Open Seasonal
In 1913, a group of Spanish businessmen proposed the building of a cable car across the width of the Whirlpool from Canadian terminus to Canadian terminus. They negotiated an agreement with the Niagara Parks Commission to operate a passenger cable car. The permission of the State of New York and US Government needed to be obtained before construction began because the proposed route momentarily eclipsed the international border in the middle of the Whirlpool crossing. The Spanish Aero Car was built in Bilboa, Spain. It was designed by Spanish engineer Leonardo Torre-Quevedo (1852-1939). The basic design was based upon a similar cable car at Mount Ulia in Spain which carried fourteen passengers at a time. The Spanish Aero Car was designed to travel 1,770 feet (539m) across the Whirlpool from Canadian terminus at Colt's Point (where the ticket office is located and where passengers embark) to Canadian terminal at Thompson Point, at a height of 250 feet (76 meters) above the surface of the turbulent waters. The Aero Car has a capacity of 40 persons. The Spanish Aero Car operates on a back and forth principal. It is propelled by a single 60 horsepower engine which drives a 7/8 inch (2.23cm) steel looped cable. It is suspended by six - one (1) inch (2.54cm) steel cables. Each cable is attached to an anchorage at one end while tension is maintained by a 10 ton counterweight at the other end.
Question: How did they get the cables across the Whirlpool? Answer: Small lengthy ropes were attached in increasing diameter to the cables. The ropes were walked on land around the outer diameter of the Whirlpool from Colts' Point to Thompson Point. Each rope was then hoisted to the level of the winches which in turn pulled the cable to there current locations and height.
the Whirlpool Aero Car crossing the Whirlpool approaching Colt's Point where passengers embark/disembark
Auxiliary power for the Spanish Aero Car for the first forty-five years consisted of a small Buick engine. The Spanish Aero Car began operation on August 8th 1916. The initial installation cost was $120,000. There has never been an accident or injury since the Spanish Aero Car began operations. From 1916 until 1961, the Spanish Aero car was operated under the management of the Booker family.
In 1961, the Spanish Aero Car and all of its assets was purchased by A. Blake Robertson. During his ownership, Robertson installed a system of electromagnetic and a hand operated brakes acting upon a fifteen inch diameter brake drum. The new brakes automatically stopped and held the Aero Car at the station or in the event of a power failure. Other improvements included a modern 60 horsepower gasoline engine connected by means of a chain drive and friction clutch replaced the old auxiliary power system.
the Spanish Aero Car approaching Thompson Point while crossing the Whirlpool
In 1968, Mr. Robertson sold the Spanish Aero Car to the Niagara Parks Commission. In 1984, the Niagara Parks Commission conducted an extensive overhaul of the Spanish Aero Car which included replacing the wheels, cables and electrical circuits. The original cables lasted thirty-five years before being replaced.
A view of the Niagara Gorge from the Whirlpool Aero Car
In case of any emergencies, a small rescue car is kept inside the cave at the Thompson Point terminus. The rescue car can hold six persons and was installed as a backup unit in 1985. The Spanish Aero Car attracts approximately 220,000 people each year. During the Winter of 1999-2000, the Niagara Parks Commission operated the Spanish Aero Car for the first time on a year round basis. The Aero car was specially outfitted for cold and inclement weather with a Plexiglas enclosure to protect riders from the outside elements. This experiment ended the following year because of financial constraints and a lack of substantial number of riders. In 2004, the Niagara Parks Commission changed the name of this attraction from the Spanish Aero Car to the Whirlpool Aero Car.
A
close-up view of the Whirlpool Aero
Car equipped for Winter operations.
A close-up view of the Niagara Gorge from the Whirlpool Aero Car
THANK YOU FOR VISITING Niagara
Falls
a
history
|
||||||||||||||
