My Grandad worked at the northampton testing facility. I remember the photo of him in the paper meeting the queen when she opened the tower.
Ironically I am currently writing a dissertation on elevator technology, looking into future systems. Why has this new tower got no sideways bits? Maybe there is no call for horizontal action. I'm guessing they have a vertical linear motor in there, or could it be that they are continuing with the roped and counterweighted system, and perfecting that??
Does anyone know of any new elevatoring technology that might be of use to me?