M6 Lancaster Forton - TOWER, old lifts & MOTOR ROOM [Pt3]
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- 1965 Pennine Tower old Passenger lifts + motor room (Lancaster 'Forton' services)
mrmattandmrchay is joined by mrphill100 to film this epic tower.
This is the Moto Lancaster motorway services on the M6 (originally Forton services) - more details further down.
In this video we continue into the abandoned "Pennine" tower and explore the main motor room which still runs the passenger lifts.
LINKS:
mrphill100 - Tower exploration (more "tower" detail than me) is here:
• Video
PART 1 (passenger lifts from public levels) is here:
• Gets better and better...
PART 2 (goods lift + motor room) is here:
• [Pt2] 1965 Otis goods ...
PART 3 COMING SOON!
MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE TOWER:
Opened in 1965 with the name Forton services, it was the second service station to open on the motorway (Charnock Richard being the first), and is named after the nearby village of Forton. The architect was T.P. Bennett and Son and it was originally operated by The Rank Organisation.
Opened in 1965. The services is notable for an unusual hexagonal concrete tower on the northbound side, named The Pennine Tower, which originally housed an up-market restaurant and a sun deck. The tower was designed to resemble an Air Traffic Control Tower and is a prominent local landmark. The tower closed to the public in 1989 due to current Fire Regulations (there is no means of providing an alternative exit from the restaurant deck in an emergency).
The original Otis pentagon-shaped elevators which served the tower are still used to service the ground floor and first floor of the building.
The Tower was listed Grade II on 15th October 2012
##UPDATE## APRIL 2017 - Left lift modernised :( :( :(
• The lift at Lancaster ...
##UPDATE## 2022 - Right lift covered up, you can no longer even see it :(
![[Pt4] Dumb Waiters and all the way down (Lancaster 'forton' services - M6)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdbvjHSA9WQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Pt4] Dumb Waiters and all the way down (Lancaster 'forton' services - M6)](/img/tr.png)
Love 60s stuff. Lifts/elevators in brutalist iconic buildings and towers. Having worked on old ships with cargo lifts and passy lifts this vid brings back memories. Relay logic, slack wire wheels, blade switches, ultimate stops, economy resistors on the contractors, lift car door motors and broken belts, the list goes on. Most of the stuff I worked on got upgraded to PLC and inverter drives for smooth and efficient deck/floor landings. Miss the old school gates and deck landing shoe solenoids to release the landing locks. Always jammed up for some reason but tlc and wd40 was always a winner :) Thanks for posting your vids. All the best Ali K
Interesting reading, thanks very much for the comment and compliment
Have been looking forward to this video for weeks, and you never disappoint! The machinery looked in much better condition than I was expecting.
+Lee Thomas Thanks Lee :)Looking back, I wished I'd gone up to that mobile phone platform and filmed a orbit with the camera looking around from there.
+mrmattandmrchay That would have been very nice. Would look like some around here!
+mrmattandmrchay The base station may well have exposed you to hazardous levels of non ionizing radiation if you approached the antennas too closely without the equipment being disabled. It was probably for the best that you did not get too close. In addition, your camera might have malfunctioned from the high electromagnetic field strength.
Loving the atmosphere, what a great motor room! Those moving hatches frightened me Slightly!
+Bon Ron When I heard those doors creaking in the wind I had to pause for a bit as I knew i'd use it in the editing somehow! Great transition between "what was in the motor room photos" to actually going in.
Great video! Love the classic OTIS machinery.
I have always wanted to go up this tower. Thanks to your video, I can do the next west thing.
+alloria Thanks for that! Don't forget to check out mrphill100's video as he filmed more tower artefacts than I did. I concentrated on filming the lifts, whilst Phill did the actual tower.
Love watching this. I pass this place nearly everyday. So good to see the pie plate selector working away👍
yes, but unfortunately it's no more. The old otis lift has been boarded off for good now, leaving only the modernised lift.
@mrmattandmrchay Oh no! That's extremely sad, why do they do this to old lifts? It's extremely saddening!
(The ping thing stopped working :/)
I love both classic and modern Otis elevators. My university has six 2013 Compass ones with voice and security features.
awesome lifts will visit here some time to ride
thanks matt my phill loved the visit.
Ah, how is your Phill? :) Haven't seen him for a while now, need some more derelict place to visit :)
hi matt phill is ok thank you,he has asked me if you could pm your mobile number over as he has got a new phone and reneeds your number,he would appreciate it ty take care
The colour yellow seems to be a popular colour for rotating parts (pulleys, flywheels) of the lift machinery.
Awesome pictures, awesome music, big emotions. Thanks a lot for this great video.
+Michael “Mike i386” Roll Wow, because that's exactly what I set out to do, so I'm really glad It comes across that way to people that watch it.Takes ages to find music that fits in with the video. The photos were going to be at the end, but I couldn't match the music to them, only in the middle of the music. Then I realised I could put the photos earlier in the movie at the creaky doors scene. Then afterwards go back to the creaky doors scene again, fade down, then film the guy unlocking the door, then the video of the motor room starts (already having seen the photos) - works really well! (a lot of people don't notice stuff like this, but it's all part of the design and I'm glad you noticed. Takes ages to do stuff like this)
+mrmattandmrchay It's perfect. And that's why I like your videos so much. The effort you take, not only showing the technical, mechanical and informative stuff, but showing it in such an detailed, lovely, cinematic and emotional way that (hopefully) everyone can understand and feel what you felt and thought while filming and editing and notices your dedication to the stuff.
And the results are very personal and awesome videos. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Another awesome video! You do get into some 'once lovely' places. A shame those observation restaurants are closed off now. I bet they were a joy to sit and eat in, if you could afford it lol.
But... someone spelled 'obsolete' wrong lol, guess they were in a rush to get out of there 🤣
Do you mean.... OBSELETE.....?
6:05 The poor broken lifts' machinery
It's fixtures installed problem, loading of difficulty in equipment!
Old elevators are being modernised
One of the old ones is still there...probably never see it working again though
nice video matt the motor room is so cool
+ProTxch Thanks :)
Fire regs, they cite, in keeping it closed.
Yet somehow, the CN Tower in Toronto, and the Space Needle in Seattle, can remain open and serve thousands of people a day? Of a similar design to this, just a lot bloody bigger and taller.
Interesting point. Not sure of the answer why though.
mrmattandmrchay because the UK govt is paranoid, of course!
It's such a shame because I LOVE mid-century modern structures like this, and the more obscure the better.
great stuff - many thanks for posting. Excellent video and very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment Marko
Fantastic Video. Well Done.
I came back from Majorca last week and we drove from Manchester airport via this M6 route. When I saw the tower, it made me think of you and your channel. ;) Sad, but true! xD
Great video of the motor rooms!
+Ow3n Lifts It's definitely an iconic tower. I was told that they are about to spend thousands of pounds painting the tower white! Wish they could put the mrmattandmrchay logo sideways going up the tower spine haha! (that might get me some more views !!)
The first thing on installation is to set out the centre line across the shaft , this is done by plumbing the shaft by dropping two plumb lines down each side and taking a series of measurements at each floor ,writing them down on a plumbing chart and then working out the tightest point , from that you can then work out the centre line of the car guides and distance to the lift shaft entrances to keep the job reasonably square to the front of the shaft..
+Keith Huddy Cool! Wish someone did a video on an old lift fit out, from start to finish. Interesting stuff.
Whenever you're in or around London, would it be possible to join you when you look inside a lift motor room? I've always wanted to have a look, even as a child. I like understanding how things work behind the scenes. There's a block of flats not too far from me; I've always wanted to get into the lift motor room but there's a huge lock on the door (it's a ceiling port).
+Nitrxgen I'll send you a PM
I have watched this video quite a few times, and am curious as to a few things.
I observed that when the lift comes up to the top floor, the lift starts levelling, and then a relay for the doors to open engages. After this, the lift stops. How would engineers adjust when the door open relay comes on on the carriage? For lifts with the spinning discs, of course there's a switch, but how does it work when you just have the carriage?
2:29 Why didn't you press the button?
Only one lift was working - it would have called the lift that we came up in. I think that was the reason, it was a long time ago now lol
mrmattandmrchay So was the left one completely switched off then?
as a child i am now 53 remember my mam & dad took me up into that cafe area it was great very fancy what a mess now such a shame ? used to love the lifts but i would love them more now am a grown up electrician & have work in this sort of mess & environment with machine's & lift's
Nice!
+diamondcraftia Thanks :)
I really like your motor room videos, especially when you are going to press relays! I love it! I am an newer generation engineer and mostly work with computers/microcontrollers. but all of that relay logic, thats just great! Also press some more relays with sigarettes!
+diamondcraftia Oh yes, that was funny! It was the only thing "non-conductive" that I could find LOL. By the way, in my next video you will be happy as I will be pressing in some more relays in an old Schindler relay logic controller (but no cigarettes as I don't smoke ;)
mrmattandmrchay I cant wait!
Nice to see an unusual lift , with cantilever rope arrangement and odd shaped shaft and cars , not an easy job for the fitters to plumb down and set out apart from the position of the car guides.
+Keith Huddy I agree. Imagine having to install all those wheels to divert the cables and the floor selector tape. Must have been really interesting to see fitters install this. MRL makes all that redundant.
+mrmattandmrchay Hi matt. The layout for the installation was provided by the OTIS engineering dept, giving precise dimensions for the steelwork arrangment and rope centres etc. The main line to establish was the (A) line across which the Car guides were installed, given the DBG is the distance between guides all other measurements became relevant to these points, car centre (rope anchorage) and so on. Even the steelwork at the top of the shaft would be installed by the lift fitter. Precise dimensions and centres are given on the installation plan drawings,so with a little concentration and double checking the installation should progress without any problems.
Very nice explore thumbs up
I suppose ALL of these motorway towers and observation decks are closed off now. Such a shame that was such a fantastic view from atop!
I suppose this reflects this modern age of isolation and opaqueness. Once people enjoyed this sort of stuff but h ave since been subtly brainwashed by the BBC and other private media into this insidious state of fear, paranoia, and isolation. In the meantime no further money is spent for the public enjoyment of these sorts of things. Such a shame!
I am from Switzerland but for the moment living in western America, but once I return back across the pond, is there a chance for a meetup as to be able to accomply you or others who can escort people like us into these normally off limit areas?
I am considering starting a non-profit organisation for wall trolley fans such as myself, as to give us 'clout' and leverage as a group to gain access as enthusiasts and not just being considered the public at large. So much of this technology and history is being currently denied to the public AND enthusiasts like us, and that is definitely NOT good!
5:59 did you see the selector parts on lift #2? its gone.
you're right... I never actually noticed that... no wonder it never ran again before being modded
I'll assume the tape looking thing with the square holes is something to do with the elevator car position relative to the floors ? Interesting video nonetheless :)
+Ryan O'Malley Yep! Here you go, explained here: ua-cam.com/video/5GevDdd_IOY/v-deo.html See about 2 minutes onwards
Awesome as always, thankyou for share this experience with us, you're doing a great work! MrMatt, there's any community/forum that discuss about Elevators and its engineering?
+Bernard Pitanga Hi Bernard and thanks for your comment. About 5 years ago there was this great forum that had elevator engineers discuss their funny stories but one day it disappeared. I've not really searched for such a site since then as all "elevator chat" is normally people discussing stuff on youtube videos. Sorry, I don't know anywhere to suggest for you.
+mrmattandmrchay
Can you tell me what this website used to be called, and what the link to it was? I want to see if an archived version of the site still exists (I can explain how I would do this if there is an archived version).
+Bernard Pitanga I do not know of any forums Bernard but if their is any questions or queries that you have i am only too happy to share 50 yrs experience with you.
The mrphil100 video is unavailable!
The left lift has now been modded, the lift on the right still original upto now. might change soon though.
Are the lifts modernized today?
Answer:
(idk)
2018 update?
When I get around to editing it
@@mrmattandmrchay lol
Wow what a video
Thanks :)
When you find time can you Back there mat?
Hello Matt, have you also the right lift filmed in action or only the left lift? Great scences. MfG Jan
+Jan Langer No, unfortunately that lift has been out of service every time I passed by this place. I'm wondering if it is switched off on purpose as it's not really needed? With the tower, then yes, both lifts would be useful. But just ground and first floor, one is enough.
i know what that chair was up in that room up a height i love that noise i could sit there all day long bet the maintenance bloke use to sit up there for hour's on end
How are things going with the siren videos? I believe you also said you were going to be doing a summary of where each one is?
+Alex Ellis (NZ Lifts and Transport) Hi Alex. Tell you what, I've got so much stuff to edit and that is one that's on the list. I've got some really interesting lift videos to finish at the moment, in fact, I've got so much stuff going on its difficult to know which to do and when. I've still got Chay's Q&A to edit. So yep, I do still have that one to do but I'm really not sure when. Each of my videos takes about 4-5 days to edit (I'm talking evening times here, when I get time).
Next up (I think!!) is the last pennine tower video + an old schindler motor room, then I want to get another siren video up (one you haven't seen yet) of some of them sounding - I recorded these over a year a go now. My HDD is filled with stuff that needs editing lol.
Matt
Sounds great! You put so much effort in, so the wait is always worth it.
What was wrong with the Otis lift that didn't work apart from the fact that it didn't work?
Any ideas Mrmatt?
I did ask the question when I was there, but they couldn't answer it. So my best guess is, to keep lift #1 in working order, parts have been robbed from lift #2. Or it could just be that the non-working lift was waiting for repair. Tell you what, more likely, they are waiting for BOTH lifts to fail then they get an engineer out to fix both at the same time to save money!
mrmattandmrchay Shame
Found a VERY old o&k escalator. I'll upload a video of anyone's interested in seeing it. Great videos matt, keep up the good work!
+RedstoneZ Thanks for your comment :) If you upload it then I'll check it out
+mrmattandmrchay OK I will film it next time I'm there. Do you have an interest in escalators, or do you just stick to lifts?
At least some parts of the video had a fisheye effect. I prefer if you use a camera without a fisheye effect in the future. On some cameras, zooming in will remove the fisheye effect.
+upanddownadventures This (along with many more of my latest videos) is filmed with 2 cameras side by side. One camera is the wide angle, whilst the other is my standard camera. Both are filming together. When I edit, images from both cameras are synchronised and placed next to each other in separate segments so I can see both together whilst previewing. I can then cut between one camera to the other very easily and use the audio from just one.
When you are in a cramped space, I do not prefer the standard camera views. Of course I use views from both cameras, as this is why I film with both. But you can only "decide" which camera to edit into the video when you can see both views side-by-side, which you will not see during this movie, as I've obviously cut out the bits that I didn't use. I'm finding that I prefer the views from the wide angle camera whilst in cramped spaces and there is more to see (especially whilst walking around the roof), so I will be cutting from one to the other depending upon content.
Also this gives a unique video concept which is unique to me, which I like.
+mrmattandmrchay That wide angle camera, is that a GoPro? I've bought one recently and it's got wide angle lens. I've used it already in an outdoors envoirnment but not in a lift yet.
is the tower still open and was only one lift working or 2 or 3 pleas reply
Tower is still closed - 1 lift modernised 1 lift off
I was There Years and I mean Years ago with my Aunt Before she Moved to florida. She was there for Work for a Few Years I think it was back in 2002 2003 i don't remember ill ask my mom she would know
+PAelevators Cool! This seems a well known place.
God amazing!
I remember as a boy you used to eat up there I’m sure I’m correct that’s the second floor
Great video! Are you interested in escalators at all? I've always fancied checking out what's behind those doors on the underground which state "Escalator Machine Room"
+danielrichardbond I'm not that interested in escalators, but one thing that I did learn is that 99% of escalators do not have a machine room. If you look at the top and/or bottom of the escalator then right at the top there are removable boards which hide where the machinery is - its underneath. And the steps are just in a revolving line, so underneath the steps that you stand on are just the ones that are returning in the other direction. Under that is nothing.
So most escalators don't have machine "rooms". The ones on the underground do have some, not sure why but it might be because they are so old and extra room was required?
+danielrichardbond Wow that was amazing. Some of that machinery was massive (reminds me of the old otis gear - "otis green!"). I remember seeing a programme on the kings cross fire many years ago which showed a motor room of the escalators there so may be such rooms do exist. I bet if you were to write properly to LUL then you could arrange a visit into one of those rooms? Ever thought of asking?
+danielrichardbond I'm with Mr. Matt and think you should do a video of the ones you linked to. Those were massive and looked like some kind of mine equipment. That was very interesting even if I didn't understand a single word. And the clothing left a LOT to be desired as far as the girl getting tied in a knot. Hart had and a hanging noose (scarf) aren't exactly approved P.P.E. Thanks for the link!
+mrmattandmrchay That was WILD wasn't it! BIG stuff there. Looked like 250 or 300 h.p.motors, at least compared to the ones I've been around. Come on Matt! Get on with it! Daniel has started something!
+danielrichardbond Hi Daniel, I liked that video of the escalator - some really cool machinery in there! I didn't know that some of them are like this, but those escalators are REALLY long, so perhaps motors to run escalators like this cannot be fitted into the "well" (hole) at the top or bottom of the escalator.
Yeah saw the tubes - I'm pretty sure that they are heaters that keep the gearbox warm and would be activated by a thermostat somewhere in the motor room when temperatures get very cold. Cool photos. You should put all your photos into a video, then like, sequence through them?
2018 UPDATE!!!!!!!
2018 UPDATE!!!
Hey @mrmattandmrchay what's the music around 2:55 ?
REDARROW101_A5 Nevada City by huma - huma - UA-cam audio library
Why does everything have to have a cage round it? If you are in there, presumably you are working on the lifts, and hopefully you know not to stick your fingers in the wheels!
is the other lift death?
+Wessel V Not sure. I wasn't able to establish whether it is out of use to save money or whether there is a unrepairable fault on it. Parts for these lifts (and the knowledge to fix them) must both be in high demand.
7:54 OBSELETE, what does that mean?!, Great video by the way :-)
yep, typo! Thanks.
Latecomment but it means no one uses it and it’s old
What Is the music at the end
+Tobias Dekker "Jaw harp you can dance to" - search for it within the youtube audio library
+mrmattandmrchay sub to me
No, a base station very dangerus :(
+Belirsiz Kanal Why is a base station dangerous?
Hey Cumbernauld town centre have old lifts I mean old
+I POD WORLD Hi, thanks for the suggestion and I have ALrEADY gone to Cumbernauld and done some video of the main "concrete" style shopping centre. Facinating building. Unfortunately I didn't find any lifts that were original, apart from one goods lift which had it's doors open on a lower level and I couldn't call it (this was next to where the library was on the top floor). Thus, I haven't been bothered to edit it yet.
Maybe I missed the places that you are referring to? I'd be interested to re-visit there (not sure when!) if I'm passing again.
+mrmattandmrchay I know in a few of old shops aka the shop beside Argos and there's an Otis in the entrance most of the high rise have lifts
The bridge outdoor one has a lift its quite spooky (half the second floor is shut for a refurb) but I do know an area the lift from the car park dose not go
the lanterns are SO old that they don't even work anymore
That's probably just blown bulbs. Engineers don't really carry spare bulbs in the back of their vehicles anymore :)
Have you recorded a vid before the bulbs burnt out? I wanna see it if so
Hola
Ola señor
how do you get permission for a tower visit?
+concorderobbie1 All I'm prepared to say is that it takes a lot of organising and luck in meeting the right guy on site that is prepared to help out and allow us to film all that we did. :)
+mrmattandmrchay cheers
why does it make that sound when leveling
Sound levelling elevator means that level is known about that floor number, was it! :)
No machine room on base station İt's a very dangerous
Come on where's the close ups of the mobile telecoms equipment :-) Nice video.
+Coolkeys2009 Sorry! :( Maybe i'm not into telecoms equipment which is why I didn't zoom into it :)
They’ve knocked the tower down.
99th view :D but no seriously great vid as always man
+Jayden Samuels Thanks Jayden :)
5:42 Look closely, you will find a label that says sex
lol, yeah it's on one of the relays!! I'll have to look it up in one of my books that I've acquired! The lift might go to a secret floor with prostitutes or something lol
omg, hope you are not a young kid (I'm not going to start explaining prostitutes if you are XD )
And the one right next to it says "no"
2 speed AC hoist motors.......ride like your in a mild auto wreck compared to DC equipment. Wouldn't the MOT of your fine country be more patriotic if they had bought some J&E Hall equipment?
+427zoh6 I also see the cables have been redone by todays children as they are no longer poured babbit shackles on them.......nothing like waiting for a pot of lead to heat up to do a shackle pour on a hot day on some rooftop.....FUN!
+427zoh6 OTIS completed the takeover of J&E HALL in about 1967 the year after i started as an OTIS apprentice. It may be that Halls were not actively filling their order books at this time.
There were J&E Hall lifts in Walsgrave Hospital (opened in 1969) up until the early 90s. Probably some of the last.
Yes there were over 30 J&E Halls lifts in Walsgrave most of them DC drives fitted with damper motors in the generator circuitry and Norbit 1 auto- section in the controller. I looked after the lifts there for 5 years when KMS won the service contract from OTIS.
Bros milking this tower :skull: