Seattle World's Fair

Monorail

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                              

Intended to be a prominent feature of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the contract to build the Monorail was awarded to Alweg-Forschung, GmbH and signed on May 13, 1961. The Swedish-designed system's two four-car trains were fabricated in Germany and installed by the Howard S. Wright Construction company.

The Monorail was designed to run on a raised track nine-tenths of a mile in distance and travel above and along 5th Avenue. The Monorail would journey back and forth from the old Century 21 Fairgrounds to just north of Pine Street.

Less than a year later, and just two days before the Seattle Century 21 World's Fair opened; the Monorail was christened on April 19, 1962.

The systems original cost was $4,200,000. The Century 21 Corporation, which staged the Seattle World's Fair, took over the line and sold it to the Seattle Transit Commission for $600,000 in 1965.

Still going strong after 45 years, the Seattle Center Monorail still operates daily, with departures every 10 minutes from the station at Seattle Center, (across from the Space Needle) and from Westlake Center Mall, at Fifth and Pine Street.  Each trip takes two minutes to cover the route.  The Monorail provides two-train service during special events and activities, with departures every five minutes or less.

Monorail Brochure

10 7/8" x 8 3/8" 16 Pages

Very Scarce $20.00 - $30.00

Courtesy - John & Julie Irwin