Skyride (Great Adventure)
Encyclopedia
The Skyride at Six Flags Great Adventure
is one of the few remaining dual gondola lift
s in the world. It was originally built for the 1964 New York World's Fair
then moved to Great Adventure after the fair closed. The Skyride carries passengers on a 1/3 mile, four minute trip from the Fantasy Forest section of the park to the Frontier Adventures section, or vice-versa. Just about any park guest can ride as anybody under 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) in height (including children and infants who cannot sit up by themselves) may ride accompanied by a responsible adult. The Skyride is one of only three rides in the park (along with the Carousel and Big Wheel) that allows cameras to be taken on the ride.
The ride consists of two continuous cable loops, held up by six evenly-dispersed support towers. The cars hang from this moving cable, each one carrying up to four passengers (or 680 pounds). These are open cars with four seats (two rows of two, facing each other). At each station (one at Fantasy Forest, one at Frontier Adventures), a large bullwheel
with a pulley-like groove rotates the direction in which the cable is moving. Incoming cars are transferred from the moving cable to a stationary steel track, along which the wheels of each car glide. As each car enters the station, it is "caught" and brought to a stop by a park employee, who then holds the car in place and opens the door for the passengers to exit. The car is then pushed around to the other side of the wheel, where another employee steadies the car for new passengers to enter. The door is closed and locked and the car is moved into the launcher. This holds the car in place until the proper launch interval has passed. The rides computer dispatches the cars at an appropriate interval or the employee can pull a cord which allows the car to roll down a ramp (accelerating the car to the same speed as the cable) and automatically clamp onto the cable. 2 safety sensors check to make sure the car is properly clamped onto the cable. If they fail the check the ride automatically shuts down and maintenance checks the latch before restarting the ride. Once on the cable, the wheels above each cabin are not used, but the cable transporting it is gripped by a clamp between the wheels.
In addition to loading and unloading the cars, each of the stations performs a substantially different function. The Fantasy Forest station is the "Drive" station, its bullwheel
is driven by a large electric motor
, with a backup diesel engine
used to unload the ride in case of a power outage
. The diesel engines were replaced by Volkswagen Beetle
motors in 2007. The cars are stored on sidetracks off to the side of this station when not being used.
The Frontier Adventures station is the "Tension" station, its bullwheel
is linked to a 14-ton
counterweight
underneath the station. The counterweight keeps the cable tight and prevents the cable from falling all the way down should it slip off one of the towers. This station has a single sidetrack for storing cars during breakdowns, but is not normally used for storing cars.
The Frontier Adventures station is not wheelchair accessible, so guests who use wheelchairs may board at the Fantasy Forest station, leave their wheelchair in the station, and take a round trip (which is not otherwise allowed). Wheelchairs, strollers, large stuffed prizes, and other bulky items can be transported in their own car if necessary and picked up by their owners upon reaching the end of the ride.
The Skyride originally had many more cars than it currently has, it ran with at least 30 cars per side at the World's Fair with a launch interval of 12 seconds. It currently runs up to 20 cars per side with a launch interval of 25 seconds. The cars currently in service were relocated from Six Flags Great America
in Gurnee, IL, when the Southern Cross and Eagle's Flight Skyride were removed in order to make room for the construction of additional attractions. Two of the original World's Fair cars, with their roofs removed, are currently used as maintenance cars.
The Skyride does not run in winds exceeding 25 mi/h. High winds can push against the cars hard enough that the cable could fall off a tower. If this did happen, safety devices on the tower would stop the cable and the counterweight would keep the cable from falling all the way to the ground. For the same reason, passengers are prohibited from shaking the cars. One of the towers is fitted with an anemometer
. When the wind speed reaches 20 mi/h, a warning buzzer sounds in the Fantasy Forest station. When the wind speed reaches 25 mi/h, both cables automatically stop. At this point, the ride must be unloaded and closed, and must remain closed until one hour has passed without the wind reaching 25 mi/h. It is also closed for any thunderstorm
or other severe weather. It will normally be one of the first rides to close when severe weather is approaching the park, and one of the last rides to reopen once the severe weather passes. The cable for each side is usually replaced every ten years.
This skyride is a classic Von Roll type 101.
The Skyride is one of the more difficult rides in the park to operate, since it is operated manually and the cable never stops moving during normal operation. The loader is responsible for maintaining the correct spacing between cars. This is done by launching each car when the previous car has reached a predetermined point on the cable, which is generally between reaching the first tower and half way to the second on the Fantasy Forrest side, and almost to the first tower on the Frontier Adventures side. There is also a "Auto-Launch" feature that sends the cars once they are locked into place in the launch mechanism. He is also responsible for making sure the guests are riding safely and that the car door is secure. The unloader must be strong enough to catch and stop the cars, as they weigh over 1000 pounds fully loaded and come into the station at the full line speed of 12 mi/h. He must also be fully alert and aware of the incoming cars at all times, otherwise a car could come into the station uncontrolled and crash into the cars in the station, or even derail. The unloader could even be hit by an incoming car if he's standing too close and not paying attention.
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
is one of the few remaining dual gondola lift
Gondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
s in the world. It was originally built for the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
then moved to Great Adventure after the fair closed. The Skyride carries passengers on a 1/3 mile, four minute trip from the Fantasy Forest section of the park to the Frontier Adventures section, or vice-versa. Just about any park guest can ride as anybody under 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) in height (including children and infants who cannot sit up by themselves) may ride accompanied by a responsible adult. The Skyride is one of only three rides in the park (along with the Carousel and Big Wheel) that allows cameras to be taken on the ride.
The ride consists of two continuous cable loops, held up by six evenly-dispersed support towers. The cars hang from this moving cable, each one carrying up to four passengers (or 680 pounds). These are open cars with four seats (two rows of two, facing each other). At each station (one at Fantasy Forest, one at Frontier Adventures), a large bullwheel
Bullwheel
A bullwheel is a large wheel on which a rope turns, such as in a chairlift. In that application, the bullwheel that is attached to the prime mover is called the drive bullwheel, with the other known as the return bullwheel....
with a pulley-like groove rotates the direction in which the cable is moving. Incoming cars are transferred from the moving cable to a stationary steel track, along which the wheels of each car glide. As each car enters the station, it is "caught" and brought to a stop by a park employee, who then holds the car in place and opens the door for the passengers to exit. The car is then pushed around to the other side of the wheel, where another employee steadies the car for new passengers to enter. The door is closed and locked and the car is moved into the launcher. This holds the car in place until the proper launch interval has passed. The rides computer dispatches the cars at an appropriate interval or the employee can pull a cord which allows the car to roll down a ramp (accelerating the car to the same speed as the cable) and automatically clamp onto the cable. 2 safety sensors check to make sure the car is properly clamped onto the cable. If they fail the check the ride automatically shuts down and maintenance checks the latch before restarting the ride. Once on the cable, the wheels above each cabin are not used, but the cable transporting it is gripped by a clamp between the wheels.
In addition to loading and unloading the cars, each of the stations performs a substantially different function. The Fantasy Forest station is the "Drive" station, its bullwheel
Bullwheel
A bullwheel is a large wheel on which a rope turns, such as in a chairlift. In that application, the bullwheel that is attached to the prime mover is called the drive bullwheel, with the other known as the return bullwheel....
is driven by a large electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
, with a backup diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
used to unload the ride in case of a power outage
Power outage
A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...
. The diesel engines were replaced by Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
motors in 2007. The cars are stored on sidetracks off to the side of this station when not being used.
The Frontier Adventures station is the "Tension" station, its bullwheel
Bullwheel
A bullwheel is a large wheel on which a rope turns, such as in a chairlift. In that application, the bullwheel that is attached to the prime mover is called the drive bullwheel, with the other known as the return bullwheel....
is linked to a 14-ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
counterweight
Counterweight
A counterweight is an equivalent counterbalancing weight that balances a load.-Uses:A counterweight is often used in traction lifts , cranes and funfair rides...
underneath the station. The counterweight keeps the cable tight and prevents the cable from falling all the way down should it slip off one of the towers. This station has a single sidetrack for storing cars during breakdowns, but is not normally used for storing cars.
The Frontier Adventures station is not wheelchair accessible, so guests who use wheelchairs may board at the Fantasy Forest station, leave their wheelchair in the station, and take a round trip (which is not otherwise allowed). Wheelchairs, strollers, large stuffed prizes, and other bulky items can be transported in their own car if necessary and picked up by their owners upon reaching the end of the ride.
The Skyride originally had many more cars than it currently has, it ran with at least 30 cars per side at the World's Fair with a launch interval of 12 seconds. It currently runs up to 20 cars per side with a launch interval of 25 seconds. The cars currently in service were relocated from Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
in Gurnee, IL, when the Southern Cross and Eagle's Flight Skyride were removed in order to make room for the construction of additional attractions. Two of the original World's Fair cars, with their roofs removed, are currently used as maintenance cars.
The Skyride does not run in winds exceeding 25 mi/h. High winds can push against the cars hard enough that the cable could fall off a tower. If this did happen, safety devices on the tower would stop the cable and the counterweight would keep the cable from falling all the way to the ground. For the same reason, passengers are prohibited from shaking the cars. One of the towers is fitted with an anemometer
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
. When the wind speed reaches 20 mi/h, a warning buzzer sounds in the Fantasy Forest station. When the wind speed reaches 25 mi/h, both cables automatically stop. At this point, the ride must be unloaded and closed, and must remain closed until one hour has passed without the wind reaching 25 mi/h. It is also closed for any thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
or other severe weather. It will normally be one of the first rides to close when severe weather is approaching the park, and one of the last rides to reopen once the severe weather passes. The cable for each side is usually replaced every ten years.
This skyride is a classic Von Roll type 101.
The Skyride is one of the more difficult rides in the park to operate, since it is operated manually and the cable never stops moving during normal operation. The loader is responsible for maintaining the correct spacing between cars. This is done by launching each car when the previous car has reached a predetermined point on the cable, which is generally between reaching the first tower and half way to the second on the Fantasy Forrest side, and almost to the first tower on the Frontier Adventures side. There is also a "Auto-Launch" feature that sends the cars once they are locked into place in the launch mechanism. He is also responsible for making sure the guests are riding safely and that the car door is secure. The unloader must be strong enough to catch and stop the cars, as they weigh over 1000 pounds fully loaded and come into the station at the full line speed of 12 mi/h. He must also be fully alert and aware of the incoming cars at all times, otherwise a car could come into the station uncontrolled and crash into the cars in the station, or even derail. The unloader could even be hit by an incoming car if he's standing too close and not paying attention.