New Disneyland Mark VII Monorail

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Feb Sat 07, 2009 11:35 pm

WOW, those are really futuristic looking! I wonder if WDW will get some of these?! I'd love to see those in person and ride one too!

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Feb Tue 10, 2009 11:22 pm

Thanks Elizabeth!! They look really cool!!

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Mar Sun 29, 2009 3:54 am

I was lucky enough to see Orange being tested last when I went at around 6:30pm. I didn't get a picture since I didn't expect it but it looked really nice and bright.

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Apr Sat 04, 2009 3:26 am

Here are some pictures of Monorail Orange posted on Micechat.

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/photos/5043 ... kvtd-M.jpg

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/photos/5043 ... BQDa-M.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/ ... G_9202.jpg

Also, there's been some more problems going on with the monorails (again). Micechat talks about it in this post: http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the ... -more.html

Admiral01 · Post by **Admiral01** » Apr Fri 10, 2009 10:30 am

I just got back from my first trip to Disneyland (April 9). I had the opportunity to ride the Orange Mark VIIâ€¦which was the only Monorail running. I'm a nerdy engineer, so I apologize for this if it sounds dry or too detailed

Before I re-boarded at DD I talked to a Monorail Pilot about the condition of the three, and why there is only one running.

He told me, and I didnâ€™t know this, that the chassis of the Mark VII are the same chassis that were built for the Mark III, and re-used for the Mark V. That means the trains themselves are from the late 1960s. All they do is rip the top off and install a new passenger section over the existing chassis.

First they disassembled the Orange Mark V to build the Red Mark VII, then they pulled the Blue Mark V to build the Blue Mark VII, and finally the Red Mark V to build the Orange Mark VII. I see some reference of this on the internet, but I didnâ€™t realize this. Iâ€™m a WDW person. The Mark IV and the Mark VI are NOT the same trains and I just assumed the DLR monorails werenâ€™t either.

Disney (and the state of California) distinguishes between the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering. Right now the Mark VII is considered a WDI Project, not a full-fledged DLR Program (where it is considered a fully certified and operational vehicle). To become a full program all three Mark VII monorails need to demonstrate normal use. Then the DLR people will take over operations and maintenance from WDI. This is when the AC issue and all the other tweaks will occur. DLR will do those, not WDI.

Iâ€™ve seen this written before, but the Red Mark VII has reached its maximum ridership and is in for a several month long maintenance period before it can return to service (months instead of days because WDI is doing the maintenance on a project instead of DLR doing maintenance on a vehicle). The Blue Mark VII was running, but because WDI wants to transition the maintenance and ops of the Mark VII, they have used working pieces of the Blue Mark VII and installed them on the Orange Mark VII to get Orange running. And that is where they are today.

So, Red is in a long maintenance period, and Blueâ€™s parts are being used to get Orange running so WDI can demonstrate that all three new Mark VII are runningâ€¦keeping in mind the chassis and underlying engineering are from the Mark III in the 60s.

I also asked about the Mark VIII at Walt Disney World. Unlike the Disneyland Monorails, the WDW monorails were built by Bombardier and are an actual transportation system. When the Mark VIII Monorail comes online at WDW it will most likely be an updated Mark VI since that model has and is working really well. They are looking at a 1 for 1 swap of Mark VI for Mark VIII at WDW. This would be much cheaper and more reliable than designing and building a new model. The change would not be cosmetic as the Mark VIII would just be updated Mark VI models purchased from Bombardierâ€¦but that is just current thinkingâ€¦

So, the Mark VII design will not be coming to WDW.

Back to the Mark VII. The monorail looks great, rides great, and the DLR Monorail people are really ready to get their hands on the vehicles once the baton passes from WDIâ€¦which SHOULD be happening soonâ€¦

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Apr Fri 10, 2009 1:50 pm

I was there yesterday myself although I didn't get a chance to ride Monorail Orange. I've ridden the other two but hopefully soon I'll get to ride it.

figmentaholic · Post by **figmentaholic** » Apr Fri 10, 2009 3:46 pm

Spiffy looking.. I need to get out to DL one of these days..

Do you guys have the same monorail spiel?

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Apr Fri 10, 2009 4:04 pm

No, the monorail spiel's been updated when the new monorails have been brought in. The train needs to be updated though since they still call it a Mark V monorail.

Abecca228 · Post by **Abecca228** » Apr Fri 10, 2009 11:34 pm

I have not yet seen or ridden the monorail orange but I have ridden monorail red and I was really nice!

avastindy · Post by **avastindy** » Nov Fri 27, 2009 1:13 pm

I've been on the red and blue monorails and they really go fast. The prievios ones were a lot slower and was nice. But these new ones are slick and retro looking. I enjoy the fact that they pay homage to the mark I.

hockeygirl · Post by **hockeygirl** » Dec Sat 05, 2009 1:53 pm

Do they not play the spiel late at night? I only rode the monorail once when I was there the last time. Not a big fan of the new cars. It's not very comfy for ECV riders the way they have it now. The configuration of seats they have a WDW is much better and easier to navigate.

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Dec Sat 05, 2009 7:18 pm

I'm pretty sure they still do play the spiel late at night before closing.

hockeygirl · Post by **hockeygirl** » Dec Sat 05, 2009 10:54 pm

I guess I was on the monorail after closing when it only goes to DTD. I didn't hear it. Maybe it was broken? Who knows. Not sure I'll do that again... I almost didn't get to get off and would have ended up in the monorail barn (not that it wouldn't have been cool, but I was tired and wanted to get back to PPH).

stunrut · Post by **stunrut** » Jan Fri 01, 2010 8:17 pm

I think it's beautiful. I wish we could have these at WDW!