Disney Monorails - How do they work? School Project...

[LoveThatMouse!]

DD comes home from school this afternoon and says that she will get extra credit in her science class is she can find out whether the Disney Monorails are Maglav Monorails or Not....Do they run via magnets?

We 'googled' to find the answer and have come up with nothing that we can understand...Soooooooo, we're hoping that there are some Monorail Experts out there that can explain if Disney Monorails are Maglav Monorails....

My DD and I thank you for you responses.

 

[Robo]

DD comes home from school this afternoon and says that she will get extra credit in her science class is she can find out whether the Disney Monorails are Maglav Monorails or Not....Do they run via magnets?

We 'googled' to find the answer and have come up with nothing that we can understand...Soooooooo, we're hoping that there are some Monorail Experts out there that can explain if Disney Monorails are Maglav Monorails....

My DD and I thank you for you responses.

Nope.

They run via a standard elecric motor system (similar to a subway car) that turns the rubber tires that ride on TOP of the rail.

There are additional "idler" rubber tires that ride along the SIDES of the rail, to keep the trains centered on the rail.

BTW, the BODY of the monorails are designed by Disney, always have been. The Motor propulsion system was purchased from the European company "Alweg."

Go HERE:

http://www.alweg.com/disneyalweg.html

 

[Luv4Disney]

Go to Wikipedia.com and search Walt Disney World Monorail. It gives a whole bunch of information. It also says the trains are Mark VI Trains. Look it up, it gives a whole lot of information about the whole running of it and everything. Also, Modern Marvels:Walt Disney World on the History Channel (maybe you can check out youtube.com) talks about the workings of the monorail system.

 

[Tiffer]

For extra, extra-credit add that the old monrail is now being used in Las Vegas!

 

[nbodyhome]

My husband used to drive monorails, I found out about this link through him (which should help you a lot!):

http://www.monorails.org/

 

[bradk]

as mentioned, the monorail is not run by magnets, but rock'n'roller coaster and the tomorrowland transit authority are!

 

[Robo]

For extra, extra-credit add that the old monrail is now being used in Las Vegas!

I think the engineers at Alweg would not give too much "credit" for that answer.

http://www.alweg.com/alweghome.html





AFAIK, the '"old" Disneyland and WDW monorails (the MOTORS and Drive systems) are all still in operation at the Disney parks.

The BODIES have been removed and new ones built and installed over the years.

Those old bodies (the few that were not crushed into scrap-metal) have been arond for awhile as well.

One was famous for being at the Mouse Surplus store for several years, and one (DL version) was converted into a street-ready BUS that was driven across the USA several years ago to promote Disney parks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Nope.
BTW, the BODY of the monorails are designed by Disney, always have been. The Motor propulsion system was purchased from the European company "Alweg."

Actually, the current monorails at WDW are made by Bombardier.

 

[Robo]

Actually, the current monorails at WDW are made by Bombardier.

You'll note that I didn't say they were MADE by Disney (they were actually CONSTRUCTED by outside companies since the beginning at Disneyland)...

I said they were DESIGNED by Disney.

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

I KNEW I had come to the right place!

Thanks everyone for your answers and website addresses!

DD has printed out multiple pages and is looking forward to sharing all of her newly acquired monorail knowledge w/ everyone tomorrow!

Again, my greatest thanks!