| Home | TRAIN WORLD MONORAIL When the word monorail is translated, monorail means "one rail". Monorail cars run along above or below them. Cars that run above the track either have a gyroscopic device that balances them, or guide wheels that grip the side of the rail to keep the cars from falling over. One of the monorails glides above a pool in Walt Disney’s EPCOT center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Supports for monorail tracks take up little space, leaving the ground free for other uses. There are two types of monorail systems. In the older type, the cars hang freely from wheels on a rail. The newer "split-rail" type suspends the cars from two rails spaced closely together and housed in one enclosure. The enclosure ensures quieter operation, and also keeps the track dry. Electric motors, gas turbines, or gasoline engines can power monorail cars. Rubber wheels cut noise considerably. Monorails are faster than, cheaper to operate and maintain than two rail elevated or subway lines. The smaller amount of friction in monorails allows greater speeds, with less operating costs. The first monorail system built in Wuppertal, Germany, in 1901, still carries passengers. Many United States cities have studied the possibilities of building monorail systems that can be built quickly and can operate above a busy street. The first monorail train in the United States operated at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in 1957. Other monorails are located at Washington, Dallas, Lake Arrowhead California, Pomona, and New York City at Lake Buena Vista Florida. Tokyo, Japan built an 8.2-mile monorail system for use during the 1964 Olympic Games there. If you have any questions or comments, please E-Mail the Webmaster |