Part 9/13:
Originally, the system consisted of two monorails—each with three cars—that operated over a one-mile beam and scared to a maximum speed of 20 mph. They used six 300-volt DC motors, capable of 50 horsepower each, navigating banked turns with up to 8.5 degrees of tilt, and built on 104 pre-cast concrete beams supported by pylons. Construction materials had been heavily engineered for strength—each beam tested to withstand over three times the maximum load.
In 1961, Disneyland expanded the monorail route, known as Mark II, which crossed outside the park to include the Disneyland Hotel. This was a milestone, making the Disneyland Monorail the first to cross a public roadway and travel adjacent to a major highway—Harbor Blvd.—integrating transportation with the surrounding city.