The university that I went to in the late eighties had a paternoster in a tall (10+ floor) building and they were great fun. Very quick and easy to move between floors. I always liked using them.

I remember zoneing out once while riding them and accidentally going over the top. From what I remember there was a sign on the wall that faced the compartment after it passed the top floor cautioning you to keep still - presumbly so you didn't trigger a motion sensor while your cab engaged with the drive wheel. It was no big deal.

Second year students used to scare the nervous first year newbies by going under or over and emerging standing on their hands.