Wildcat New Hampshire Gondola Salvage Project

[Track Addict]

I have had this Wildcat Mountain Gondola on the list for a number of years now. Cleaned shop and decided to get this down to do something with it.

Very historic mountain for New England and also these Gondolas were an attraction by themselves.

This Gondola was the first detachable in the USA. The Carlevaro-Savio Telecar opened in 1957 and was closed 2003. Final structure removed in 2013. Crested Butte and Sugarbush had similar gondolas installed years later.

Original colors were Red and Yellow and over the years the cars were repaired, patched, bondo/fiberglassed, and painted various colors such as purple and the baby blue.

The gondolas were scrapped, auctioned, and spread across the country early 2000's. Few are on display in NH as well as another half dozen or so hiding in plain sight in people's yards Mass and NH.

The cars also were nicknamed the "Ganj-dola" I believe for ubiquitous smell that would linger from ski's and boarders rides up. For some reason this name has stuck among my friends for this project.

Below are some links and information about the mountain and the gondola as well as some pics of my project:

http://newenglandskihistory.com/lifts/viewlift.php?id=57
http://newenglandskihistory.com/NewHampshire/wildcatmtnimages.php
http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/NewHampshire/wildcatmtn.php
http://www.skiwildcat.com/history/
http://newenglandskimuseum.org/new-hampshire-ski-history-for-4rth-graders/

 

[Track Addict]

Somewhat related is the 1953 WMTW Tucker. It spent a good portion of it's life perched atop Washington looking over Tuckerman's at these egg shaped things moving up and down the mountain.

This is the view Tucker would have had. Not a bad way to rest your pontoons.

Link to more info on that: http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=70996

 

[Track Addict]

So here is where it is at. Had it sandblasted down through the many many many many layers of it's history. They guys at the shop were excited to work on it not even knowing what it was. They called it the egg. As you can see it has been repaired numerous times and shows signs of the last 60 years outdoors.

Plan is to leave it in it's natural state of decay and powder coat back to the original red. I like the roached look and it has some character and history that is preserved and some stories to tell.

It's new life will be lived in Conway, NH as a seat for the kids to hangout in the basement. I would say this cab size is between a Kitten and a 343. One sticker from every mountain I have skied/boarded will be put on the inside and as the kids age and explore they can add to it.

It will also be sharing living space with a Cranmore Skimobile that has been resident there for the last 8 years or so which we will cover in a later project.

Hopefully back to Tuckers after this one. Stay tuned...

 

[pixie]

I've probably ridden in that one more than once since I skied at Wildcat from 1957 until 2010 or so when they cancelled our Lifetime passes….
You have no ski holders on the back ??
Didn't used to notice the pot smell as much as the smell of pee.
Hope you will make a more comfortable seat.
The floors on lots of them wore out because they would put cement blocks in them when it was windy.
You just haven't lived 'til you've been a captive in one of those when it was zero and they were clanging against the towers LOL

 

[loggah]

I think "HUMPTY DUMPTY" would be a good nickname for those things!! looks like they been cracked and repaired a few times !

 

[3512b]

Ron Stebins was my superviser at Jordan Milton ( now Milton Cati ) In Hoppington Nh when I first started with a Cat dealership.

Top of Wild Cat there was a D379 Generator powering the lift / lodge at the top.

Befor he got lazy and went in the office and parks his butt in a chair he use to do real work

He had done repair to the said engine and was headed down in a track rig and the Windows started to ice up
Wild cat a little steep so I have been told
Ron thought he valued his life more than warm hands so he stuffed his gloves
On the vent for the passengers defroster
And the Windows started to clear
The driver was amazed and told him " I been going up and down this mt and fighting ice window for 5 years and never thought of doing that!


Some time it just takes a ride along

Just heard on the raido Mt Washington that they had 110 mile per hr winds at the top last week

Glad I am in nice and warm DIllingham Alaska right now

Don't think I could stand a real winter any more!

Global warming.... Bring it on

 

[Track Addict]

zinc powder coat base. Cardinal red next!

 

[loggah]

Back in the early 70's i was working on the interstate highway for R.G.Watkins, and a couple of there heavy equipment operators groomed for Wildcat in the winters, Tink and Red by name years later when i was working at Waterville Valley i went to a seminar and a guy by the last name of Clark was equipment super at Wildcat. I mentioned Tink and Reds name and he rolled his eyes back, and said those guys were the worst !!!!! He said they ran those groomers like they were D-8 cats !!!!!

 

[DAVENET]

That thing is kick ass! Man, that would have made for a cramped ride!

 

[Track Addict]

Poof back to original red!

 

[Track Addict]

First rider approved !

 

[nikos]

Track Addict

First rider approved !

 

[Track Addict]

Bumper on. Trim coming . Got the wife to work on the seat somehow

 

[tom]

Very cool

 

[Track Addict]

Got the front window trim on and a new correct decal