20/05/2026
📸 THROW BACK THURSDAY
Continuing on from last weeks theme of ski lifts .....
In 1984, the Club replaced the upper rope tow with a second hand Pomagalski, or in ski industry slang "Poma" lift that was taken out from Whakapapa Ski area. The story goes all the components were taken to the railhead (National Park or perhaps Raetihi?) loaded on wagons and delivered to Christchurch for subsequent road delivery to Mt Cheeseman
The lift was installed, commisioned and operated as a "Poma" through until winter 1995 after which when it was converted to a T Bar using Doppelmayr running gear that was sourced from Australia (Threadbo). After some engineering calculations the existing Poma towers were modified to accept the Doppelmayr running gear along with the far superior Springboxes and T Bars and the lift still operates in this form to this day.
The Poma took a lot of work to maintain and there are many interesting stories about aligning suspended bullwheels and keeping other associated running gear in operational condition - bearing in mind this has already had a previous life in the harsh conditions on Mt Ruapehu!
❓Do you recognise the fellows in picture 3 - they are of course a bit older now!
📷 We'd love to see any other pictures of the poma in action, under construction or maintained - share them with us along with any memories you have!
