Introducing the Paternoster

[Cruithne3753]

There was one years ago in Fairfax House in Bristol (where the Galleries are now). Never got round to riding in it when it was still there though.

[curtisbadger]

This is where i spend most of time at uni. :D

[RussMusiq1]

This would be a trial lawyers dream in USA.

[smokemadbong]

what if you fall half way in it and half way out and get cut in half

[2kapufa]

@smokemadbong

There is a sefety mechanism at the edge of the floor and in the box above every cabin. It stops the elevator if you gat pressed against it.

Morover part of the floor is hinged both in elevator the cabin and in the slab in feront of the cabins. It can fold up to grant some space for survival.

Only If all these safety stuff fails, you may get cut into half.

This is exactly the case with normal elevators too. If all safety mechanism fails, you can die...

[kaalkop]

what if u dont get off on the last stop?

[MrUNIXman]

I took a ride in this paternoster other day, I rode it round twice. I did see the big wheel at the top

[MsEva45]

I grew up in Berlin and we used to rede these for fun when we were kids until they kicked us out of the building. Mostly the senate and public buildingds in Berlin. Yes, they are fun. Tried to explain those the other day to some friends at work. They looked at me like I'm crazy. Glad to find it on You Tube. Thanls for posting this.

[videogamer24385]

what if you go to high... do you get squished?

[EwoktheMoid]

@videogamer24385 No, when the cars reach the top or bottom of the shafts, the cars just slide sideways. From the perspective of the rider, it's just dark for a bit and you can see some gears. Riders are warned not to "over-ride," but that's not because it's dangerous. It's because the elevator's emergency stop is especially sensitive at the top and bottom, and it's easy to accidentally trigger it and stop the whole contraption. Then everybody has to wait for the maintenance man to reset it.

[EwoktheMoid]

The space between the floors is very thin. Part of the car is always getting light, either from the floor it's leaving or the floor it's entering.

[nicobolso]

what happens if you don't get off at the bottom floor?

[dejine]

It keeps going in a circle. I didn't go down, but I saw people who did. I did on the other hand go all the way up, and we went up through the ceiling saw the big gear that runs it (VERY DARK), and then you start going down again.

[nicobolso]

fuck that, i'm claustrophobic

[johneastmond]

You go to the very bottom, 'round under, and pop back 'round going up again!

[sakurakimuchiego]

I like that girl at 0:38! where is this music from?

[EwoktheMoid]

It's called "The Drive (Long Edit)" by Alexander Perls.

[ianpw2]

I never got used to getting out of them, often missed my floor (landscape) and ended up using the stairs anyway.

[EwoktheMoid]

The car doesn't turn around. It seems like it would rotate 180 degrees at the top and bottom, but they actually just slide sideways. From the perspective of the rider, it's just dark for a bit and you can see some gears. They tell you not to "over-ride" not because there's a chance of injury, but because the elevator is especially sensitive and it's easy to accidentally trigger the emergency stop/

[EwoktheMoid]

Theoretically, yes. The cables carrying the cars are very sensitive to changes in balance and resistance (which is why they tell you not to ride over the top, where it's more sensitive to jostling). The edges of the floor in front of the shaft on each level are hinged; presumably, they would swing open if anyone's foot got caught. In practice, though, they seemed pretty rusty when I was there. Everyone is just so super-cognizant of how scary they look; I can't see anyone getting careless.

[tainted1001]

:) we had a paternoster party on this in our last year, just 4 of us and a crate of beer riding round and round for about an hour in the evening - before security came and kicked us out. good memories

[Vanpants]

Tried these for the first time today. Very unnerving!

[Quaternion86]

I love these elevators, and there are lots of them in Hungarian government offices and hospitals.

"Over-riding" is fun too, at first I was afraid, not because I thought it would kill me. I feared it will stop, and a lot of people will be trapped halfway, and they will be mad at me :D

[Balage78Szfvar]

Én csak a BKV Akácfa utcai székházában levőt próbáltam ki...meg régebben azt hiszem az Országos Kardiológiai Intézet-ben levőt...

[stewp33d]

looks dangerous as fuck

[JGib12345]

Saw this today on our visit to the uni, we wernt allowed a go tho :(

[EwoktheMoid]

Too bad, mate; they're a kick until you get the hang of getting on and off.

[ZX2ManDave]

Ive never heard of these before in my life! That looks so fun!

[Roryg63]

Yeah man!! I'm a student at Essex, and have had lots of good memories of showing people what it's like to go above and below these :D Long live the paternosters!!!

[YiNrOnln]

That looks like fun. Too bad there are none in the US. :(

[cartoonyboy]

Don't try riding that with a wheelchair!!

[cooloriginaltwic]

I loved that lift. I always wanted to go on a round trip, through the pit and loft (in defiance of the warning!), but never did. And now it's too late.

[PoultryBuffer]

Those are very cool but would never last in the States. Some dumbass would get his head caught in the thing and his family would sue and own the building.

[gobgobcachoo]

or someone would be too fat & get stuck XD

[kxttxya]

wow, these seem useful!

[subtleone]

they are misleading.

[Yorkiebar1]

they are extremely useful in buildings where people regularly go up or down just one or two floors at a time, e.g. between architecture studios in the arts tower where this one is.

[Yorkiebar1]

oh wait, this is essex? I meant the sheffield one.

[Mem20]

Woooo!! Essex Uni Rules!