PRR Monorail fantasy....what might have been..??

Alan, your Disney monorail is very nicely done!  I picked one up also and installed it on my layout a while back.  If you have time, post some more pics, it probably looks great in the setting you created on your layout!  

As a side note, I was able to RC that mono rail and put in a faster motor, it made a difference.  

-Pete

Pennsy would have painted them either green or maroon, wouldn't they?

The modern monorail is an odd thing, in that a reliable concept came along at the worst possible time, when road traffic had already been established over railroads among commuters. Had Alweg or companies like that come long in the late 30s, I'd be willing to bet that cities would be looking very different today.

There's the monorail left over from the Seattle world's fair, still in operation. But it's really a ride to nowhere as one station is next to the space needle, but the other end is really in the middle of downtown. They looked into expending it to be more useful, but of course the voters killed that dream.

Thanks guys! 

Pete....can you provide any help and/or information about your conversion?  I would like to increase the speed of the monorail and if possible, RC it.  I know the latest version that has been produced comes with a RC control but it is a different body style/design.

P51...you are probably correct...might have been Tuscan or Brunswick Green.  I may have to explore this since I have another set that I could completely paint.  Probably would look pretty sharp!

Alan

My monorail.

Spence...love the video!  That is the newer version of the monorail and I can see that you are able to control it with the included RC handheld that comes with it.  NICE!  I am hoping that Pete chimes back in with his conversion....

Thanks!

Alan

Alan,

could you add a Belpaire firebox to that model? Very nice work!

Brad

I think it'd look amazing in Tuscan red with the gold stripes, just like this:

Hi Alan,  i am going to shoot you an E-Mail as to how I did the conversion.  In a nutshell, I gutted a $10 "Tumbler" RC car that Walgreens was discounting last Christmas.  Amazon has it now for about $13-$17 (Look for Thunder Tumbler) The upgraded and faster motor I had in my parts bin......but I believe Radio Shack has it.

Here is a quick video of the result.  

-Pete

That looks awesome Spence. Is that before the demolition or after rebuilding began?   

Both versions look great! I have always liked the California version a little better but have ridden the one in Florida a few times.  Wish I had the real estate for the monorail.

Ok, Spence....fess up....thats not the original Disney monorail...too fast and white lights instead of green......watcha got under the hood and where did you get the conversion.?

-Pete

Gary;way before.

BF166; bought it on Ebay a couple of years ago. Hand held gun, fwd. & reverse, & speed control.

Hi Alan

     Looks like a first class People Mover.

Link below is to the Detroit People Mover.

http://www.thepeoplemover.com/

Gary - Cheers from The Detroit People Mover

Brad...that would be quite a difference in the way it looked!

Alan

Pete...I look forward to the email!!  I am very interested in upgrading these monorails...they are great models.

By the way, the monorail that Spence videoed is the latest production and comes with the remote, etc.

Gary...thanks so much for the link!!!

Alan

Email sent

-Pete

I like it Alan.  As we know, anything was possible with the PRR.

Looks great, Alan. 

PRR is a good choice. After all, they bought pretty much any motive power that the manufacturers could think up.  Come to think of it, this one looks like a monorail. Here's your paint scheme:

There is a Monorail society on the web. they have a page of modeling information.

Bob

Marty...you are correct!  That is why I agree with comments I have read over the years here on the forum that the Pennsy, had it survived, perhaps would have had examples of almost everything!

Alan

Bob...I love that Aerotrain!!

Alan

Here's my Aerotrain.

I've got one that could almost pass for a CNW

But if Pennsy had a monorail I'd like to see it in Tuscan red.

Ok guys. My wife is out of town so I had to buy one of the Disney monorails. It's on ebay. It's cheap, but I'll want to contact Pete about his upgrade and remote! Terry

Spence...nice video!

Alibatwomble....I really like that monorail!  Who made it and where is it available?

Bill....As said above, I agree and think I will paint up my extra monorail in the Tuscan scheme...

Alan

No problem, Terry, shoot me an email, when you are ready!

-Pete

Alan, it was made around the 1960-70's I think marketed by Woolworths.

They are made to run only in circles , another project to try and convert into going straight & curves. Have managed to find 2 sets,

Since I stirred up a bit of interest regarding my Disney Monorail RC mod, i found some pics of the monorail's interior and also the RC. Thunder Tumbler I gutted.

Hope this give you an idea as to accomplish this cheaply and effectively.   

-Pete

Thank you Pete! And when the time comes, I will certainly be contacting you! The pictures are really helpful.  Terry

I really like the red model!  Thanks for posting these....WOW!

Alan

Pete...the pictures really help.  I will be referring back to them along with your instructions in your email...thanks so much!

Alan

Well, SOMEBODY had to post it...

Mitch

Never seen that one Mitch!  Thanks for posting it...

Alan