Aboard the Monorail
I have two vintage photo prints for you today, circa 1965. Nothing amazing, but they are unusual, and sometimes that's enough. Both were taken by somebody while aboard the Disneyland Monorail, back when they had windows that were open to the fresh (?), cool (??) SoCal air. Imagine feeling that breeze as it rushed through your mullet! I know, mullets weren't a thing in 1965, but a guy can dream.
Here we are, zipping (in "Old Blue") above a surprising amount of greenery. So much that it's hard to get a sense of where we are in the ride. Taking a look at a 1965 map, I think that we've already gone all the way to the Disneyland Hotel and come back, snaking above the Motorboat Cruise and Autopia track, and just skirting the eastern edge of the park. This curve will eventually take us around the Matterhorn, and then the track will lead back to the Tomorrowland station.
Here's an interesting study in contrasts, with the genuine steam-powered C.K. Holliday about to pass us. I believe that this photo was taken just moments after the first one, and the Matterhorn would just be out of frame to our left. There's the Fantasyland Skyway Chalet in the distance!
21 comments:
Major-
You Are there-!
Thanks, Major.
It looks surreal, seeing the futuristic Monorail gliding through the woodsy, rural backcountry of Disneyland. I sort of expect to see a "deer crossing" sign along the route. Or maybe a cattle crossing grate.
In yesterday's post, I mentioned how the Park was leaning 5 degrees to the southeast. Today's photos were taken about a year later and look how tilted the Park has become! Almost 40 degrees! Not sure which direction we're looking here... north? Clearly, the guys with the earth-moving equipment overcompensated! I'm surprised the steam train didn't tumble over! And what about the Sub Lagoon?!
Thanks for the Unirail pics, Major.
I think from the angle which we are viewing the Skyway chalet, that those trees to the right of the train is roughly where It's a Small World was going to be built. Just to the leftt of the end of the train, there is a flag. I think that is on top of the Fantasyland train station. And I think that little green building hiding in the bushes on the left side of the pic, is the Disneyland Naval Yard, where the subs could be dry docked and worked on.
These are fun on-board pics, Major! Thanks for sharing!
In the first photo, you get just a glimpse of the interior trim of a Mark II monorail, which I never saw in person and don’t recall ever seeing a photo of. Deep red ejection seats with some matching interior trim - it just screams “cool” at me. You can hear that, too, right? Right??
The spire of the Fantasyland station jumped out at me in that second picture, too. I barely managed to dodge in time. I’ve had enough pole-shaped objects hit me in the eye to last a lifetime, thank you very much!
You can also make out a couple of Skyway gondolas - one green, one blue - in front of the chalet as well as the patchwork quilt plantings in Story Book Land. The C.K. Holliday is pulling the 300-series excursion cars.
Unusual is good. It’s probably why we all come here anyway. Thanks!
Chuck, I remember when you had your eye injury, and Mrs. Chuck had to post here for you. How long has that been now?
What an engineering marvel the Monorail system was/is. I am more impressed with the track, than the actual moving vehicles, as the moving vehicles could be replicated several times over. The track had to be designed, engineered, constructed piece by piece by piece, with no one track the same size, shape, weight, height the same. If nothing else, the word that comes to mind is "expensive". I suppose that when the track was extended to the Hotel they could have had some duplicate pylons, track and python pieces. No, that is not a spell check, I did write python, because it would be kind of fun to see a python holding up a Monorail. PeopleMover is PeopleMover, so it Monorail a MonoRail? I know it's not, but it could be...like a StoryBookLand. DisneyLand or Disneyland?: "Disneyland". To be clear, I am also impressed with monorail vehicles as well: the Gurr version. Today's is a "nice nod", however the exterior mousekedecor is troublesome. Can we just have a clean monorail in Red, blue, green, and yellow? I'm not even asking for fancy colors or sparkly finishes. I first didn't think that the go away green shed was the entrance to the Sub bone-yard, but I suppose it is...I thought that it was the cross over through the berm now next to Small World leading to the round house. I think it has to be Sub-Land since the Swiss Chalet presented by Swiss Miss Cocoa is so far in the distance. Swiss Miss was never a sponsor, but it makes complete sense. "Tolberone presents: The Matterhorn!". Instead of bobsleds you ride big triangle shaped "Cococars". Fun fact is that the Matterhorn was the inspiration for the shape of Toblerone, and a graphic appears on every bar. A missed opportunity. Check out the Toblerone 1959 Ad. Could be an attraction poster. Thanks for the morning musings Major!
BU: I may have mentioned this on here before but I have sone WED inter office communications from I believe 1972 regarding how Disney can copyright “PEOPLEMOVER” …. In park signage and display it can be displayed as graphics sees fit, however in all printed material it has to be “PeopleMover” to be copyrighted and going forward all departments need to follow that specification.
This may be a similar explanation for “It’s A Small World” or “ America Sings” to be in quotes …. Sobering needs to be specifically different in order to have it copy written…. But it’s just speculation.
I’m not sure where exactly the 1959 and 1961 Monorail beams were constructed, but after 1962 all Disney Monorail beams are manufactured in Washington Stare at the facility built for the 1962 Seattle Worlds Fair. The mold forms can easily be set for almost any type curve or elevation change . There are also permanent “straight-away” beam forms that can easily be adjusted for length. I can’t imagine the mold forms being used much these days as I don’t think there are many ALWEG straddle models operating… or at least not expanding.
Nanook, it’s true, I AM here!
JB, I’ve always loved that part of Disneyland’s tomorrowland was full of trees and waterways. It is such a diversion from the usual “white buildings, no plants” vision of the future. That second photo is at a rather crazy angle, but I applaud the photographer for attempting it!
TokyoMagic!, interesting, I find it hard to get my bearings in that second photo, even with the Fantasyland Skyway Chalet in the distance. I’d need to get out a souvenir map (or look at an aerial photo). But seeing the Fantasyland train station helps a lot! We’ve seen that little green building before, I think you are right about it being part of the Naval Yard.
Chuck, the red seats do look cool, I wonder if the red Monorail had blue seats? Also, I hear screaming all the time, so… RIGHT. How many pole-shaped objects hit your eyes before you’d had enough? Are you sure those aren’t the 300-SL excursion cars? I don’t know what “SL” means, but it sure sounds more expensive. Notice the sooty area on the Monorail track where the train passes.
TokyoMagic!, I’d forgotten that Mrs. Chuck had to post for Chuck! Now she knows what really goes on here.
Bu, you are right, the track is impressive, and clearly it’s expensive too, which I believe is why we haven’t seen much in the way of change to it since DCA. I’d assume that on the straightaways they could relax a bit, but they made it hard for themselves with all of those complex curves, many that actually bank to the right or left. There’s no reason they couldn’t have called it a MonoRail, but they just didn’t. I prefer the clean paint jobs of days past, but somebody has decided that the Monorails need to be “wrapped”, and there’s no going back, apparently. Swiss Kriss should have sponsored something at Disneyland. Think of the merchandise opportunities.
Mike Cozart, now I want to go through all of my guidebooks and brochures to make sure that they actually use “PeopleMover” instead of “Peoplemover”. Something tells me that they weren’t totally consistent with it. I know that “it’s a small world” was often printed with no caps, but even that wasn’t consistent. I wonder how the mold forms for the Monorail tracks (built in Washington) can easily be set for any curve or length? If somebody has figured out a clever way to do it, I’d be fascinated to know how!
In the 60’s a peg system was used to bend the forms using a giant X and Y axis. At some point the forms became computerized and the curve and rise and be programmed. Then the rebar is inserted and the concrete is injected in … in fact that is what the modern version is kinda like … a giant injection molding machine but with concrete. The whole system then vibrates … kind of like an ultrasonic cleaner … to remove any air bubbles … ( well the old system vibrated - I’m not actually sure if the new method needs to vibrate to cure. I do know that the process is very very expensive and time consuming.
In the 80’s my high school girlfriend went to college at the University of Puget Sound … so I often flew from San Diego to Seattle for college dances and her sorority event things like that etc…. Anyway, my grandfather had worked with a guy at Ryan Aeronautics who now worked for a company who manufactured things for helicopters and other type things and his company was contracted to restore the two surviving Seattle Worlds Fair Monorails … on one visit to Seattle we got to visit the facility where they were about to restore the second monorail … however it was delayed in being removed from the beam and he didn’t have much to show us and he feet bad but showed us the plans and video of the beams being made for EPCOT CENTER back in the early 80’s .. ( he was well aware on my Disney interest ( the monorail beams were done at another location ) he felt bad the monorail wasn’t there yet so he arranged for me to see the monorail and tour it before it was restored so while it was on a storage siding I got to go in and take pictures …. It was in bad shape then …. Almost like an old forgotten bus! When I saw the operating one they had already restored i was certain they knew exactly what they were doing as it looked BRAND NEW “
‘62 like - and it was 1987 or so ….
@ MIKE-
The trains (Blue & Red) for the Seattle Center Monorail have had several "refreshes" over the years. I can't remember the latest major overhaul, but [I think] it was about 10-15 years ago. I read the RFP, but don't remember the details. At one point, I talked with the folks from Seattle Monorail Services who described the 'inner workings' of the trains consisting of essentially "off-the-shelf" parts, which are still easy to source, lo these many years later - and essentially allowing the trains to keep running and running (unplanned-for fires and accidents, notwithstanding...)
As part of a 'minor refresh', following an 'unplanned accident' on November 26, 2005 when the two trains somehow found themselves "rubbing elbows" at a pinch point near the Westlake Station (caused by operator error), the Seattle Opera Company props department constructed a new set of nine aluminum doors — eight for the red train and one for the blue train. The repair sounds like shades of Disney, as I imagine the talented/specialized workers at the Seattle Opera Company are well-suited for all the custom work needed to recreate those original doors. Plus - they're neighbors. And as one can't really tell which doors are new - it was the perfect choice.
HERE's a short, recent film with some images from the 'roundhouse'.
Hmmmm....
Try THIS LINK, instead.
TM!, that accident was in August of 2015, so about 12½ years if my math is correct…and you are working in quinary (as we do on my home world).
Major, one pole-shaped object is plenty. I had trouble enough with those air-pressure tests they give you at the optometrist’s office before the accident; now I have to pry my own eye open and have to take a minute afterwards to catch my breath and lower my heart rate. But my optometrist is a great guy and has spent the last 12½ quinary years carefully monitoring my eye to ensure it isn’t degrading any further. It was a little weird at first when he would follow me into the shower, but I admire his dedication.
I was a little worried about initiating Mrs. Chuck into our dark circle, but now that she has earned a pile of Illuminati frequent conspirator points, we can really cash in on all of the benefits. We’re going to Davos next year!
Mike, I rode the Seattle Monorail in 1989, soon after that refurb and its extension to Westlake Center downtown. They looked (and ran) great.
Nanook, cool link. They reference that, while many components have been replaced, they are still the original trains. Sort of like Abraham Lincoln’s axe.
Chuck, besides Tokyo! and myself, I think all the GDBers are wondering if there are any lingering consequences from your fight with the tent pole.
Bu, I laughed at your "Cococars" coinage. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN!!1!!11!!!
I googled the 1959 Toblerone ad... all it's missing is a few caves and bobsleds! A missed opportunity, indeed.
Major, do you think the photographer deliberately took that photo at an angle? Seems like it was just a spur of the moment, un-aimed 'quick click'.
Nanook, soooo, does the Seattle monorail have "planned accidents"??? If so, I'd like to have a schedule so as to avoid riding on those days. ;-)
Thanks for the YouTube link, it's always great to see the Seattle monorail, especially the vintage views.
Chuck 2, I guess you sort of answered my question, above.
Mike Cozart, I wonder what the forms were made of, since they would have to be something that maintained the basic track shape, but would also be able to make curves - sometimes relatively tight curves? The machine that vibrated the concrete is called “Magic Fingers”.
Mike Cozart, that’s pretty nice that you eventually got to see the Seattle monorail as it was being restored. I made a point of riding that Monorail during my visit some years ago, it was kind of neat, and because I was there in the off season, there were only a few other people on board, which was also nice. I wonder how they got to be in such bad shape? Weather? Vandalism?
Nanook, it only makes sense to use off the shelf parts for something as esoteric as a monorail system, otherwise you’re going to be in big trouble when stuff wears out. I was watching an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” on YouTube, and he commented on how today’s cars have so many computerized parts that eventually those will be obsolete and unserviceable. I’d never thought about it! Will all those cars go into the landfills or the crushers?
Nanook, both links worked for me!
Chuck, ugh, just thinking about eye damage of any kind is enough to bring tears to my eyes. Does your optometrist make you sit on his lap? I’ve always thought it was a bit odd when mine does that, but hey, I didn’t go to medical school. I hope Mrs. Chuck uses her Illuminati points for a Schwinn bicycle with a banana seat! Abraham Lincoln’s axe? You mean his Axe body spray? He was once voted “Best Smelling President” by Harper’s Monthly.
JB, I think Toblerone has hazelnuts in it. Hazelnuts are of the Devil, and ruin perfectly good chocolate. I could hardly go anywhere in Europe to find chocolate uninfected by hazelnuts. Yes, I don’t like Nutella either. SO THERE! I’m sure you’re right about that photograph being grabbed spontaneously, kind of like that photo by Lou from a few days ago.
Major, it's funny, fresh dried hazelnuts (I call 'em filberts) don't taste anything like Nutella or chocolate with hazelnuts added. Almonds are the same way. Stuff with almonds added always taste like cherry to me. I add almond extract to cherry pie filling to boost the flavor (along with some added sugar). Hazelnuts (and almonds, or any nuts for that matter) take on a different, more intense flavor when they've been roasted. Anything with pistachios added also tastes like cherry, says I. For the record, I like 'em all. Including coconut... and banana-flavored stuff. All of your "of the Devil" foods! ;-)
Major, I don't care too much for hazelnuts, either. Toblerone uses almonds. I do like Toblerone chocolate, but for the most part, I prefer my chocolate to be nut-free. The same goes for my cookies, brownies, cakes, etc.
Nanook, thanks for that link. Towards the end of the video, I noticed what looked like either graffiti all over the monorail, or it was more of that "shrink wrap" garbage, but with a graffiti pattern on it.
Chuck, I also visited Seattle in 1989 and rode the Seattle monorail for the first time. I love Seattle and have been back several times since then. Next to Tokyo, it's my "most often visited place/vacation destination."
Nanook, I guess I didn't finish my thought about the Seattle monorail. So they also do that plastic wrap advertising thing? If so, that's such a shame to cover up a historic monorail vehicle with that stuff. Unless it is somehow helping to hold all the pieces together! ;-)
JB, the biggest long-term impact of my eye injury is that it caused something called “farsight shift” in my right eye. I used to primarily use my right eye for close-in work, but now that eye struggles to focus uncorrected on anything closer than about a foot. Oddly, my uncorrected distant vision in that eye actually improved after the accident.
The worst thing about it is I can’t look at View-Masters through handheld viewers anymore because I can’t focus on the image with my right eye. I have a small collection of ViewMaster reels - some that I have had since I was two years old (I got it on my first trip to Southern California, although not at Disneyland) - and it just kills me that I can’t enjoy them like I used to. I can still show them in my 1950s 3-D View-Master projector, but that takes a bit of work to set up (it requires a special screen and polarized glasses), and since my projector has the earlier 3” lenses instead of the later 2¼” ones and I can only back the projector up so far before it collides with a wall, the projected images aren’t as big on the screen as I would like them to be.
Major, yes, my optometrist does make me sit on his lap. I hate the way he runs his arm up the back of my shirt and forces me to say silly things while he barely moves is lips - it makes me feel like a real dummy. But I can’t complain too much - he takes good care of my eyes for me. He even lets me borrow them sometimes.
TM!, I was actually born in Tacoma (just down the road from Seattle), although I moved away when I was three months old. I’ve been back to the Seattle area seven times, but five of those trips were work-related and kept me close to McChord AFB in Tacoma (in fact, on two trips, I literally never left the base - I even landed and took off from the base runway).
The 1989 trip was to visit a former high school girlfriend and her family who had moved up there after my junior year and had stayed in touch as a friend. We spent most of a day at Seattle Center and Westlake Center, and of course just had to ride the monorail between the two (twist my arm!). That was the first time I ever saw a Disney Store, back when they were still a pretty unique thing. It was also the first time in my life that I can remember enjoying going shopping (I just don’t have that temperament). Oh, and the Berlin Wall came down. It was a fun (and historic) long weekend. Thanks for giving me a reason to remember it!
Late from two long days on the road, sorry. Thanks Major!
Great comments. I agree the little building is part of the Disney Navel Yards, where they used recycled dryer lint to stuff the plush toys with imitation navel lint. Later, these facilities were converted to maintain the Submarine Fleet and the WED sign department re-painted all the signs after social media complaints.
Mike, your description of the beam casting is consistent with my experience with modern Precast concrete. Vibratory consolidation is standard for all formed concrete to shake out air pockets and ensure adhesion to the steel reinforcement. Application of the “buzzers” is carefully observed to obtain best results. Today, practically any shape can be easily computer modeled in concrete. The real wonder is the original Imagineers did that without computers. Bob Gurr is a National Treasure and Nicholas Cage should award him a Knighthood for Engineering. So rare to find such knowledge with a sense of style. That award should come with an all-you-can-eat lifetime supply of Toblerone.
I once saw Abraham Lincoln’s bladeless axe without a handle, Disney was going to display it in Rolly Crump’s Musuem of the Weird.
Major, I love Nutella, I’ll have yours.
Chuck, I’m glad your vision has stabilized, too bad about the ViewMasters. I wish I had my old ones. See you in Davos!
JG
Major, re form material for beam rails. Curved concrete formwork is sometime Grade A veneer plywood or Masonite MDO/HDO, but for the reusable / resettable forms, often thin flexible steel. Wood based material can only be reused a few times, while steel can be used indefinitely. Since the beam cross section is consistent, it’s likely that steel is used for the complex curves.
Curb extrusion machines that are used for highway/street curb & gutter are all steel forms, as are the forms for continuous concrete pipelines, extruded without joints or seams. Amazing tech, these gadgets crawl on tank treads, eat wet concrete and barf out curbs following GPS coordinates. Feed Me Seymour.
JG
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