was extended in 1980.
The White Lady tow (1967 - 2007 ) The famous SCREAM was caused by engineers mounting the motor incorrectly so the lift was always running in reverse. Over the next 35 years, this caused serious wear on the gear box resulting in the unbearable scream until the gearbox was replaced in 2001 using the gear box from the recently dismantled Car Park Chairlift. The White Lady tow suffered a catastrophic failure at the top station, in 2007, after water entered the bearing housing and froze in the return bullwheel, resulting in it breaking free and hitting the first pylon. The drive unit was sold to Glenshee Ski Centre in 2009 for scrap and now powers the Butchart's access T-bar.

[@twinkletoes8145]

I learnt to ski at the Lecht in 1988 and we often went to Cairngorm as well. Such happy memories of the Cas (lift number 5?) and the moguls on White Lady. Also the cafe at the midway station (maybe at the midway? I was a child, my memory isn't brilliant)

[@raymonkee]

That CAS T-bar 50 years old! Incredible that they have never upgraded it.

[@Kwiff1k]

My mum was in the video, no idea where but she was tagged on a post linking the video😂

[@13Jamie14]

haha that was mental, what a difference from these days, good to see old footage like that considering I wasn't even born till 85. Snowboarding wasn't even around then either, not one boarder in sight, crazy!

[@alisonshaw7681]

That's me on the chairlift in 1968 with my hand-knitted beanie and mitts and my prized Fischer Alu skis!

[@albell1970]

Hi Alison, that's so cool! Can you remember how your involvement with the film came about? Thanks. AL.

[@alisonshaw7681]

I worked in the Information Centre at the (new) Aviemore Centre - I think I was "volunteered" and got a day off to ski!

[@albell1970]

@@alisonshaw7681 Talk about being in the right place at the right time! I believe John and Fiona Angella were featured in the film at the end, skiing down the White Lady with you guys. They were friends of my parents who suggested that I try and find this film. Thanks for sharing your memories, Alison.

[@davefairhurst4789]

@@albell1970 The Video brings back memories, spent many years ski-ing in the Cairngorms as a kid and teenager with my Aunt & Uncle,,,, Nan and Plum Worrall, even though he opened the funicular railway in 2001 he never liked the idea of it, now i read it is shut down, the Chairlift was always the best and a fun experience.

[@ssmith4045]

still have the lash marks from a T bar pylon incident, those were the days, corrugated ice and shit burgers in the car park :) 1976........... Ah Tube and Marion, what a great time.

[@ulliholzner9026]

And now you have Dave Ryding .Keep it up

[@williammackie4816]

That clip was on Highland playground on bbc2 from 1969 till 1973

[@williammackie4816]

After the skiing seems there was the aprie ski dancing to the accordion and the girl's dancing with the boys

[@williammackie4816]

Can I see Highland playground again

[@martinwork111]

What is the skiing like in Scotland? I have always went to mainland Europe to ski, but I think next winter I will give it a shot in Scotland.......... Any back country skiing in Scotland?

[@mcwolfus8824]

+Martin McDermid This year the snow was non existant.

[@Redrush11]

mcwolfus88 really. wow

[@jonathancook4022]

Go, give it a try! Ive had loads of fun in scotland!

[@CheviotHills]

Yeah back country at Nevis Range and Glencoe. Scotland can be great when the snow is good.

[@ospreybird]

:-)

[@Gorantaylis]

Sadly the new owners want to remove the old pylons so it can never reopen, and want to make it a luxury resort. Absolute cretins with no respect nor understanding for Skiing in Scotland, or the community.

[@williammackie4816]

The girl and her boyfriend with his skis had her blonde hair up