Aerial lift pylon
An Aerial lift pylon is a pylon-like construction bearing the cables of an aerial lift such as an aerial tramway or gondola lift. Large pylons of aerial tramways usually consist of a steel framework construction, smaller pylons of gondola lifts are made of tubular steel. Early aerial tramways often had pylons of reinforced concrete and ropeway conveyors had timber pylons, if they were cheaper than steel pylons.
Pylons are not designed as a stopping-off point for passengers or goods, but some are designed to allow maintenance staff access to the cars. Some pylons have built-in ladders or stairs for maintenance access, and some taller examples have an elevator. The best-known and second-tallest pylon is the Torre Jaume I in Barcelona. The tallest pylon is on the Gletscherbahn 1 at Kaprun, Austria, with a height of 113.7 metres. The tallest pylon in Switzerland, with a height of 94 metres, is used by Gant Hohtaelli Aerial Tramway.
Tallest pylons
| Name | Year built | Country | Town | Height | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacial Aerial Tramway Kaprun III | 1966 | Austria | Kaprun | 113.6 m | The tallest pylon is on the third section |
| Mississippi Aerial River Transit | 1984 | USA | New Orleans | 109 m | The tallest pylon on a gondola lift; on 87 m pile foundations; demolished 1994 |
| Torre Jaume I | 1931 | Spain | Barcelona | 107 m | Intermediate stop of the harbour aerial tramway, also observation tower |
| Gant Hohtaelli aerial tramway | Switzerland | Zermatt | 94 m | One pylon | |
| London Emirates Air Line | Early 2012 | UK | London | 88 m | North Main Tower. River Thames aerial crossing between Greenwich Peninsular and Royal Docks |
| Singapore cable car | 1972 | Singapore | Singapore | 88 m | Pylon I |
| Eibsee Aerial Tramway | 1962 | Germany | Garmisch-Partenkirchen | 85 m | Pylon II |
| Nizhny Novgorod Volga Aerial Tramway, Tower 4 & 5 | 2012 | Russia | Nizhny Novgorod | 82 m | |
| Mittersill goods aerial tramway | 194? | Austria | Mittersill | 80 m | Two pylons for a tramway that never went in service and was demolished in the 1950s. One of the pylons was built of timber, the other of steel. |
| Singapore cable car | 1972 | Singapore | Singapore | 80 m | Pylon II |
| 3S Aerial Tramway | 2004 | Austria | Kitzbühel | 80 m | One pylon |
| Torre Sant Sebastia | 1931 | Spain | Barcelona | 78 m | Terminal of harbour aerial tramway |
| Roosevelt Island Tramway | 1976 | USA | New York City | 76 m | Central pylon of commuter tramway |
| Wendelstein Aerial Tramway | 1970 | Germany | Bayerischzell-Osterhofen | 75 m | |
| Vinpearl Cable Car | 2007 | Vietnam | Nha Trang | 75 m | 7 pylons standing in the sea. Total height from sea bed is 115 m |
| Sandia Peak Tramway | 1965 | USA | Albuquerque | 70.7 m | Pylon 1, inclined at an angle of 18 degrees |
| Eibsee Aerial Tramway | 1962 | Germany | Garmisch-Partenkirchen | 65 m | Pylon I |
Gallery
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Pillar of the Glacial Aerial Tramway Kaprun III, tallest aerial lift pylon in the world
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Torre Jaume I, tallest aerial lift pylon with regular stop
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A steel truss pylon for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
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Tubular steel pylon in Funchal
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Goods transport in Nußloch
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Inclined aerial lift pylon on Genting Skyway
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Pylon of the Stanserhorn-Bahn with two bearer cables and two pull cables
See also
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aerial lift pylons. |
- http://en.structurae.de/structures/ftype/index.cfm?ID=4103
- Collection of aerial tramway support pillars on Skyscraperpage.com