Scores are relative 0–100 marks within this atlas. Use them to browse, not as an engineering spec.
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Quick answers
Which local authority or corridor rules matter for this type?
Start with the local lens: type approval, operator licences and the hubs named on this page — not a single global checklist.
Is this a buying guide?
No. Tool-Lifes /vehicles is an educational atlas. It explains history, systems and culture without affiliate rankings.
Are the scores official?
No. The six scores are relative editorial 0–100 marks across the twenty-four types on this site.
Where do the photos come from?
Lead images resolve from Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia titles on the English masters, with licences recorded on the credits page.
Why metric units?
Metric is the default. Regional notes (US customary, local brand culture) appear in culture and market chapters.
How is this different from a wiki article?
Each type gets seven fixed-depth chapters, comparable scores and cross-type labs — structured for browsing, not a single freeform page.
Every Cable car is a negotiated stack of structure, energy conversion, control and human interfaces under weather and regulation.
The systems, meters and hotspots below are type-level engineering — manufacturers vary; load paths and failure modes do not.
Systems
Haul rope & bullwheel
Steel wire rope loops over drive and return bullwheels; tension maintained by counterweight or hydraulic tensioner.
Grip & carrier
Detachable grips latch onto moving rope at stations; fixed-grip chairs stay attached continuously.
Tower & sheave line
Intermediate towers support sheaves that guide rope path over terrain gaps.
Drive station & motor
Electric motor with backup diesel drives bullwheel through gearbox and service brake.
Emergency brake & anti-rollback
Rail or rope brakes hold carriers if overspeed or rope break detected.
Loading platform & gates
Slow zones at stations allow passenger embark; interlocks stop rope if gate open.
Relative meters
Hotspots
Rope wear
Broken wires and diameter loss mandate retirement per tramway code.
Grip slippage
Worn grip jaws slip on steep grades causing spacing errors.
Sheave bearing
Tower sheave seizure flattens rope and increases vibration.
Line surge
Sudden stop sends wave along rope, slamming carriers together.
Door interlock fault
False open signal halts line in high season queues.
Materials
Improved plow steel rope
High tensile wire with lubricated core resists bending over sheaves.
Ductile iron grip jaws
Machined jaws match rope diameter for detachable systems.
Galvanized tower steel
Lattice towers resist wind and ice loading over decades.
Composite carrier shells
Light cabins reduce rope load and tower sizing.