We're heading away from the Matterhorn, toward the Skyway Chalet in Fantasyland. As usual I am particularly drawn to the gold-painted buckets (as well as the gold-painted Autopia cars!).
Now we're on the Tomorrowland side of the Swiss mountain, with the curving Monorail track below us. I've always assumed that the "tray" underneat the track was there to catch nuts and bolts, oil drips, and any other debris that might fall off of the Monorail. Or maybe it's there for maintenance crews to walk on.
Now we're on the Tomorrowland side of the Swiss mountain, with the curving Monorail track below us. I've always assumed that the "tray" underneat the track was there to catch nuts and bolts, oil drips, and any other debris that might fall off of the Monorail. Or maybe it's there for maintenance crews to walk on.
Why is that man in the golden bucket staring at me? Look at the park dude!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that Monorail track great? Not a bad mountain either. ;)
The sense of fun comes right through. :)
Maybe because the first pic has so much contrast, the openings in the side of the mountain really stand out. One of the things that makes that ride fun are those areas you occasionally speed through bringing you “outside” for a few moments.
ReplyDeleteI always figured that the panels under the monorail track were for grease drips and other droppings... they look much to flimsy and unsafe (even by the standards of the day) for use as a catwalk.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that those guards under the beamway in certain locations are there to catch pieces of brake shoes which wear off and occasionally drop pieces to the ground. There was also a concern that in a few locations, the beam can be reached by a tall guest, so the canopies were added to keep those guests back.
ReplyDeletei wondered why that tray thingy is only on part of the track and not all along it
ReplyDeleteI love that second shot. Talk about "you are there"!!!
ReplyDeleteAs a resident of Seattle and someone who works near Seattle Center, I can attest to the constant highway of drip marks on the monorail pillars closest to the "roundhouse" and presume the panels underneath the beamway at Disneyland are there to catch drips, brake dust, etc. (Here in Seattle there's a greater chance of falling 'debris' - although the folks who operate and maintain the monorail would probably feel slighted by that remark). But, what the heck, the trains are about to celebrate their Golden Anniversary so all bets are off - in spite of all the loving care they've received this past half-century. ALWEG Monorail, go, go, go.
ReplyDeleteThe Seattle Monorail rocks! We enjoyed it on our last trip to see the EMP.
ReplyDeleteWe had a monorail as part of our Expo in Vancouver, but didn't keep it. It was made by Von Roll of Switzerland. Same company that made the Skyway gondola at Disneyland.
Circle of Life.
Chiana, you see that a lot in old Skyway photos... family members were in consecutive buckets, and they would wave to each other.
ReplyDelete210Frwy, if you look at early artwork for Space Mountain, the track went outside the "cone" of the building. In a way, I'm glad that they did away with that, mostly because it would literally take you out of the space theme.
Katella and D ticket, I'm sure you are both right. It is hard to believe that the beam could ever be reached by a guest though. Maybe if the guest was named Lurch?
Nancy, it looks like the tray thingy is not present where people could not walk beneath it (like the part that's right up against the Matterhorn).
Connie, I'm usually about the Tomorrowland stuff, ut in this case I like the Fantasyland side better! Look at the way the wind is blowing that waterfall, by the way.
Nanook, I didn't think about it, but you are right, the Seattle Monorail turns 50 next year! Amazing.
Anon, I wonder if that Vancouver Monorail was recylced somewhere, or if it was completely scrapped?
Yes, it was, and it's still in use. Alton Towers theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England.
ReplyDeleteGoogle is honoring Mary Blair's 100th birthday today. :)
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