Friday, June 24, 2011

Extension of the Monorail



ANAHEIM, Calif., May 26—DISNEYLAND MONORAIL EXTENDED—Motorists traveling along Harbor boulevard in Anaheim, Calif., get a possible foretaste of the future as a train rolls over the extended Disneyland-Alweg monorail system. More than a mile and a half of concrete beamway has been added to the line, connecting Disneyland hotel with the amusement park. The monorail is the first in the U.S. to run adjacent to a major traffic artery.

It was an exciting time for transportation and the Monorail in 1961. How I wish the Monorail had caught on nationwide, and not just in Las Vegas! Many a time when I am caught in a traffic jam, I look at the center divide of the freeway and wish that there was a Monorail overhead. Had Walt lived, I have a feeling he would have made one happen in Los Angeles at the very least.

Here are some color photos from the same time period, showing the sleek and beautiful Disneyland Monorail, back when it still held the promise of the future!

Hmmm...farmer's-tractor-type-vehicle or Monorail. Yup...I'm choosing the Monorail!









I'm digging the vintage autos, too!



Oh, to ride in the cone! What a treat!



Time to zoom in so we can drool over the Alweg logo!



Here's the yellow monorail speeding round the corner of the Matterhorn, with the Skyway floating overhead:



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Monorail photos at my main website.

5 comments:

  1. OK, yes, my smile is from ear to ear looking at these. I know most everyone gets tired of my ranting and raving at how awesome 100 acres of concrete were;so I will just say this:
    YYYYYYYYYYYYeeeeeeeesSsssssssssssss Sir. Those are just wonderful.
    Thanks as always for the memory flood that occurs.

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  2. And to ride up in the bubble top with the driver....also a big treat!

    By the time I got to the third pic, I thought of you, Thufer!

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  3. Anonymous12:21 PM

    I love the photos with the vintage autos!

    Eric

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  4. That last pic is really great, what a dynamic environment.

    What is that roof in the background, where are we here? I think this is the SE walkway, we would have the America the Beautiful pavilion behind us in this pic? AmIrite?

    JG

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  5. Wow, wow, wow! I almost fainted!!!

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