Here’s some widely known and not-so-widely known facts about the Disneyland Monorail:
What’s the fastest ride at Disneyland?
Trivia experts know it’s not Space Mountain. Technically, it’s the monorail, which is designed to go 70 mph, though its maximum speed is set at 30 mph.
How many passengers has the Monorail Mark V taken around the track?
156 million: The number of passengers it has carried on four trains – red, orange, blue and purple.
How long is the track?
.8: The number of miles the original track went around Tomorrowland. In 1961, its route was extended to the Disneyland Hotel, and today the track is 2.5 miles long.
How many people can ride on the Mark V Monorail?132: The number of people the five-car trains accommodate. The four-car models held 108.
How much electricity is used for the Monorail?
600: The number of DC volts the electric-powered trains collect from bus bars mounted at 16 locations on the beamway.
Is the Monorail free to ride?
The cost to ride it in the early 1960s was 75 cents. You could even ride it without going to Disneyland. The ticket took you from the Disneyland Hotel through the park and back. Today, the Monorail is free.
How does it work?A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for passenger or freight vehicles. Most are elevated. The vehicles either hang from or straddle a narrow guideway. Here are some questions the Disneyland ride operators hear all the time:
Can it go in reverse?
Yes, but typically it is operated going forward, and all the driving mechanisms are in the front.
Does it have wheels?
The Alweg-based monorail rolls over the beam on tires. At several junctions, a large “super single” tire rides on top of the beam, with two smaller tires rolling against each side of the beam. Air valves keep the cars level.
Who drives it?
A manual system was replaced by a computerized six-speed program that signals the driver when to change speeds.
Is it a Maglev?
No. A Maglev monorail floats above its rail, lifted and propelled by magnetic forces. It’s designed to travel at high speeds.
Can I sit on top?
No.
– Compiled by the Register’s Michele Himmelberg in 2004 for the Monorail’s 45th anniversary
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