The highlight of a visit to Gateway Arch National Park is a ride to the top of the 630-foot Gateway Arch, for a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The trams are a one-of-a-kind invention, conceived in just two short weeks by an amazing man who never received a college degree. His name is Dick Bowser. For the complete story of Dick Bowser and the Arch's Unique Tram System, read the essay by former park Historian Bob Moore and this page about Mr. Bowser's life. The CriteriaThe transportation system was required to move 3,500 people in an 8-hour day, or up to 11,000 people in a 14-hour day. In no way could the conveyance system distort the exterior of the Arch. The First AttemptsBefore arriving at the tram solution, many other options were considered, including the following, but each posed problems rendering the ideas either impractical or impossible.
Bowser's Unique DesignFinally, a combination of the elevator principle and the Ferris wheel principle was developed into a train of capsules, and Bowser had his solution:
What to Expect on Your Ride to the TopRiding the tram to the top of the Arch is like stepping into the future as it was envisioned in the 1960's. Each of the 16 tram cars, or "pods", can hold five seated persons. There are eight tram cars on the north tram and eight on the south tram. While taking the 4-minute journey to the top, riders may look out a small window for a view of the Arch interior. The car will gently pivot during the ride to keep visitors in an upright position. Once at the top, visitors stay in the observation area for one tram cycle (around 8-10 minutes). This viewing area features 16 windows looking east over the Mississippi River and the Illinois communities and countryside, and 16 windows looking west over the city of St. Louis. When it's time to go back down, visitors will go back in the same tram car number they rode up in.
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Last updated: September 17, 2024