Post by Steven Dale
Seriously. This happened. And she lived to tell the tale. Tuffi escaped with minor injuries and went on to live another 39 years - presumably being asked to retell the story at every one of those snooty elephant cocktail parties she was not doubt constantly invited to after the incident.
Forget Tufi. Check out the technology. Opened in 1901 and still carrying 70,000 pax/day (25 million yearly), the Wuppertal Schwebebahn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn is the oldest monorail system in the world. 13.3 km long, 20 stations, 27 km/hr average speed and end to end in 13 minutes. It even has switching. Aside from Tufi, its only accident resulted from a worker leaving tools on the guideway.
Question. With such a ‘track’ record, why is this technology not standard-issue the world over?
Answer. Same reason gondola can’t make it as urban transit. Except gondola is far worse.
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Steven Dale Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:52 am
@ Dave: “Question. With such a ‘track’ record, why is this technology not standard-issue the world over? Answer. Same reason gondola can’t make it as urban transit. Except gondola is far worse.”
I don’t think you actually gave us an answer. You said “same reason gondola (sic) can’t make it as urban transit.” What, do tell, would that reason be?
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Can’t read any answer.
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possible answer: not every city has the opportunity of owning the river wupper
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but Dave, gondolas have made it as urban transit, so what are you saying?
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