Originally Posted By Diztwins behold the new Monorail: <a href="http://mousetimes.com/iboard/index.php?showtopic=7176&st=0&p=302942&#entry302942" target="_blank">http://mousetimes.com/iboard/i ndex.php?showtopic=7176&st=0&p=302942&#entry302942</a>
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Nice, in a very unoriginal kind-of way. I guess I am disappointed that they couldn't come up with something new and original.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^^Yeah, what is it with Disney and all this retro-future stuff? They seem to just be going around in circles with their interpretations of the future. The quote from the manufacturer states, "The bubble tops will not be added due to the low clearances around the park". Huh? Didn't the original monorail trains have bubble tops?
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>The quote from the manufacturer states, "The bubble tops will not be added due to the low clearances around the park". Huh? Didn't the original monorail trains have bubble tops?<< And better clearances. Remember, the trees have grown since the bubbletop monorails were removed.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I Guess they figure since all this retro-future stuff is so popular in Detroit these days, they can be successful with it as well. As for not adding a bubble top, perhaps the new trains will have a higher overall profile, and adding a bubble on top would make it taller than the old trains that had a bubble for the pilot?
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Remember, the trees have grown since the bubbletop monorails were removed." What? And the trees can't be pruned? "As for not adding a bubble top, perhaps the new trains will have a higher overall profile, and adding a bubble on top would make it taller than the old trains ..." Sounds like a reasonable explaination.
Originally Posted By ArchtMig ^^^ Yes, Hans. I think the latest trains were made as tall as possible to allow for better headroom inside the cabin for the full length of the train. So I guess the overall height of the trains now is as high as the height to the top of the bubble on the older trains. By the way, as far as I know, there is really only one place where clearance is an issue, and it's not due to trees. Right after the monorails leave Tomorrowland Station on their way out over Harbor Boulevard, they pass right under the return rail that the trains ride over when they first come back into Tomorrowland from the hotel. You can clearly see this location when standing on the Tomorrowland Station platform. That's where clearance is an issue, there isn't much extra room to spare, and it can't be pruned of course!
Originally Posted By ArchtMig BTW, the press release from the link in post #1 states that the company is making the nose and tail sections only, so I figure the middle sections might be the same shells from the Mark V trains. That means the new trains would be the same height as the current ones. Also interesting to note that the nose and tail shells are being fashioned from composites. That means carbon fiber, not aluminum or steel. Very high tech. Very cool. The same material that Burt Ruttan uses for his aircraft and spacecraft, like his X-Prize winning SpaceShip-One. The same material that modern racing yachts are fashioned from, like Roy Disney's Pyewacket, or the America's Cup yachts. Light weight, and super strong. That being said, I'm not thrilled with the look of the trains as depicted in the artist's rendition. Too long and wormlike. Too curvy and pointy. Yet I really don't see anything "retro" about the look, but maybe that's just me. I was at first disappointed with the Mark Vs, especially since I missed the bubble, but the Mark Vs quickly grew on me, and I really like their lines. Hopefully, the look of the new trains will grow on me too, because that's what we'll have for a long time to come. Regardless, I'm super glad that they're fixing them up, and committed to keeping the monorails viable and an ongoing part of the Disneyland experience.
Originally Posted By Westsider You know there will be folks in WDI on Monday morning furious about this little leak. ;-)
Originally Posted By tiggertoo Concept art is just that, this is what gonna "kinda look like." And you know what, it kinda looks like the last one too.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I like the look - wasn't excited about the possible return of the bubble tops.
Originally Posted By Britain I think the "retro" parts that people are talking about is simply the increase in color (no longer just a red stripe) and the bubble-ish nose cone. Other than that, the body appears very modern and streamlined. But this isn't a detailed piece of concept art. Who knows what the little things will look like: door handles, seams between parts, etc.
Originally Posted By spacejockey >>You know there will be folks in WDI on Monday morning furious about this little leak. ;-)>> The concept art was removed from the manufacturers website today.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt That's where clearance is an issue, there isn't much extra room to spare, and it can't be pruned of course! I also forgot about the Grand Californian pass throughs. Those weren't there when the original trains were running. "Yet I really don't see anything "retro" about the look, but maybe that's just me." I think they bear a close resemblance to the original trains.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I think as long as they were going for the "back to the future" look, it would have been nice to go with the bubbles - but maybe it's not possible. Riding in the bubble, by the way, is in my top 10 DL experiences ever.
Originally Posted By DeadMansChest IF there is going to be a new monorail, I would bet that DL gets the ones at WDW and WDW gets the new ones. It only makes sense given the use or volume at WDW. I mean they have done this more than once yes?
