Comments on: Burbank’s Aerial Monorail of the Future http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2011/11/burbanks-aerial-monorail-of-the-future/ A history of the future that never was Fri, 17 May 2013 21:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Brendan http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2011/11/burbanks-aerial-monorail-of-the-future/#comment-174 Brendan Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:36:35 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=383#comment-174 The "gyroscopic monorail" you mention actually predated most of this stuff, beginning service in 1901, and more amazingly is still in service in Wuppertal Germany: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwebebahn_Wuppertal Until a fatal accident in 1999, the city claimed it was the safest public transport system in the world. The “gyroscopic monorail” you mention actually predated most of this stuff, beginning service in 1901, and more amazingly is still in service in Wuppertal Germany: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwebebahn_Wuppertal

Until a fatal accident in 1999, the city claimed it was the safest public transport system in the world.

]]> By: Stephanie Quinn Denny http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2011/11/burbanks-aerial-monorail-of-the-future/#comment-147 Stephanie Quinn Denny Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:14:24 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=383#comment-147 Although Burbank never had its monorail, we did have a very good public transportation system in the late 40s and early 50s: the Red Car. This trolley system worked well until pressure from the oil companies caused it to discontinue in the mid-1950s. They tore up the tracks that ran along Glenoaks Blvd. I grew up in Burbank during the 50s and 60s, and the Red Car is a fond memory. My parents used to take us to downtown Los Angeles on the Red Car at Christmas time to visit the big department stores. My mom always bought me ribbon candy for the trip home. Ah, for the good old days in Burbank -- it was a great place to grow up. Stephanie Quinn Denny Mesa, Arizona (born and raised in Burbank) Although Burbank never had its monorail, we did have a very good public transportation system in the late 40s and early 50s: the Red Car. This trolley system worked well until pressure from the oil companies caused it to discontinue in the mid-1950s. They tore up the tracks that ran along Glenoaks Blvd. I grew up in Burbank during the 50s and 60s, and the Red Car is a fond memory. My parents used to take us to downtown Los Angeles on the Red Car at Christmas time to visit the big department stores. My mom always bought me ribbon candy for the trip home. Ah, for the good old days in Burbank — it was a great place to grow up.

Stephanie Quinn Denny
Mesa, Arizona
(born and raised in Burbank)

]]> By: Don Kirk http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2011/11/burbanks-aerial-monorail-of-the-future/#comment-141 Don Kirk Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:16:08 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=383#comment-141 If monorails were built instead of light rail, there would be a lot less accidents, injuries and deaths. As well, monorails are a lot quitier than light rail. The same goes for Maglev, Vs Commuter and passenger trains; except that Maglev is a lot faster. If monorails were built instead of light rail, there would be a lot less accidents, injuries and deaths. As well, monorails are a lot quitier than light rail. The same goes for Maglev, Vs Commuter and passenger trains; except that Maglev is a lot faster.

]]> By: Alan Aitken http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2011/11/burbanks-aerial-monorail-of-the-future/#comment-135 Alan Aitken Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:26:02 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=383#comment-135 Matt -- Very interesting story (as usual). The picture of the Burbank monorail reminded me of the 'Bennie Railplane' in late 1920s Scotland (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennie_Railplane for a brief summary). Although George Bennie never got further than a protoype, its development was captured on film which can be viewed on the Scottish Screen Archive site (http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=1341). As in Springfield all those years later, I guess the monorail never caught on in Milngavie because it was "more of a Shelbyville thing" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._the_Monorail). And if you think the Bennie film footage is amazing, just wait until you discover how how us Scots pronounce 'Milngavie'! Keep up the great work. -- Alan Aitken, Edinburgh, Scotland. Matt — Very interesting story (as usual). The picture of the Burbank monorail reminded me of the ‘Bennie Railplane’ in late 1920s Scotland (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennie_Railplane for a brief summary). Although George Bennie never got further than a protoype, its development was captured on film which can be viewed on the Scottish Screen Archive site (http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=1341). As in Springfield all those years later, I guess the monorail never caught on in Milngavie because it was “more of a Shelbyville thing” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._the_Monorail). And if you think the Bennie film footage is amazing, just wait until you discover how how us Scots pronounce ‘Milngavie’! Keep up the great work. — Alan Aitken, Edinburgh, Scotland.

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