Rettet die VR101!

[Pilatus]

Hat man die Masten mit Gerüstbauteilen erstellt? Lustig sind auch die Baumaschinen von Ammann...

[vonroll101]

I noticed the scafolding too just for the tower.Even A wooden tower.

[Wombat]

@vonRoll101
Some Postcards from this Chairlift.
http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t280 ... Bern/Thun/

[vonroll101]

@vonRoll101
Some Postcards from this Chairlift.
http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t280 ... Bern/Thun/

Much thanks Wombat.. Allways love looking and learning the history on all Vonroll VR101s..

[Petz]

Hab das Video mit der Textankündigung der Abbruchgenehmigung der Weissensteinbahn gefunden:

Direktlink

Der Bund hat das Projekt für eine neue Seilbahn auf den Solothurner Hausberg Weissenstein bewilligt und die Konzession erteilt. Das Bundesamt für Verkehr bewilligte auch den Rückbau der historischen Sesselbahn, die seit über zwei Jahren nicht mehr in Betrieb ist. Traurig für einen wahren Seilbahnfan.

[Dieseltom]

[vonroll101]

Trying to find out any recent news on the last vr101 in Switzerland?Is it saved or what?Thank You!..

[Petz]

As far as i know the owner of the VR101 had offered it to the "Verkehrshaus Zürich" for free if they will overtake the whole removement of all old cableway parts too. But the guys neither have the funds nor the place to store or reerect the VR101 so in my opinion it surely will be scrapped.

[vonroll101]

That is interesting Markus.I thought the swiss historical society won the case as to it being historical?Something about the bav?

[Petz]

The declaration as a historic monument wouldn´t allow the further use of the cableway.
The european cableway regulations (which the non european community member Switzerland had overtaken point per point) doesn´t allow to give operating licences for cableways impossible hangers to pass at the depression towers when rope is derailed. No exceptions for historic ropeways are foreseen in any way; the operating licence ended with the abadonment agreement and nobody would be able to get a new one.
Based at this facts i unfortunately only see the blast furnance at the end... :

[vonroll101]

Do you think since its historical the swiss regulators might wave the regulations?

[Petz]

They could but i´m sure this will not happen cause in this case the existing Giovanola cableway owners would request exceptions too and that could never be tolerated.

[TPD]

I agree it's quite impossible to rebuilt this lift at an other place. For that they will never get a licence.
But an extension of the operation licence might be possible.
For example this week a gondola with Giovanola grips, gets the second or third time an extension of the licence for one year.

[vonroll101]

Why cant they build the new gondola right next to the vonroll and have the vonroll operate on special occasions or weekends?

[Petz]

I think the licence prolongation could be possible when a replacement is planned and done in the next future, i know such cases from Italy too. But there is a difference between a prologation or a new licence; in my opinion seen from the justice point of view the Weissenstein licence ended with the authorities new cableway building and VR101 abadonment decision. So it would be necessary to get a new licence for the VR101 unindependent from using the same place or a different one. The only chance to see it again in operation would be a transfer/reerecting to countries without the strict european and similar laws like countries in South America or Asia. Otherwise it only can be used as a static non operable monument.

[vonroll101]

That is very interesting Markus. thank you.As Switzerland outlaws vr101s here is the usa we have a similar issue.Any vonroll vr101 cant be relocated here.Due to ansi codes.Here in case,The Bronx Zoo VR101 got relocated to columbia.I can see the point as to swiss regulations,but to make a exception would be a great move for the people of Switzerland or they would half to fly out to the usa to ride a vr101.

[Pilatus]

As far as I know it isn't a problem of regulation... I heard that the regulation just says that a chairlift has to be safe. What safe is, is an interpretation that is made by the admission board.

[vonroll101]

Its safe..Been in operation since 1950..The longjevity of a Vonroll..

[Pilatus]

Its safe..Been in operation since 1950..The longjevity of a Vonroll..

Yes... The only real problem at the moment is the company that owns the chairlift. And they will probabliy go to win this dispute...

[vonroll101]

i thought it was diagnosed as historic?
So they cant remove it?

[Petz]

The question would be if "historic" means a monument protection too or not. But the protection too will not allow any form of using the cableway in the future. Based at the technical justified refusal of the clamp by the european authority i don´t believe that the cableway could be classified as "save".

[vonroll101]

But since its the last one in Switzerland,would they or could they make an exception.

[Petz]

But since its the last one in Switzerland

This is no argument for an authority that has to secure the safety of a system when the technical based facts are speaking against the VR - clamp too.
For example a sliding VR - clamp can be seen at Felix Gross´s video:

Direktlink


But i don´t know any reports that the gravity supported Giovanola clamp ever did the same so i think the Giovanola is the better and more safe clamp construction and this might be the reason why some Giovanola system based cableways got a short time licence prolongation.

[vonroll101]

The former Six Flags Magic Mountain Skyride was a Intamin ride with Giovanola grips,Accident when the grip slipped all the way down a incline.about 30 feet.Empty car at least.After that the ride was removed.I have heard of vr101 grips slipping if the jaws are worn or wear plates.Or if it wasnt put together correctly.Im not shure how the Geovanola clamps work,but the vr101s i do very well.

[Pilatus]

@ Petz: Ich habe durchaus gehört, dass die Aufsichtsbehörden kein Problem mit einer Renovation hätten. Die Anlage steht ja auch nicht unter Heimatschutz o.Ä. Das Seilbahninventar ist ja kein Schutzverzeichnis, sondern eher eine Schutzempfehlung. Das Problem liegt beim Betreiber, wenn der mitmachen würde, liefe der Lift schon lange wieder. Vermutlich wird sie aber abgerissen.