This is the concept art that I saw all along. I cannot post the real one here since I don't want to violate my non-disclosure agreement. It clearly showed the angled vents and more detailed stripes. Perhaps everyone wouldn't be upset over not getting a completely new train if they had seen that artwork before the actual thing, because it looks exactly like how its depicted in this concept.

I do think you are right in that the designers of the new monorail abandoned the "worlds fair- like" showcase of a new technology for one that pays tribute to the designs of the first monorail. After all, the "monorail" technology is no longer a cutting edge breakthrough. We've all seen it. Now its time to have some fun. After all, Bob Gurr admitted he did steal the Mark I design from Flash Gordon.

In my case, those inspirations were lost many years ago not because of what Disney theme parks did with these "transportation systems of the future" but because of politicians that wanted to spend hard earned tax payers' money on them.

Disney theme parks had absolutely nothing to do with those "transportation systems" becoming "rides" in my eyes.

I always enjoyed the peoplemover when I visited the park. It also gave a nice view of the monorail sitting at the station if you managed pass at the right time.

I don't disagree at with your point, but I feel that when people ride the monorail now, they'll lose that sense of validity of it being a transit system...what I mean is that for most people, it's their first (and only, perhaps) ride on a monorail. It's not so much the new-ness of the technology, it's just that monorails have been given a bad rap for so long in the US (as opposed to Japan--they're everywhere!).

I once read that "monorail", back in the 60's was actually singled out from getting any federal funding as a transportation system. The "light rail" consortium really hates Monorail, because it's too good of an idea, and it doesn't produce enough $$ for the "family tree" of politicians, consultants and contractors. Ask the question: how many people are killed by light rail every year, versus monorail?

It was the WDW monorail that caught Bombardier's attention many years ago to operate for Disney, because it was so effecient and made money..

It was Walt that back in about 1962, met with THE "Mr. Monorail", a gentleman that was proposing a huge monorail system down the medians of the L.A. Freeways. This was a serious proposal, that Walt was behind. Too bad it didn't happen. Imagine taking the "Los Angeles Monorail System" train from Glendale, right to Anaheim in 20 minutes--no traffic backups on Highway 5!! (I can almost hear the horns as they'd go by).

oh, well.

Paul N.

As a side note...I wonder why the Calif. High Speed Rail folks like the TGV system instead of the Transrapid Maglev? It seems good enough for Shanghai, China. There's a LOT of politics behind the opposition to monorails. This includes buses, taxis, and steel-on-steel railroads.

In my previous post, I pointed out how those in power--against monorail--had already blocked any tax dollars for it's use, anyway.

I don't have a problem with politicians using my tax dollars for monorail (or maglev). It would be a drop in the bucket compared to highway construction. I'd rather get on a public-funded monorail, because it would get me (& everyone else) somewhere effeciently. My time is money. Monorail is a liberal idea, and you can't get it going with a conservative way of thinking (private funding)--IMO.

I'm confused--you say that Disney had nothing to do with a transportation system becoming a ride? Whaa? If Disney "creates" something like a US-first monorail system (Alweg, modified by Gurr), then they have EVERYTHING to do with how that system is presented to the public. Whether people pick up on this or not--how Disney presents a mythology of a ride or themed area, can have everything to do with how the public reacts to it. It's all about context and how believable the subject is. You either buy into, or not buy into something at Disneyland by how well it's presented--or not. It's all about perception, whether it's obvious or not..

If you see the new monorail all dolled up, aren't people going to think?: "well, they must think that this isn't a showcase of technology anymore...it's just another ride".

I remember standing in a MKVI at WDW in 1990, or a cold & rainy December night, after the last EPCOT show, and seeing tired and cold guests come aboard, and they were saying out loud..."gee, I wish we had one of these back home".

'nuff said.

Paul N.

Monorails are great. I love them. However, they are mainly good for point-to-point transportation. Moving heavy cement beams to allow for switching takes a fair amount of space and energy. I realize that the parks with monorails have this sort of thing to allow access to the storage areas but are they practical for large-scale mainlines?

James

I think you should get a look at the "Monorails of Japan" video that I think that www.monorails.org produces.

There is a segmented concrete switch beam there in Japan that can move "on the fly" instantly back and forth for trains coming in to stations. It's pretty fast! They have monorails down to a science.

The "mainline" Alweg-type straddle-beam Monorails in Japan are BIG! Remember--the Disneyland one is about 5/8th in scale to the full-blown ALWEG design. Thousands of folks take monorail to and from work every day in Japan.

The idea of slow switches was propogated by monorail opponents. Monorails will work "at grade", and at any height. The only thing that a monorail can't do that a conventional train can do is derail!

How it would be great if Disney could educate folks about Monorail, and let TMS put in a display in Innoventions.

Just my two bits.

Paul N.

In my eyes (only) - no.

In my own personal view, what made the monorail system become less interesting to me as a form of public transportation was when politicians wanted to spend my money on it. Disney did not do that.

So in my viewpoint no, Disney had absolutely nothing to do with me seeing the monorail as a privately owned/operated ride instead of as a public transportation system.

Note that I'm talking about figuratively the monorail becoming a "ride" rather than a "transportation system." I'm not talking literally because, of course the Disneyland Monorail system is a ride....or is it?

This brings up an interesting point though. Should Disneyland be in the business of educating and "selling" an idea to the public? I don't know about that and I just visit the park to have fun, plain and simple.

Gee, maybe you should get a look at the dedication plaque at the plag pole on Main Street. Those words will answer your question.

Paul N.

I know I haven't been around in awhile but my two cents. Fisrt i like the new trains and i think the the Mark V's were dated. Second, Steve D. is right in that we got what the picture showed which is basically a new body on an old platform(sort of like the difference between the third and fourth generation mustangs[ on a side note they did rengineer the platform to bring it up to date]). While I agree with people on the point that it probably won't help sell monorails a legitimate transportation systems, niether do the trains of bricks running on most monorails in Japan. Third, maybe the whale look will help sell monorails as an environmentally freindly form of transportation maybe they should paint one black. One of my main issues with the new monorails it that they sort of look cheap like the plastic models they sell in the emporium. It's like they are completely made out of plastic. I think the corrugated aluminum or chrome on the side would have helped. Oh well just my two cents.