Ramcharger Express - Big Sky, MT [1991 - 2018]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2024
- Arguably the most important lift at Big Sky due to the fact that it links Lone Peak and Andesite Mtn, Big Sky’s Ramcharger Express was the area’s first detachable quad when it was built by Doppelmayr in 1991. This lift replaced a used 1973 Heron-Poma double and is currently scheduled to be replaced by a detachable blue-bubble six-pack in the near future. The bottom terminal is a Doppelmayr Uni tensioned return, and the top is a Doppelmayr Uni fixed drive. These are both first generation Uni terminals. The chairs are Doppelmayr’s EJ chairs with DS-104 grips. The lifting frames are Doppelmayr’s 1990s/2000s style lifting frames, and the sheaves are the 1990s style sheaves. This lift received upgrades recently, but I am having a hard time figuring out what the upgrades are because the lift still runs less than 1000 fpm.
UPDATE 3/7/18: This lift will be replaced during the 2018 construction season with North America's first 8 passenger chairlift! The new lift will be built by Doppelmayr and will feature D-Line equipment and 8 passenger D-Line blue bubble chairs! Exciting or what!!
Recorded on February 15, 2018
So I'm going here in 3 weeks to hopefully film all their lifts. I'm surprised you didn't beat me to it on filming Ramcharger 8.
This lift will be replaced by a D-Line 8 pack bubble with heated seats and be moving up to Shedhorn this summer.
The replacement won't be the fastest chairlift in the western hemisphere. Regular 1000fpm line speed, but I think it will actually run that speed unlike the current lift.
When Ramcharger is sent over to Shedhorn it will be basically a brand new lift. They are ditching the 1991 UNI terminals and DS-104 grips for UNI-G terminals and DT-104 or AG-104 grips.
The D-Line grips have a max speed of 1378 fpm or 7 m/s. But you need the super long terminals and a drive system that is designed to operate that fast. Nothing has been built to that speed even in Europe as of now. Fastest is 6.5 m/s or 1280 fpm and that's on a gondola.
I'd be shocked if they weren't also replacing the grips on Ramcharger if they were replacing the terminal skins. The UNI-G skins are designed for DT or AG contours and it would be cheaper to get the regular contours and replace the grips than to keep the DS grips and get custom contours or skins. I assume it will be similar to Montezuma from Keystone going to Beaver Creek as Red Buffalo where they reused towers and chairs but replaced the most complex moving parts.
I asked Peter Landsman (who runs Liftblog) about it. He said they're keeping the DS-104 system. The problem with the enclosures is they're falling apart and leaking so that's why they're being replaced. I hope that they do at least some upgrades to the system so it can actually run fast as Shedhorn.
Ive heard the new lift will eliminate T7 and span the gap to cross ambush with no obstructions. T6 will have to be HUGE
@@telemarknewenglandnewengla5895 Well they pulled it off, and as you could see, everything about new Ramcharger is HUGE
Why do manufacturers keep changing grip designs? I've been on first gen detachables and brand new ones and they feel just the same.
Because they are more reliable and maintenance friendly.