Hoist Rooms and Cages

Never take an elevator for granted. Not even the one at the Empire State Building, which everyone who has visited New York City has done or should do (although once is enough). The CN Tower offers speed AND a panaroamic view on the way up.

The "cage" (elevator for humans) is a very stripped down version, lacking all the architectural detail and comfort, buffers, and whatever else public high-speed elevators have to make the ride comfortable. The other major difference is that most of the tall building elevators are only going up around 1,000 ft or so. These cages are going down 4,000 feet or so, and they're somewhat open. Like you can see the shaft walls.

Miners on shift line up like sardines to maximize the space, 5 one way, 5 the other, and so on until it's full. One bell from the hoist room, and before you have a chance to catch your breath and any other internal organs you may have left on the surface, you're already down a few thousand feet to the first working level.