Written By Ken Hulsey
It may be hard to believe, but the Sandia Mountains just outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, offer a slice of the Swiss Alps. Back in 1978, my family moved from a flat, small farming town in northern Texas (Vernon) to this dramatic landscape, and I was awestruck by the majestic mountains. I loved stepping outside and seeing those peaks every day.
Now, I find myself living in the flat farmlands of central Louisiana, and my heart longs for the mountains and pine forests of the West and Southwest. There's nothing quite like the soothing sound of wind whipping through pine trees.
My family and I were surprised to learn that the world's longest aerial tramway wasn't in the Swiss Alps, but rather in the Sandias. For years, I wanted to ride the tramway, but my fear of heights made me reluctant. One day, friends convinced me to do it, and it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. The thrill of ascending the mountain, with its unique views of the surrounding peaks and Albuquerque below, was almost spiritual. I wish I had ridden the tramway on a snowy day, as the images must be spectacular.
The iconic Sandia Peak Tramway has ferried over 12 million passengers to the top of Sandia Peak and back since its debut in May 1966. Located on the eastern edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city, the tram is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Central New Mexico.
The tram's construction was inspired by a trip to Europe taken by Robert Nordhaus, one of the original founders and owners of the Sandia Peak Ski Company. Nordhaus returned with the idea of building a tram similar to those he had experienced in Europe. Partnering with Ben Abruzzo, they brought this vision to life, connecting Albuquerque to the top of Sandia Peak and providing skiers with efficient, scenic transportation, avoiding a treacherous, winding mountain road.
Turning the tram from concept to reality was a complex, multi-year process. It involved city and state hearings, financial planning, and navigating both public interest and skepticism. Given the challenging terrain, extensive topographical, foundation, and geological engineering studies were required, with an engineer from the U.S. Forest Service also assigned to the project.
At the heart of this breathtaking landscape is the Sandia Peak Tramway - a 2.7 mile long, bi-cable double reversible aerial tramway. The two tramcars are attached to the hauling cables, with the weight of the descending car helping to pull the ascending one. As the cars pass midway, they soar nearly 1,000 feet above the ground, moving at a typical speed of 20 ft/sec or 13.6 mph. A 600 horsepower electric winch motor powers the main drive, and an auxiliary Ford industrial engine is on hand in case of a power failure to return the cars to the terminals.
For added safety, each of the four 100,000 pound track cables is stronger than required to support a single car, and the cars travel over two such cables. The original track cables were replaced in 1997 with the assistance of Swiss cable experts. The tramcars are also equipped with automatic track cable brakes that would engage in an emergency, firmly holding the cars in place.
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