How Cable Cars Work and Detach From The Cable

Cable car or aerial tramway, ropeway, chairlift is a popular transportation method used in many different terrains. Today it is very popular in many tourist destinations, and some places use cable car as a transportation for daily commute. Let's see how cable car system works!

[bhv]

Omg thank you! On my recent ski trips i always wondered what is the mechanics of these cars how these cars are slowing down and this demonstration was the easiest to be understand for me on all Youtube! Thanks man, keep up the great modelling videos! :)

[steveburkey]

Thanks for this. Another item in this is how the cars accelerate back up to the cable speed. Each of the rubber tires turns a bit faster, so that when the grip grabs the rope, they are both going the same speed. Otherwise, the rope would quickly wear out.

[emrekaya]

Once, I had watched and observed how they move slower at the stations than between the pylons, but I couldn't figure it out. That was an epic explanation. Thank you

[mcohn]

Fantastic explanation! I just got back from riding Disney’s Skyliner gondola and the detachable grip looks exactly as you drew it. While my family was enjoying the ride (like normal people) I was trying to sort out how it all worked. I got pretty close, but your video got me the rest of the way. That you so much for this concise and informative video!

[h.a.]

I love riding these cable cars, the detachable ones always have this nice acceleration when they leave the station, it's kinda like being in an airplane.

What fascinates me about these is that the clamps hold the car in place merely by a set of springs and applying friction. It's kinda weird to think that in the mountains, you're above ground by dozens of meters, a kilometer away from the ground station and all that keeps your car attached to the cable is a mere clamp lol.

By the way, in the Kleinwalsertal in Austria, I've seen a cable car with a really clever design:
Basically, two cable car lines that are connected via a mid-station. The cable car leaves the ground station, reaches the mid station (with it's return bullwheel for the ground station and another drive wheel for the upper station), where it is detached from cable 1 and slowly moves through the station, continues on straight towards the cable 2 and then continues upwards to the mountain top.

You can easily and conveniently get into or out of the cable car in the middle of the ride and depending on necessity, the two lines can be run seperately, cause there's a set of switches in the middle station.

[udaynayak]

Recently I rode in cable car and I surprised with this mechanism. It was not clear to me how it detached and joined with the cable. Here you explained it very clearly. Thanks.

[Aratastic]

Thank you for this! My 4 year old was very curious about cable cars and had a lot of questions I simply didn't have the answer to.

[ourgracefulearth]

I've always been fascinated by cable cars but never completely understood the mechanics of them. Thank you for such detailed explanation! Very cool!!!

[gustavsidekick]

Been to Austria last week for holidays and I couldn’t stop wrapping my mind around how the cars detach from the cable 😁that’s just the video I was looking for!

[timetravelingtraveler]

My teacher told us to make an elevator. I offered to make one of these for extra points. This looks hella hard to replicate, but thank you for showing me the right path!

[MykolaDolgalov]

This is very helpful, thank you. I've been fascinated by these cable car mechanisms since I saw them first in Switzerland 20 years ago. Now my 9 years old son is asking me how our variable speed chair lifts work exactly (as I already explained to him that the chair is temporarily transferred to a slower cable for boarding). Now we'll be able to watch this video. What's interesting, I got this suggestion without searching.

[miguelash]

I saw this mechanism in Switzerland a few years ago. I was trying to remember how it works and I stumbled upon you video. Great explanation, thank you!

[abuanwp]

Now I know how safe they are and it only detaches within terminals.
There are a Lot of cable cars here in Taiwan and I only ride them once because they are the detachable ones.
But this video convinced me they are safe.

[pidotshukri]

FINALLY..
I was going to Langkawi(Malaysia) 2-3 times and always thinking about the function.
Finally someone can give my sleep well.
Thanks for the video.
FROM MALAYSIA.

[royshashibrock]

Thank heaven for videos like this one...no BS, just precise and accurate information. One like awarded.

[francismallard]

This is an excellent explanation and visual representation. Thank you! I love skiing but had always been uneasy on the chairlifts. now that I see how they work, I'm much more comfortable. thank you!

[milquetoastmusic]

Boarding and unboarding was a totally mystery until now. Thank you for the video.

[TazExprez]

Thanks for making this. I have wondered how cable cars work and now I know.

[pixiearchive]

Thank you！Straight to the point. Easy to understand. It's hard to find such concise video online.

[pulotokathu]

One of life's curiosities satisfied. Ty