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{{Short description|Transportation company (1953–1964)}}
{{Short description|Transportation company (1953–1964)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
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| name            = ALWEG
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'''Alweg''' was a German transportation company known for its development of straddle-beam [[monorail]] technology.<ref name="hitachi2">{{cite web |last=Kirscher |first=Reinhard |title=Hitachi-Alweg |url=http://alweg.de/hitachialweg.html |access-date=14 October 2017 |publisher=The ALWEG Archives}}</ref><ref name="koln2">{{cite web |last=Kirscher |first=Reinhard |title=Alweg Cologne |url=http://alweg.de/alwegcologne.html |access-date=14 October 2017 |publisher=The ALWEG Archives}}</ref>
[[File:Torino monorotaia Italia 61.jpg|thumb|Turin Monorail]]
[[File:Kuala Lumpur Monorail 01 (cropped).jpg|thumbnail|right|ALWEG-type monorail in Kuala Lumpur]]
'''Alweg''' was a transportation company based in Germany known for pioneering straddle-beam [[monorail]]s.<ref name="hitachi"/><ref name="koln"/>
 
==History==
==History==
Alweg was founded by [[Sweden|Swedish]] industrial magnate Dr. [[Axel Wenner-Gren|Axel Lennart Wenner-Gren]] in January 1953 as '''Alweg-Forschung, GmbH''' (Alweg Research Corporation), based in [[Fühlingen]], a suburb of [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]. The company was an outgrowth of the '''Verkehrsbahn-Studiengesellschaft''' (Transit Railway Study Group), which had already presented its first monorail designs and prototypes in the previous year. The Alweg name is an [[acronym]] derived from Dr. Wenner-Gren's full name.<ref name="koln">{{cite web |url=http://alweg.de/alwegcologne.html |title=Alweg Cologne |last=Kirscher |first=Reinhard |publisher=The ALWEG Archives |access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>
[[File:6308-DisneyLandMonoRail-ParkStation.jpg|thumb|Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System, pictured in 1963]]
 
Alweg was established in January 1953 by Swedish industrialist [[Axel Lennart Wenner-Gren]] as '''Alweg-Forschung, GmbH''' ({{Literal translation|Alweg Research Corporation}}), based in [[Fühlingen]], a suburb of [[Cologne]] in [[West Germany]]. The company originated from the '''Verkehrsbahn-Studiengesellschaft''' ({{Literal translation|Transit Railway Study Group}}), which had presented early monorail designs and prototypes the previous year. The name "Alweg" is derived from Wenner-Gren’s full name.<ref name="koln2" />
Alweg is best remembered for their role in building the original [[Disneyland Monorail System]] at [[Disneyland]], which opened in 1959, and the [[Seattle Center Monorail]], which opened for the 1962 [[Century 21 Exposition]].<ref name="nyt2006">{{cite news| last=Yardley |first= William| title=In Seattle, a Dream From the Past Has a Hazy Future| date=September 25, 2006| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/us/25monorail.html| access-date=2009-12-13}}</ref> Both systems remain operational, with the [[Seattle Center]] Monorail still using the original Alweg trains which have traveled over one million miles. A third system, built in [[Turin]] for the [[Expo 61|Italia 61]] exposition remained unused a few months after the exposition closed and was destroyed by a fire in the late 1970s, most probably set by vandals. The remnants of the system were scrapped in 1981, with the north station repurposed as an office building.
[[File:Seattle Center Monorail (2891579876).jpg|thumb|[[Seattle Center Monorail]], pictured in 2008, still uses its original Alweg-built trains]]
 
Alweg developed several monorail systems during its operational years. Its most notable projects include the [[Disneyland Monorail]] (originally branded the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System), which opened in 1959, and the [[Seattle Center Monorail]], constructed for the 1962 [[Century 21 Exposition]].<ref name="nyt20062">{{cite news |last=Yardley |first=William |date=September 25, 2006 |title=In Seattle, a Dream From the Past Has a Hazy Future |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/us/25monorail.html |access-date=2009-12-13 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Both systems remain in operation, with Seattle's still using original Alweg-built trains.[[File:Torino monorotaia Italia 61.jpg|thumb|Turin Monorail]]Another Alweg monorail system was constructed in [[Turin]] for the [[Expo 61|Italia '61]] exposition. The line ceased operation shortly after the exposition ended and was later damaged by fire in the late 1970s, reportedly due to vandalism. It was dismantled in 1981, and its northern station was repurposed as an office building.
In 1963, Alweg put forward a proposal to the [[Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors]] for a monorail system that would be designed, built, operated and maintained within [[Los Angeles County, California]] by Alweg. Alweg promised to take all [[financial risk]] for the construction with the cost of the system to be recovered through fares collected. The supervisors voted down the proposal, mostly due to political pressures from [[Chevron Corporation|Standard Oil of California]] and [[General Motors]], which were strong advocates for [[automobile dependency]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Los Angeles Section: 100 Years of Civil Engineering Excellence 1913–2013|author=American Society of Civil Engineers|pages=170–171|publisher=[[AuthorHouse]]|year=2014|author-link=American Society of Civil Engineers}}{{ISBN?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html|title=LA's Worst Transit Decision|author=Kim Pedersen|date=|website=|publisher=The Monorail Society|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702180848/http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html|archive-date=July 2, 2019|access-date=}}</ref> This move was greatly resented by famed author [[Ray Bradbury]] who supported the monorail project<ref>{{cite web|title=Why the Monorail Failed in Los Angeles|author=Sam Gennawey|url=https://www.micechat.com/29530-why-the-monorail-failed-in-los-angeles/|publisher=MiceChat|date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> and resented the [[B Line (Los Angeles Metro)|later move to build a subway in Los Angeles]].<ref>Bradbury Speaks: Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars (c.2005) for essay entitled: "L.A., We ''Are'' the World! A New Millennium Revelation"(1989)</ref>


Alweg's technology was licensed in 1960 by [[Hitachi Monorail]]{{citation needed|reason=reference please. Also note the [[:Category:Alweg_people_movers]] says there was a sale to [[Bombardier_Transportation]] though it too is lacking a reference, however, this is the place for such.|date=April 2021}}, which continues to construct monorails based on Alweg technology around the world. What was for decades the world's busiest monorail line, the [[Tokyo Monorail]], was completed in 1964 by what was then the Hitachi-Alweg division of Hitachi, and today's busiest monorail system, [[Chongqing Rail Transit]], is also based on Alweg and Hitachi technology.
In 1963, Alweg submitted a proposal to the [[Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors]] for a privately funded monorail system in the county. The plan included design, construction, and operation of the system at Alweg's financial risk, with construction costs to be recouped through fare revenue. The proposal was ultimately rejected. Some sources attribute the decision to opposition from automotive and petroleum industry interests, including [[Standard Oil of California]] and [[General Motors]].<ref>{{cite book |author=American Society of Civil Engineers |title=Los Angeles Section: 100 Years of Civil Engineering Excellence 1913–2013 |publisher=AuthorHouse |year=2014 |pages=170–171}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Kim Pedersen |title=LA's Worst Transit Decision |url=http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702180848/http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |access-date= |website=The Monorail Society}}</ref> Author [[Ray Bradbury]], a supporter of the proposal, later criticized the city's decision to develop a subway system instead.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sam Gennawey |date=May 23, 2013 |title=Why the Monorail Failed in Los Angeles |url=https://www.micechat.com/29530-why-the-monorail-failed-in-los-angeles/ |publisher=MiceChat}}</ref><ref>Ray Bradbury. ''Bradbury Speaks: Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars'' (2005), essay: "L.A., We ''Are'' the World! A New Millennium Revelation" (1989)</ref>


After Alweg ran into financial difficulties, Alweg's German operations were taken over by [[Krupp]]. Krupp wound up all Alweg operations by 1964.<ref name="hitachi">{{cite web |url=http://alweg.de/hitachialweg.html |title=Hitachi-Alweg |last=Kirscher |first=Reinhard |publisher=The ALWEG Archives |access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>
In the 1960s, Alweg licensed its monorail technology to [[Hitachi]], which continues to manufacture monorail systems based on the design.<ref name="hitachi2" /> Notable examples include the [[Tokyo Monorail]], opened in 1964, and the [[Chongqing Rail Transit]] system in China.


In the 1960s there was a plan to build an Alweg monorail in the [[Tatra Mountains|High Tatras]] in Slovakia.
Alweg's operations were taken over by the industrial conglomerate [[Krupp]] following financial difficulties in the early 1960s. The company ceased operations by 1964.<ref name="hitachi2" />


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|ALWEG}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html Los Angeles monorail proposal (The Monorail Society)]
* [http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html Los Angeles monorail proposal (The Monorail Society)]


Latest revision as of 17:53, 20 July 2025

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Alweg was a German transportation company known for its development of straddle-beam monorail technology.[1][2]

History

File:6308-DisneyLandMonoRail-ParkStation.jpg
Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System, pictured in 1963

Alweg was established in January 1953 by Swedish industrialist Axel Lennart Wenner-Gren as Alweg-Forschung, GmbH (Template:Literal translation), based in Fühlingen, a suburb of Cologne in West Germany. The company originated from the Verkehrsbahn-Studiengesellschaft (Template:Literal translation), which had presented early monorail designs and prototypes the previous year. The name "Alweg" is derived from Wenner-Gren’s full name.[2]

File:Seattle Center Monorail (2891579876).jpg
Seattle Center Monorail, pictured in 2008, still uses its original Alweg-built trains

Alweg developed several monorail systems during its operational years. Its most notable projects include the Disneyland Monorail (originally branded the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System), which opened in 1959, and the Seattle Center Monorail, constructed for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition.[3] Both systems remain in operation, with Seattle's still using original Alweg-built trains.

File:Torino monorotaia Italia 61.jpg
Turin Monorail

Another Alweg monorail system was constructed in Turin for the Italia '61 exposition. The line ceased operation shortly after the exposition ended and was later damaged by fire in the late 1970s, reportedly due to vandalism. It was dismantled in 1981, and its northern station was repurposed as an office building.

In 1963, Alweg submitted a proposal to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for a privately funded monorail system in the county. The plan included design, construction, and operation of the system at Alweg's financial risk, with construction costs to be recouped through fare revenue. The proposal was ultimately rejected. Some sources attribute the decision to opposition from automotive and petroleum industry interests, including Standard Oil of California and General Motors.[4][5] Author Ray Bradbury, a supporter of the proposal, later criticized the city's decision to develop a subway system instead.[6][7]

In the 1960s, Alweg licensed its monorail technology to Hitachi, which continues to manufacture monorail systems based on the design.[1] Notable examples include the Tokyo Monorail, opened in 1964, and the Chongqing Rail Transit system in China.

Alweg's operations were taken over by the industrial conglomerate Krupp following financial difficulties in the early 1960s. The company ceased operations by 1964.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Ray Bradbury. Bradbury Speaks: Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars (2005), essay: "L.A., We Are the World! A New Millennium Revelation" (1989)

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External links

Template:Sister project

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