Monorail ca. 1971 seed

[zephyr1934]

Many AFOLs continue to lament the loss of the monorail system. Some AFOLs have gone on to make some really slick brick built monorail tracks. Very recently some AFOLs have started building steam monorails here and here based on insane prototypes. When I saw the track snaking around in this post of the steam monorails, I thought, "how perfect for a monorail." Though I was thinking more along the lines of an elevated system that is reminiscent of the classic monorail system. It took me a little while to realize that I had seen such a thing before, namely the following image from 241, the 1971 4.5v idea book (hopefully the photo will last),

There are a few more shots of the monorail on other pages. I suspect this prototype was the seed that eventually grew into the monorail system. It strikes me that there is a lot of potential using the 4.5v/12v rails in this fashion for a much cheaper monorail system. You could even use a PF motor to propel it, but it would take some balance to do so since the center of gravity would be so high above the rail. With about 40 years of new parts since then, there are a lot more options, technic for the wheels (or perhaps the tiny train wheels for the unpowered units), hinges for quick and easy ramps, etc.

I don't have enough time to pursue this idea, but maybe someone else out there wants to run with it.

EDIT: click on "cookies must be enabled" to see the picture

Edited April 16, 2013 by zephyr1934

[Locomotive Annie]

Yes the wonderful 4.5volt Ideas Book. I remember that picture too now that you've mentioned it Zephyr.

The 4.5 and 12volt rails are just so darn useful and lend themselves to so many projects. I find myself now with all my RC and PF track packed away and I'm using these older track parts exclusively. I'm not so keen on up in the air monorails myself, but I've seen some highly imaginative monorail MOCs that use this system

.http://www.flickr.com/photos/34338074@N06/6936221336/in/photostream/

http://cyclopicbricks.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/moc-imperial-steamguard-suspended.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainsmog/6621872615/in/pool-24604222@N00/

[paul_delahaye]

When you look back at the limited pallet of parts available to the Lego designers of the 70's and early 80's, the ideas books were very clever indeed.

[Electricsteam]

I asume you are talking about the monorail using th red wheels. I cannot tell because all I see are Cookies Must Be Enabled. I was planing to make another monorail but witha more modern design.

[1974]

I suspect this prototype was the seed that eventually grew into the monorail system.

Not sure I totally buy the theory. When I was a kid in the 80's I build a simple, but rather long monorail using these :

Mounted sideways onto 1 x X beams. That way I could get curves, but not elevation. The motor was mounted exactly the same way as real monorail (I used the old 12V black technic motor run of a 9V battery as this was before 9V parts)

It didn't have switches or elavation, but it looked quite a bit like the monorail system to come with 4 wide cars etc

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who made something like this

Also been dablling with the idea of using cheap blue 12V conducting rails with the train hanging below. So far it's still just an idea, no actual building have been done as I do have a rather sizeable monorail system

[zephyr1934]

When you look back at the limited pallet of parts available to the Lego designers of the 70's and early 80's, the ideas books were very clever indeed.

Oh yeah. You can also see the seeds for many other ideas that eventually became themes or sets. There were some awkward moments too. I think it was the next train idea book after this one that had homemaker figures behind 1960's era windows with 6 wide trains.

I asume you are talking about the monorail using th red wheels. I cannot tell because all I see are Cookies Must Be Enabled. I was planing to make another monorail but witha more modern design.

Doh! Click on that text and you'll see the specific page (I've also added a note at the end of the original post)

Not sure I totally buy the theory. When I was a kid in the 80's I build a simple, but rather long monorail using these :

Mounted sideways onto 1 x X beams. That way I could get curves, but not elevation. The motor was mounted exactly the same way as real monorail (I used the old 12V black technic motor run of a 9V battery as this was before 9V parts)

It didn't have switches or elavation, but it looked quite a bit like the monorail system to come with 4 wide cars etc

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who made something like this

How did you get curves with that design?

Being in the US, I didn't have access to the lego train line (I drooled over the 12 v train catalog). I resorted to building my own monorail with 4 wide track. No curves, but I could do elevation with slopes. I think I even had a transfer table for a "switch".

[Electricsteam]

I was look at the rest of the Idea book and the monorail and I feel like Lego put more effort in designing set back then, then they do now.

[Henrik Ludvigsen]

I have a lot of the blue tracks - I could make a monorail track measuring 10.000 meters...........

Henrik

[Electricsteam]

I have a lot of the blue tracks - I could make a monorail track measuring 10.000 meters...........

Henrik

I envy you and your massive blue track, world record making collection! Will you be making your own Steam-Monorail?