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Comment by rayiner | Hacker News Reader

Why was it built like this?

It was originally a switching/signalling waypoint, and later started seasonal passenger service for skiiers in 1932, before later switching to year-round service. Apparently it used to be a popular hiking destination as well, but with the establishment of more convenient rail and road routes became less popular in the 80s.

Convenient — your hike (or climbing with skiis) starts immediately at the train platform!

I would rather take stairs instead a really long escalator, it's scary af (when going down).

Really? I've gone down long escalators before and it doesn't feel scary, and I'm scared of heights.

I took this[0] in Kyiv, it was really uncomfortable. Apparently it's "Deepest Metro station in the world, and a long escalator ride" [1]

[0]: https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/15/9...

[1]: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294474-d80742...

I think it has more to do with lighting as well as the height of the ceiling. In NYC the escalator going to Grand Central Madison is very long and yet it doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. It has way more lighting than your picture and the ceiling seems higher too.

Do you feel nothing at all when you're on a very long escalator and you look down? What if someone pushes you, or a person behind you? People would fall like domino.

Lots of people will grab the handrail which will dampen the domino effect.

no it doesn't. long escalators are just really fucking scary. regular length are scary too, so it just follows

I'm reading and acknowledging all these comments, but I don't get it. Can one of you describe the fear?

I'd guess that a long narrow escalator could make someone feel "trapped", in a way that regular stairs generally wouldn't.

I'm going to guess the person suffers from vertigo, as have I to a small degree - particularly on the metro escalator in Rosslyn, VA (across the river from DC). The sensation occurs going down or up very tall escalators in a tunnel. When it hits, you feel like you are traveling horizontally with some weird tunnel vision. This is terrifying and can cause you to feel like you're falling - even when you know you are going down or up, your eyes are telling you you're traveling horizontally.

I've also gotten this driving a car through long tunnels as well, going down or up (Baltimore 895 harbor tunnel can do this).

I’m pretty scared of heights and generally haven’t been triggered by any long escalators into subways, but there’s one on the DC Metro (Adams Morgan maybe?) that kind of freaked me out.

Yes, really. Avoided if at all avoidable-really. Regular length is terrifying and more than that is no-go territory.

This would have been a great opportunity for an Akira Elevator:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/why-the-mysterious-love-aff...

You might enjoy this (now 2 part series) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2oELc61XHE

> 486-step staircase

> service for skiiers

Can't help but think of trudging up the gondola stairs at heavenly in ski boots at the end of the day.

this is why snowboarding will win in the end.

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