On Monday, a sudden technical fault in Gulmarg Gondola, Asia’s highest and world’s second largest and longest cable car (ropeway) in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, scared everyone. Due to this malfunction, the ropeway stopped in the air and about 300 tourists got stuck at a height of hundreds of feet. The administration immediately started the rescue operation and started evacuating the tourists safely. But do you know how the technology of cable car works and how it is able to lift weight thousands of feet above. Let us know.
How ropeway technology works
The ropeway or Gondola cable car system is a perfect combination of mechanical and electrical engineering. In this, big wheels i.e. driving pulleys are installed at the stations, which are rotated by a powerful electric motor. A strong steel cable with a continuous loop rotates continuously around these pulleys. When the main motor drives the pulley, it pulls the entire steel rope forward, thereby moving the cabins rigidly connected to the main cable from one station to another.
Speed control technology of ropeway
Detachable mechanism technology is used in modern ropeways for the convenience and safety of passengers. When a cabin reaches the station, it is automatically separated from the main high-speed cable with the help of a special grip. There are small tires installed inside the station, which move the cabin very slowly so that passengers can disembark and board safely. When the cabin leaves the station to return, these tires increase its speed and it is again firmly connected to the main cable.
Cable car tower and roller work
On the long route between two stations, big pillars or towers are installed at various places to support the heavy cables in the air. Special rollers made of rubber and steel are installed on the upper part of these towers, through which the heavy cable slides forward easily. These rollers maintain the cable at a certain height in the air and on the right path so that it does not hang down. It is because of these towers that cable cars are able to travel between the mountains at a height of hundreds of feet without any hindrance.
How much weight can a cable car lift?
Large ropeway systems like the Gulmarg Gondola are designed under extremely stringent safety standards. Normally, six to eight adult passengers can easily sit in one of its cabins or cars. If we talk about weight, a cabin is fully capable of carrying a load of around 600 to 800 kg. Many cabins run simultaneously on the entire ropeway line, so the main steel cable is made in such a way that it can withstand the weight of several tons and the huge wind pressure simultaneously.
What are the arrangements for brakes and safety?
For the safety of tourists, this entire technology includes several levels of security circles and automatic brakes. If ever the main power goes out or there is any fault in the motor, the emergency brakes installed in the system are immediately activated and stop the cable car in place. Apart from this, a second diesel engine is also always kept ready as a backup in case the main motor fails. This backup engine works to safely transport the cabins stuck in the air to the nearest station by running the cable at a very slow speed.
Are these reasons responsible for accidents?
There can be many different technical reasons for a failure in a ropeway system. Many times, due to sudden strong wind or bad weather, the sensors automatically lock the system for safety. Apart from this, the cable car also stops midway due to malfunction in the wheels that rotate the cable, sudden fluctuations in power supply or malfunction in the electronic control panel. Sometimes such problems are seen in mechanical parts due to extreme cold and snowfall in places like Gulmarg.
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