- "What's the matter, Katarn? You've never heard of the turbolift? It's a lot easier than taking the stairs. It's faster too."
- ―A bounty hunter to Kyle Katarn
A turbolift, vacuum-lift, vacuum elevator, or lift tube was an "elevator" powered by a repulsorlift and was used mostly to transport people or cargo through large ships, buildings such as those on upper Coruscant, or even space stations such as the Wheel and the Death Stars.
They were capable of reaching great speeds without personal injury. The devices were sometimes referred to as turbovators rather than turbolifts; usage varied from world to world. Centerpoint Station referred to its elevator system that ran through Hollowtown and through the various metal shells as turbovators.
Though they provided a similar function, the drop shaft was distinctive from the turbolift.[1]
Some lifts would play lift-tube music.
Known models
Behind the scenes
The obvious real-world equivalent would be an "elevator" (or "lift," in British English), with the difference that an elevator is moved by cables and machinery, while a turbolift is moved by a repulsorlift. "Turbolift" has often been shortened in various Star Wars media to "lift."
Appearances
Sources
- Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin
- Death Star Technical Companion
- Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, Second Edition
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
- 1996 Topps Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Card: Guri Goes Toe-to-Toe with Luke) (backup link (http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC063.jpg) not verified!)
- Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide
- Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Limited Collector's Edition
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Coruscant and the Core Worlds
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith: Prima Official Game Guide
- "Message to Spacers 5" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Unknown Regions
- Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook