Cableway & Technology, SI World 2/2022
Inauen-Schätti: An Inclined elevator for a monument
Provincetown lies at the tip of Cape Cod in the US state of Massachusetts. The town on the Atlantic coast is known for its beaches and natural harbour, for the artists who live in the town and above all as a tourist destination – especially for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The emblem of the town is the Pilgrim Monument, which commemorates the first landing of European immigrants. The 76-metre- high Italianate tower and the neighbouring town museum are situated on a 24-metre-high hill. They are therefore somewhat separated from the town centre and the harbour. Until now, visitors to the two attractions have travelled by car or had an onerous trek on foot. There was no convenient connection between the waterfront promenade and the destination on the hill.
The inclined lift connects the harbourside town centre of Provincetown with the Pilgrim Monument and town museum on the hill.
The museum operator – a private foundation – therefore approached consulting company Outdoor Engineers to find an appropriate ascent aid. The decision in favour of an inclined elevator was made quickly, as the terrain is ideal, the transport capacity is right and a historic model already existed: a rail-mounted material cable car was used previously, when the monument was constructed.
Outdoor Engineers therefore passed on the order to Swiss manufacturer INAUEN-SCHÄTTI, the world leader for inclined elevators. “Even in Europe, the market is fairly small, but in the USA there are hardly any companies that produce publicly authorised inclined elevators. By contrast, we have decades of experience in the implementation of inclined elevators,” Project Manager Thomas Müller emphasises the unique selling point.
Thomas Müller, Project Manager INAUEN-SCHÄTTI
Gondola for 18 people
INAUEN-SCHÄTTI supplied an inclined elevator in the “Comfort” model. This offers space for 18 people – and allows a transport capacity of 360 people per hour and direction. “The inclined elevator forms the ideal link between the car park on the hill and the car park at the harbour,” Müller stresses.
Guests can redeem a ticket either in the museum ticket office at the top and then travel down, or at the ticket machine at the bottom and then travel up. “In both cases, the panoramic glass affords passengers magnificent views of the town, the ocean and the monument,” the Project Manager says. Operation is fully automated and available during museum opening hours.
Technically, with revolving cables, the system runs with no counterweight; the tension drive is located beneath the top station. Regarding the stations: these have been designed very subtly – at the bottom as a little house, and at the top as a minimised stop, so as not to detract from views of the Pilgrim Monument.
Technical specifications :
| Type | Comfort |
| Transport capacity | 360 p/h/direction |
| Horizontal length | 37 m |
| Altitude difference | 24 m |
| Travel distance | 44 m |
| Gradient | 33 |
| Travel speed | 1.2 m/s |
| Drive power | 37 kW |
| Stops | 2 |
| Gondolas | 1 |
| Load capacity | 18 p/1.350 kg |
Land of bureaucracy
The biggest challenges were in the planning phase. “The USA is the land of the free, but also of bureaucracy,” Müller summarises his experience. Together with local geologists and engineers, INAUEN- SCHÄTTI took into account numerous factors, such as historic preservation, the townscape, legal provisions, environmental conservation and good neighbourliness.
“The collaboration worked very well via weekly video chats, and I made an initial visit at the outset,” Müller says. One particular factor in Massachusetts: inclined elevators can be operated only be local, certified companies. “We therefore looked for and found a classic elevator provider to undertake this task – who is also responsible for future maintenance and servicing,” Müller reports. The package of spare parts supplied is in stock with the partner.
Even the logistics ran smoothly – with the exception of a harbour backlog in New York, as a result of the pandemic. However, after ten days, two lorries were found, which drove the two containers to Provincetown – fully laden with rails, steps, cables, chassis, drive, doors and controller.
Installation was undertaken by local workers, under the direction of a cable car expert from INAUEN-SCHÄTTI. “We received the order in February 2019, and acceptance of the inclined elevator took place in the summer of 2021,” Müller summarises the project. Practical testing will now follow in April 2022 – as that is when the Pilgrim Monument will once again open its doors to the many visitors.
