Do you know what a Paternoster lift is?

[Pinksands1]

I dont know how I had never heard of this type of lift before. The wikipedia definition says 'consists of a chain of open compartments that move continuously I'm a loop up and down a building without stopping. Passengers can step on or off at any floor they like'.

Anyway, they look bloody terrifying. I am so uncoordinated, I just know I would faff about trying to get on quickly and do myself an injury! Has anyone used one? Are they as scary as they look?

Yes, there was one in the building I worked in at Glasgow Uni. Our lab was over two floors so we were on and off it all day.

@ProfYaffle - not BNFL, Atkins, but they were/are on the same science park at Birchwood Boulevard. I imagine all the buildings were pretty similar; they were from the outside!

Interesting! Maybe they shared a building or something.

@ProfYaffle, they were in neighbouring buildings. I imagine that if one building had a paternoster, then others might well have done.

Yes, used the one in the old dental school at Birmingham uni every day! Think of it like an escalator, they don’t stop, you just get on and off! There’s a large window of time to get one one as you can step down into it when it’s lower or up into it when it’s higher. It doesn’t have to be the exact second it’s level with the floor.

Yes! I forgot to get off at the final floor and went round but nothing happens.

Don’t want to encourage any nonsense along the lines of the garden bridge fiasco but just had an image of the London Eye as one big paternoster spanning the river - hop on one side hop off the other. Not sure what would happen at the bottom bit - might get a bit wet but I’m sure Boris could throw millions at another madcap scheme ??? Keep him busy ?

@HeronLanyon, ha ha, yes, it could be horizontal, rather than upright, like a carousel!

milklady I was stuck in the vertical there - yes horizontal might work better - less digging. Could I suggest a waltzer-type set up ??

Just to make getting on and off a little more risky!!

Not much un-nerves me! But that is seriously freaky. Because it doesn't stop, so you have to take a step at the right time.

Yep, there's one near me. They are quite fun to ride in. Not many of them left as they are very expensive to maintain apparently....

I think the myth of you going to the upsidedown over the top was perpetuated by all the graffiti and stickers that were on upside down in the carriages, and all the people pretending that's what happened, and all the people doing headstands .... it's not surprising I some people got confused