Whirlpool Aero Car
Whirlpool Aero Car , also known as the Spanish Aero Car , is a cable car that crosses the almost circular whirlpool of the Whirlpool Rapids in the Niagara River around four kilometers downstream from Niagara Falls .
The two stations are on opposite sides of the whirlpool, both of which are on the Canadian left side of the river, which leaves the pool at an approx. 90 ° angle. The 530 meter long journey begins and ends at a height of 86 meters above the river; in the middle, the cable car is still 42 meters high. The route leads over the American national territory, which protrudes almost at right angles into the vortex basin , so that the US-American border is crossed four times in a round trip. One has a view of the rapids, the whirlpool and, further downstream, the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations on the left and Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant on the right, American side.
The cable car goes back to an idea by J. Enoch Thompson and was built in 1913 by The Niagara Spanish Aerocar Co. Limited according to plans by Leonardo Torres Quevedo . It was opened on August 8, 1916. Renovation work took place in 1961, 1967 and 1984.
The cable car has only one vehicle, a large, red, rectangular, roofed cage for 35 people, which hangs from a yellow structure similar to an arched bridge, which, with rollers attached to its corners, travels on three carrying ropes running along its sides.
From a technical point of view, it is a special form of an aerial tramway or a broad-gauge winch aerial cableway with six suspension ropes (25 mm diameter) and a pull rope attached in the middle. It is driven by an electric motor with 37 kW and travels at around 7 km / h. A diesel engine is available for emergencies. There is also a rescue gondola for four people, but it has never had to be used except for exercises.
The Whirlpool Aero Car is only in operation from April to November.
A board with the following text was attached to the cable car:
"NIAGARA SPANISH AERO CAR
Leonardo Torres Quevedo (1852-1936) was an ingenious Spanish engineer. Among his creations were algebraic machines, remote control devices, dirigibles and the world's first computer.The Niagara Spanish Aero Car was designed by Leonardo Torress Quevedo and represented a new type of aerial cable way that he called "transbordador". Officially opened on August 8, 1916, it is the only one of its kind in existence.
The Niagara Parks Commission 1991 "
“ NIAGARA SPANISH AERO CAR
Leonardo Torres Quevedo (1852–1936) was a brilliant Spanish engineer. Among his creations were algebraic machines, remote-controlled devices, airships, and the world's first computers.The Niagara Spanish Aero Car was designed by Leonardo Torres Quevedo and represents a new type of cable car that he called transbordador . Officially opened on August 8, 1916, it is the only one of its kind in existence.
The Niagara Parks Administration 1991 "
Web links
- Spanish Aerocar with historical recordings
- Description (English)
- Historical postcards
- Blackboard on the cable car
Coordinates: 43 ° 7 ′ 4.4 ″ N , 79 ° 4 ′ 7.9 ″ W.