A [**monocable detachable gondola**](/entry/tc-monocable-gondola) (**MDG**) is a common type of [aerial lift](/entry/tc-aerial-lift), with a single steel cable strung between two or more stations, supported by intermediate towers. Many gondola cabins hang from the cable via a detachable grip, which allows the cabins to detach from the cable and slow down at each station. The cable provides both support and propulsion for the gondolas.

TechConcept

monocable detachable gondola

aerial lift

means of transport

ropeway

3S gondola lift

Mi Teleférico Purple Line

Sea to Sky Gondola

aerial tramway

cable railway

haul rope

motor vehicle

multi-segment aerial lift

A [**3S gondola lift**](/entry/tc-trnsprt-cable-3s) or **tricable detachable gondola (TDG)** is a gondola technology that uses three steel wire ropes (*drei Seile* in German, giving the name "3S"). Two of the ropes support the weight of the gondola cabins, while the third rope provides propulsion.

A **means of transport** is any vehicle or system used to transport people or goods from one place to another.

A **cable railway** or is a means of transport where the vehicles are pulled forward along rails by one or more steel [wire ropes](/entry/tc-wire-rope) (the "cables"). In some cases (mostly historically), chains or regular ropes may be used.

A **multi-segment aerial lift** is any combination of aerial lifts in a linear route, where passengers who wish to continue on the route need to change vehicles at intermediate stations. (A lift with intermediate stations where passengers can remain in the same vehicle to continue is just a "multi-station aerial lift", and is excluded from this category.)

An [**aerial tramway**](/entry/tc-trnsprt-aerial-tramway) is a type of [aerial lift](/entry/tc-aerial-lift) with one or two cabins fixed to a cable. The distinguishing feature of aerial tramways is that the cabins shuttle back and forth between the end stations of the lift in a reversible manner. Aerial tramways are usually built with three steel wire ropes - two for support and one for propulsion. (This is the same rope configuration used by [3S gondola lifts](/entry/tc-trnsprt-cable-3s), but 3S lifts operate with continuous circulation and have detachable cabins).

A **motor vehicle** is a vehicle that can propel itself and which does not run on rails. Motor vehicles generally travel on wheels, although some (e.g. tanks and snowmobiles) use tracks instead.

A **ropeway** (or **cableway**) refers to any means of transport in which vehicles are propelled by ropes along a fixed route, excluding elevators or cable ferries. Ropeways generally fall into three categories: [aerial lifts](/entry/tc-aerial-lift), surface lifts, and [cable railways](/entry/tc-cable-railway). In modern ropeways, the rope is almost invariably steel [wire rope](/entry/tc-wire-rope), although other materials have been used in the past.

The Sea to Sky Gondola is a [monocable detachable gondola](/entry/tc-monocable-gondola) located in British Columbia, Canada.

In an [aerial lift](/entry/tc-aerial-lift), the **haul rope** is the [wire rope](/entry/tc-wire-rope) that provides propulsion for the vehicles. It moves either continuously or in a reversing fashion (for [tramways](/entry/tc-trnsprt-aerial-tramway)). In [monocable lifts](/entry/tc-monocable-gondola), the haul rope also provides support for the vehicles, whereas in other systems such as [3S lifts](/entry/tc-trnsprt-cable-3s), the vehicles are supported by separate [track ropes](/entry/tc-track-rope).

The **Purple Line** (**Linea Morada** in Spanish) is an urban gondola line, that forms part of the Mi Teleférico gondola network in the La Paz–El Alto metropolitan area of Bolivia.

An **aerial lift** is a means of transport where the vehicles hang from one or more steel [wire ropes](/entry/tc-wire-rope).

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Description	A monocable detachable gondola (MDG) is a common type of aerial lift, with a single steel cable strung between two or more stations, supported by intermediate towers. Many gondola cabins hang from the cable via a detachable grip, which allows the cabins to detach from the cable and slow down at each station. The cable provides both support and propulsion for the gondolas.
Type of	TCaerial lift
Also known as	MDG, gondola lift, detachable gondola lift
Has part	TChaul rope
Instances	IMi Teleférico Purple Line, ISea to Sky Gondola
Related images	,
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