Direct Link: http://www.dldhistory.com/link2us.asp?ID=1027 The Disneyland Monorail was the first operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere and the first to cross a public street. When [...]

Direct Link: http://www.dldhistory.com/link2us.asp?ID=1027
The Disneyland Monorail was the first operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere and the first to cross a public street. When Walt built Disneyland, he wanted complete control over the steam trains, so that he could take them out when ever he wanted. Thus, he placed the steam trains, and then later the monorails under the ownership of Retlaw and leased them back to the park. In 1982, the family decided to sell the assets of Retlaw to the Disney Company, and a holding company, Walt Disney Incorporated was formed. Eventually, the steam trains and monorails became "officially" Disneyland's property.
The Monorail only ran around Tomorrowland from 1959 through 1961 when it was extended to the Disneyland Hotel.
Mark I trains capacity 82-3 cars per train monorail red, blue: 1959-1961
Mark II trains capacity 108-4 cars per train 3 square windows monorail red,blue,gold: 1961-1968
Mark III trains capacity 127-5 cars per train 4 wraped windows monorail red,blue,green,gold: 1968-1986
Mark IV trains: (Only used at WDW)
Mark V trains 5 cars per train first monorail with air-conditioning:monorail purple, red, blue, gold: 1986-2008
Mark VI trains:(Only used at WDW)
Mark VII trains 5 cars per train all have have blue glass that change color in the sunlight. : monorail red ,blue ,orange 2008-
The trip from Tomorrowland to the Disneyland Hotel is more level and has more straight-aways, drivers can run the Monorail at full speed, 35 miles per hour. The return trip, though, has several curves and a seven-degree grade near the Submarine Lagoon, so drivers are instructed to maintain a speed of fifteen miles per hour.
Initial cost to build the monorail was $1.4 million (in 2006 dollars it would be over $9.4 million)
The monorail designer was Alweg which are the initials of the owner of the company: Axel L. Wenner-Gren
The initial contract to build the monorails was given to a manufacture of garbage trucks then the studio decided to finish them up.
The original track was 8 tenths of a mile long with a maximum height of 31 feet
Track extension to the hotel cost $1.9 million (in 2006 dollars it would be over $12.4 million)
In June of 1976 the Alweg logo was removed from the trains due to Alweg going broke.
In 1985 the Disneyland Monorail received Historical Mechanical Landmark Status. Here is what is writen on the dedication plaque:
HISTORICAL MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING LANDMARK
DISNEYLAND MONORAIL SYSTEM
1959
DISNEY ENGINEERS DESIGNED THIS MONORAIL SYSTEM, BASED ON THE SYSTEM DEVELOPED
BY AXEL L. WENNER-GREN (ALWEG). BUILT AT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS, THE SYSTEM IS
INTENDED TO APPLY TO URBAN TRANSIT. OPENED IN 1959, IT AS BEEN IN DAILY
PASSENGER SERVICE EVER SINCE. THE CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH 600 VOLT D.C. 100 HP
ELECTRIC MOTORS DRIVING RUBBER TIRED WHEELS ON A SINGLE BEAM TRACKWAY.
REDEDICATED JUNE 14, 2004
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS-1986
When the last of the Mark II trains were scrapped one was used to create the Mouse-O-Rail. We have a short video about it.
Complete video of Disneyland's Monorail at DLDHistory.com