Older parkinglot trams ?

Expo_Seeker40

Expo_Seeker40

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Something I've always wondered...when I went on my first trip to WDW back in 1996, the only park that we used the tram was for the MK, since we took the ferry to both Epcot and MGM.

I hope I'm not confusing these trams with another park, but I want to say that the trams were quite different, maybe dating back to 1971? They were tan with I want to say maroon trim, and seemed to be more caged in with metal bars?

Any help on this odd memory is greatly appreciated. :hammer: :sohappy:
 
MansionFan415

MansionFan415

New Member
I know I havn't been in three years, and am about to go back...so I am not certain what the trams look like now, unless they havn't changed.

But back in the day, the trams were mostly all tan and white. There was the driver up front, and then about 5 connecting cars behind. In the front of each car was a double sided seat, and then I think 5-6 single rows behind it. The seats were a tan stucko, and the tram cars themselves were tan with I believe an orange strip, with a white top. No cages or bars or anything. Just open ended seats.

Hope this helps some, unless I'm just missing or forgetting something.
 
mkt

mkt

When a paradise is lost go straight to Disney™
Premium Member
the old brown trams with the Ford fronts have been used backstage at Epcot now
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
If I recall, the trams were also used for spare capacity in the early days before the Seven Seas Ferries too (when phase one opened, there was only the monorail from the T&TC to the MK)
 
Halfling418

Halfling418

New Member
Haha, I drive and spiel on the MK trams (college program!) and although they aren't the really old school tan ones, I really think we need newer ones. Animal Kingdom parking people are lucky! :mad:

As a side note---everyone look for me in the lot! Try and find the short brunette with the name tag reading Lindsey. I always find myself wondering if any of my guests are members of this site. :wave:
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Ok, fellow Enginerd types.....I've always wondered (since I was a friggin kid) how the trams turn those 180-degree U-turns with each axle tracking the one in front of it.

We all know semis can't do that, and I've seen no other vehicle system that can do that. How does it work? Any diagrams? Patent links? Explanations?
 
mkt

mkt

When a paradise is lost go straight to Disney™
Premium Member
shorter individual vehicle lengths as opposed to a semi with one giant vehicle on the back.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
mkt said:
shorter individual vehicle lengths as opposed to a semi with one giant vehicle on the back.
Click to expand...

Believe me Rob, that has crossed my mind...haha. BUT, then i look at something as simple as a riding lawn mower towing a wagon or tank sprayer....when you turn the mower, the thing you're towing tracks inside the tracks of the mower. ARGH!

I've heard that both axles on each car are independent, and each pivots - but still....good grief!
 
Mad Stitch

Mad Stitch

Well-Known Member
I drove and spieled the MGM trams on the college program ten years ago. (Boy time goes by fast.) When we took those U turns we had to cut our speed in half in order for each car to follow in line with the one in front of it. If this were not done you would end up with a whip affect where each car in the train would come out of the turn further left or right (depending on which direction the turn was) then the one in front of it.

Edit: And for the record, the trams were the tan paint job when I was there. They got the new Disney Transport paint job sometime after my final year in '97.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Mad Stitch said:
I drove and spieled the MGM trams on the college program ten years ago. (Boy time goes by fast.) When we took those U turns we had to cut our speed in half in order for each car to follow in line with the one in front of it. If this were not done you would end up with a whip affect where each car in the train would come out of the turn further left or right (depending on which direction the turn was) then the one in front of it.

Edit: And for the record, the trams were the tan paint job when I was there. They got the new Disney Transport paint job sometime after my final year in '97.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input - that's interesting to know.

Now, if someone just knew the mechanics of that apparatus......
 
kirkkal

kirkkal

New Member
Tom said:
Thanks for the input - that's interesting to know.

Now, if someone just knew the mechanics of that apparatus......
Click to expand...


I know this is some year later but I use to work in the MK lot. All tires on the tram turns to make the U-turn, but as we do a U-turn the last car would end up about 2-5 feet over from where the cab turned. it's very easy to how it works next time your there look at the wheels while it makes a U-turn.
 
Dasnowz

Dasnowz

Well-Known Member
It is the same trams still just repainted. They hold 210 guests. There is a driver and a spieler. Interesting fact is that they also hold 210 gallons of diesel between 2 -105 gallon tanks (verified from the diesel guy filling them). still looking into the significance in the numbers cause there has to be a reason. The trams are still the original. 7A is still in service . I think the other one is as well.

In my quest for unknown knowledge I talked to a few other people and listened to stories about them I am still researching for truths. Someone in parking is looking into stories as well. The company that made them supposedly went out of business 3 months after building them due to one exploding by the water bridge. They were originally designed to go all the way to the MK.

Like I said we have been researching these the last few weeks so if anyone has any other history that we might find helpful please let me know.
 

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