August 16th, 2021 … Summer of Fun continues! Day 20 Route 66 Caravan – Albuquerque, NM

This morning we took the Tram up to the Scandia Mountain Peak. Charlie did not come, as he was waiting for the Mobile RV Repair man to return. We were very lucky, our check engine light came on as we were pulling into the campground. The service sent a guy out yesterday, he diagnosed it and was coming back this morning to make the repairs. We are so blessed! At least Charlie has beautiful scenery to look at while he is watching the guy work!

Rising from the hustle and bustle of Albuquerque, we ascended to one of America’s most stunning urban peaks. Reaching the 10,378-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains, an 11,000 square mile panoramic view awaits you. It’s an elevation of the body, mind, and soul in a mere 15 minutes.

Who had this crazy idea and why? A trip to Europe by Robert Nordhaus, who was one of the original founders and owners of the Sandia Peak Ski Company, inspired construction of the tramway. Nordhaus came back with the idea of a tram similar to those he rode in Europe and, with partner Ben Abruzzo, they made the idea a reality. It would connect Albuquerque to the top of Sandia Peak, combining first-rate views with efficient transportation for skiers, avoiding a half-hour or more drive on an icy, curving mountain road.

The tram took two years to move from idea to construction project. Its development was marked by city and state hearings, financial planning, interest and skepticism on the part of the public. Because of the difficult terrain, topographical engineering, foundation engineering, and studies of the geology were required. An engineer from the US Forest Service was also assigned to the project. It took more than 5,000 helicopter trips up and down the mountain airlifting men and materials to build the tram.

The tram cables are supported by only two towers between the terminals. Tower one, located at an elevation of 7,010 feet, is 232 feet tall. Tower one leans at an 18 degree angle to evenly support the cables between the lower terminal and tower two. As a result, the top of tower one is offset more than 70 feet out from the center of the tower base. Several 40 foot deep stressed steel rod anchors hold the towers in place.

Tower two, located at a breathtaking 8,750 feet, is 80 feet tall. Helicopters were used to construct this tower as the terrain was too difficult to build a construction road to ascend the rocky face to the required tower location. Tower two took 2,000 of the 5,000 helicopter rides required to build the tram. Holes were drilled and steel rods were anchored in the granite to anchor each of the footings for the towers and terminals of the Tram. Keeping the towers in alignment was of major concern and importance. Yes, maintenance is important … these workers ride up and down on the top of the tram checking all the working mechanisms.

Sandia Peak Tramway is 2.7 miles in diagonal length and is a bi-cable double reversible aerial passenger tramway. Both tramcars are attached to the hauling cables and the weight of the downhill tramcar helps to pull the uphill tramcar to the top. When the tramcars pass at midway, they are almost 1,000 feet above the ground. The typical speed of the tramway is 13 MPH. The main drive is a 600 horsepower dc electric winch motor. In case of a power failure, the tramcars can be returned to the terminals with an auxiliary Ford industrial engine.

Each of the four 100,000 pound track cables is stronger than required to support one car, and, as an added safety precaution, each car travels over two such cables. The original track cables were replaced in the spring of 1997, during a seven week project with the help of Swiss cable experts. The Tramcars were designed with track cable brakes. These brakes would close automatically and hold the car firmly in place in an emergency or haul cable failure. The brakes on the main drive are electronically/hydraulically opened before the tramcars can move. If the power should fail, the brakes are applied automatically, stopping the moving cables and Tram cars.

After we got our feet back onto the ground, we headed to Old Town. Historic Old Town was Albuquerque's first neighborhood. More than 300 years after its founding, it remains a center for culture, architecture, shopping, art and cuisine. Old Town was established in 1706, when a group of Spanish families settled here, not far from the Rio Grande. The settlers organized their new town in the traditional Spanish colonial way, with a central plaza anchored by a church.

When the original adobe church collapsed after the long, rainy summer of 1792, the townspeople rebuilt, and in 1793 the San Felipe de Neri Church was completed. Today this adobe church, with walls that are five feet thick, is the oldest in Albuquerque; its white towers mark Old Town from a distance. San Felipe de Neri remains a functioning Catholic church. As you wander around the neighborhood, you may see couples posing for wedding pictures in the plaza's gazebo.

Most of the architecture in Old Town is adobe, in the Pueblo-Spanish style. These traditional buildings have flat roofs and stuccoed walls with rounded edges, and their ceilings are supported with heavy wooden beams called vigas. The arrival of the railroad in 1880 brought new architectural styles, and you will find numerous Victorian buildings that house shops, offices and bed and breakfasts. Despite centuries of change, Old Town has retained its charming, walkable character.

It’s sad that so many of the restaurants have closed because of the COVID pandemic. The shops that are open, are holding on by a thread.

After we got back, the rig was almost fixed. So, once he finished and we paid the mechanic, we went to a late lunch at the Casino Sports Bar with Doc & Fay. We were surprised when our friends Kathy & Paul joined us too! It was a great ending to a great day!