Monorail system

[Anonymous]

I'm looking to put a monorail system on my "O" scale layout, I would perfer to have one that is expandable and electric. Anyone out there know where I might be able to find something like this?......thx.

[csxt30]

I used to see them last year on E-bay, at the Disney category quite often. I thought they were nice, but you can only get them in sets, I think. I think they sell them at Disneyworld, also. Hope this helps, oh & there are some real old sets that come up on E-bay also, though these go for a lot !
Thanks,

[pbjwilson]

My brother-in-law has one of these. He sets it up under his Christmas tree every year. It's a very nice model and runs very well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DISNEYS-MONORAIL-TRAIN_W0QQitemZ6612077081QQcategoryZ1380QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or you can build your own -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6041691835&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[Anonymous]

Origionally, these were ONLY available at the Disney park...but are no longer being sold, except on eBay. They are close to "S" scale. Saw one on a show layout once...very nice. Joe

[csxt30]

Paul !! I bet Doug would likes that, since he like the overhead catenary system !! I just know he would like it !! That doesn't sound too expensive either !! [:)]
I'm talking about the one you build yourself !
Thanks,

[Anonymous]

MTH offered a re-realease of the Prewar Leland Detroit monorail that hangs from above last year. It came in traditional and DCS. Blue and cream or red and cream.

The disney set is nice, battery powered and few control options.

I use the Rokenbok building set monorail in my layout. I participate in a Rokenbok forum at www.rcblocks.com . It is a little on the large side but has a great simple RC command system that allows up to 8 vehicles at a time. It is a real blast to play with.

For other options check out the monorail interest group at www.monorails.org

[pbjwilson]

John,
I've always liked do-it-yourself articles of the 50's. I used to collect magazines like Popular Mechanics that had plans in them to build whatever. It seemed like you could build anything out of a sheet of plywood and a box of nails. Always enjoyed the little cartoon like drawings of the father and son going to the lumberyard in the station wagon, buying a sheet of plywood, coming home and building a train table. Something very wholesome about those drawings and the simple pleasure of making something out of wood. Might buy those monorail plans, copy them, and send the original to Doug on his birthday. Sometime in May he said.

[csxt30]

Paul : that would be nice to do ! When I was little, my Dad had saved a ton of the old Popular Mechanix magazines, from the 20s & 30s & I was always getting into them ! It seemed my Dad just wanted to save them & didn't really like me getting into them. I wish I still had them sometimes. I still have stuff my Dad made out of old orange crates ! He always said, " don't buy it, make it " ! Maybe that's where I get my Dumpster Diving from !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Lego

[csxt30]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chuckn

Lego

I still have my plastic building bricks from the 50s, which went by the name of ELGO, a forerunner to the legos. Notice it has all the letters of Lego in it. Then they were called American Building Bricks. Still very popular on E-bay & I even bought some more to add to mine. I got the garage door I always wanted when I was a kid !
Thanks,

[prewardude]

Here's the link to the MTH repro Leland-Detroit monorails:
http://www.mthtrains.com/list.asp?search=name&qwest=0&muun=monorail

Last time I checked (yesterday), they hadn't shipped yet.

Regards,
Clint

P.S. If the link doesn't load right away, keep trying; MTH's site has been horribly slow as of late.

[cnw1995]

May 14th, Paul! [:D] - I love that prewar Leland Detroit monorail. The MTH one is a bit outside my price range - maybe someday. It's Standard Gauge, isn't it? I love those old Pop. Mechanics too - good memories reading them.

John, remember that coal you sent us? We spread a bit at the base and just renamed Mt. Seaman in your honor. I'll have to remember to take a photo when I get new batteries.

[rlplionel]

Here's a pic of the Disney monorail set up on my layout:



Robert
http://home.surewest.net/rlplionel/Robert.htm

[Anonymous]

I have one, not such a bad monorail, you should expand it. I did, I dont have a layout though, it looks better in my opinion. Not bad.

[Anonymous]

The monorail looks very nice on your layout Robert. I like how you extended the pylons and fit it in to the tight spot.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the double post

I think that the Leland is it's own gauge. It runs only on specialized track. Years ago there was an article in CTT on a layout that had several different monorails. The owner had extended the track by making his own.

I have also heard of people cramming an N-scale mechanisim into the Disney monorail and running it on handmade monorail with N gauge track running atop it. Neat idea if the origional mechanisim dies.

[FJ and G]

The coolest monorail I've ever seen (in photos b/c I'm too young), was the pre-war era monorail in Malaysia that consisted of a single rail and a gyroscope-operated train. When the train stopped, it had a motorcycle-like kickstand that prevented it from toppling over. Those crazy Brits! (when the sun never set on the British empire)

[lionelsoni]

Perhaps this is a good time and place to mention the first monorail, the Listowell and Ballybunion, in Ireland, from 1888 to 1924:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listowel_and_Ballybunion_Railway

I believe that monorails are the railroad of the future--and always will be!

[FJ and G]

The one from Bob's link is similar to the one I'm referring to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Einschienerp.jpg

[palallin]

You can find Remco Speedrail equipment (both freight and passenger) on eBay fairly regularly. I still have my childhood set, and I've added to it recently.

[waltrapp]

My brother returned from DisneyWorld, or was it DisneyLand, with a set 1 1/2 years ago. He's since added on included 5 or 6 big Disney-themed structures. He bought more track, or whatever they call it, not 4 or 5 months ago - and it wasn't from ebay. I can ask him if anyone is interested

His setup is really nice. It has some type of switch that directs the train to one of 2 tracks. The train has nice sound effects too. The buildings are fun-type buildings - his 3 daughters, all 6 and younger, play with them.

- walt