The Story of Disney's PeopleMover in Texas

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This is the fun, weird, and surprisingly complicated story of Disney’s PeopleMover attraction and how it ended up somewhere unexpected. And maybe even somewhere really unexpected!
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[@TechnologyConnections]

I put a lot of great links and other info in this comment, so be sure to expand it to check them out! Someone on Twitter gave me some really neat extra info on the LIMs used in the WEDWay system. And also, there was a patent! I just couldn't find it. patents.google.com/patent/US3974778 Basically, the motors are capable of pushing the trains at up to 20 mph (that's their synchronous speed), but in practice this is limited. The design of all the motors is the same, and the reason they are bunched up is just to provide more force. The key is that they are reversible, and they also monitor the vehicle's speed and adjust how long they stay on to correct it. So they don't run constantly when a train is above them, rather they pulse on and off. This is very surprising to me, as you can't really hear this or feel it! But, it makes a lot of sense, particularly with the knowledge that even the sparsely-spaced motors on the straightaways are able to restart the Tomorrowland PeopleMover from a stop. And, it explains why they also bunch up to slow the train down, as they work together in reverse to slow the train, and once the desired speed is reached, they switch back to forward propulsion. Pretty advanced stuff for 1975! Want to know what happened to Disneyland’s PeopleMover? This video by Offhand Disney does a great job explaining (and includes some great footage of the ride pre-demise). It’s a pretty neat channel for the Disney enthusiast, so check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4DKoZWEiZ6iiZo Here’s that video of the Senate Subway I mentioned: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHW8qJ6vqLt8frc These are some cool links explaining the origins of the PeopleMover itself: www.waltdisney.org/blog/walt-disneys-peoplemover www.micechat.com/17017-peoplemover/ And if you’re looking for that site detailing the subways below the capitol, here it is: www.belowthecapital.org/capitol/ There are some other relevant links in the description, so be sure to check those, too! And it turns out that you can indeed be deemed suspicious by the TSA for talking to yourself while filming things in an airport. Oh well, I did it for you!

[@lohphat]

Security theater needs to justify its own existence lest it itself be questioned.

[@mattallurgical]

If there's a fun story related to the being deemed suspicious, that might be a good video for the extras channel!

[@agenericaccount3935]

You know they were watching you at about 2:04 and wondering what the hell

[@billyhatcher643]

of course thoes morons of the tsa found u suspicious cause theyre out of touch and dont understand the modern world and are high strung

[@Mecal00]

we appreciate it :)

[@alexritchie4586]

When I was a teenager, I flew from Gatwick to Orlando with a change in Houston. I remember asking how to get to the connecting terminal, and being pointed towards a small, cramped escalator that almost looked like it was trying to hide. When I descended, I found this! To my English eyes it was one of the most bizarre things I'd ever seen; A carpeted trough, under a low polystyrene tile ceiling which seemingly stretched on forever. I could see the channels to either side but had no idea what I was supposed to be looking for. I waited a few minutes, completely alone, when suddenly a mysteriously driver-absent car whispered up to a doorway that otherwise led nowhere. I hopped on, and it quietly whisked me down what seemed to be miles and miles of the same, featureless, carpeted trough. Eventually it announced the correct terminal, and I disembarked. The experience was so odd to me; the seemingly endless carpeted basement trough, the rickety yet somehow quiet automatic trains, being completely alone in the middle of an enormous international airport, and the feeling that, as you said, I was in some horizontal office elevator, that it seemed surreal, almost dreamlike. I still sometimes dream about it today, and I'm sure it's one of the main reasons why so many of my dreams now include some novel mode of transport, be it busway, funicular, or cog railway. Thank you so much for the video, and a chance to properly reminisce about that curious afternoon so many years ago :)

[@ReddoFreddo]

You seem to like the same stuff I like

[@mrdelaney4440]

Glasgow to Orlando via Houston?

[@alexritchie4586]

@@mrdelaney4440 I flew with Continental whose European hub is Gatwick and their American hub is Houston, so I transfered from an international to a domestic flight at their American hub 🙂

[@tapeworm6508]

liminal space train

[@Bacopa68]

@@tapeworm6508 it was a liminal space even in the early seventies when it ran from the first two terminals using different trains,

[@fitnesswithsteve]

It’s so weird seeing a subway in a basement hallway with carpeted walls😂

[@radicaledwards3449]

My house will soon be like that

[@sciencegirl100]

Did somebody say "carpeted walls"? *cough* The Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable *cough*

[@Bacopa68]

The older system they had in Houston back in the seventies was white linoleum with rounded edges. The low walls were already there, and the stations just had low walls. This was before Terminals C, D, and E, it went just to A, B, and the Hotel.

[@matthewhernandez8342]

@Virtual Window Why?

[@fastcsx1412]

Virtual Window I still don’t see your point.

[@istvankovasznai]

11:37: The reason why the induction motors get closer together where the train changes speeds is simple: You need more power when accelerating or braking. Constant, linear motion requires far less power because the train's inertia does most of the work.

[@sentientarugula2884]

Thanks for the explanation

[@zachschwartz7455]

Exactly like powered rails in Minecraft 😂

[@holysol]

Houston's subway serves its purpose dutifully and admirably. It is one of the pillars of my youth. It's always as empty as you need it to be, you never have to share a cab with anyone you don't want to - and you don't have to haul around luggage or walk. Best part of travelling imho.

[@intrinia2832]

Remember before using People Mover: - put on HEV-suit - get a crowbar

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

*Surface Tension intensifies*

[@betaversion9654]

looked it up and laughed a lot!

[@OmegaEnvych]

Don't forget that if your intended destination is a high-security area beyond Sector C, you will need to return to Central Transit Hub in Area 9 and board a high security train.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

This went from a funny reference to good advice over the last year.

[@Vagabond820]

vitriolicAmaranth roflol

[@AndersEngerJensen]

I still get a strong Half-Life vibe from the voice announcements. "Now arriving at Sector C Test Labs and Control Facilities." ^_^

[@GiddeonFox]

There was a big contest about who got to be the new voice of Orlando International's trains a while ago and they got less robotic-sounding, which I'm sure most people like but I hate

[@iscander_s]

Holy crap, i googled, and some of them might be really voiced by the same voice actress as Transit System in Half-Life - Kathy Levin. She DID voice overs for some existing in real life transport announcing systems.

[@lukesmith8792]

Omg I remember that game, wow a really flash back there.... no not flash back from the saga 😁

[@beware_the_moose]

Wake up and smell the asses...uh...

[@PersonManManManMan]

That was probably my fave part about game to imagine that such place could exist and how cool it is to have underground base. And I am fan of maglevs and trains on sky tracks so to speak, but this might be my influence, cuz when I was kid I was imagining or designing the level in my head with this transportation unit

[@bismuthcrystal9658]

Ah yes, Orlando: the city with perpetually good weather... where I once literally floated down the street.

[@joer8854]

When is the last time the temperature had a minus in front of it and you measured snow in feet?

[@TheBlueCrunchmaican]

@@joer8854 Who said anything about snow?

[@holben27]

@@TheBlueCrunchmaican In the video, by "bad weather" he meant below freezing temperatures which cause concrete and other materials to warp and change size

[@ecosmith7852]

Does that make water a peoplemover too?

[@sentientarugula2884]

How do you float?!

[@kevindiaz365]

I found the subway it very useful when I was working at Houston. Most employees use it because most of staff parking is at Terminal A and B and that's how we can get places to clock in closer to our work assignments without having to go through security

[@krozareq]

Sounds like they should keep it. It's not unusual to have two transit systems. DFW has the shuttle buses outside security and the trains inside the secure area.

[@elenas3571]

I live in Houston and I never knew it had a subway!

[@candycemonroe7345]

...and ended up in a gift shop. Just like most rides at Disney world. 😃

[@AustinJFerret]

Yeah, I literally thought "Of course it leads to a gift shop, it's Disney World" at that moment.

[@peterji5109]

AustinJFerret Until you recall it’s an emergency exit. This also reminds me of some doors seemingly never open in Disneyland gift shops.

[@camille4574]

Well putting it in a gift shop makes sense really. You ideally don't want to have an exit that leads directly to the outdoors, because you need to make sure it's locked correctly from the outside to prevent people entering/other abuse. You don't want it exiting into an office/staff room/off limits area because members of the public will be coming through every time there's an evacuation. A gift shop makes sense, it's fine for the public to enter and there's always a cast member in the store that can keep an eye on the door.

[@eugeniovincenzo1621]

I rode this thing and it does not go to gift shops...only to escalators and garage entrance...

[@camille4574]

@@eugeniovincenzo1621 Watch the video through. He was talking about a ride that was shut down while he was on it and they had to use the emergency exit. The exit ended up in a gift shop.

[@mrow]

shoutout to the person at 13:49 in the bottom left who just yeets their phone

[@Pleasant_exe]

-AT omg

[@radadadadee]

he drops it and it disappears

[@americancitizen748]

Ha! Good eye!

[@kosmicken]

I watched 3 times looking for it and I’m not seeing it.

[@SgtHappyHands]

@@kosmicken From behind the trees in the center of the screen, a person can be seen walking to the left of the screen. And something slips out of their hand during their arm swing. To me, it looks like a notebook or pamphlet of some kind. But I assume that's the target of the timestamp.

[@mattheviewer]

I remember this well, being one of the WED audio engineers who as my first assignment did the initial audio speaker layout for this Houston people mover. WED's ride engineers designed the original linear induction motors which indeed were used on many theme park rides, particularly the original BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN.

[@markschulze7841]

There's benefit to having a people mover on both the secure and nonsecure sides at Houston so I imagine they'll keep it operating as long as possible. One of the issues is that there are very sharp offsets which affect speed and comfort so the City once explored widening the tunnel, which is really not practical because of building foundations very close to the tunnel wall. And if I remember correctly there are actually some maintenance issues with the metal plates in the cars. They (at least used to be) laminated and the constant forces and flexing caused the plates to delaminate. For years a co-worker of mine was the "voice of the interterminal train"..🙂

[@erictaylor5462]

"Thank God I'm at the right airport!" I was talking to a security guard at PDX (Portland International Airport and he said a German showed up who could not find his friends, but the security guy realized what had happened when the German gave him a 207 area code. (Portland Oregon has a 503 Area code) His friends were glad to hear from him finally. They went to the airport to pick him up and could not find him. They asked about the flight and were told that particular flight was headed to Portland, Oregon, not Portland Maine. It would suck to fly from Germany to New York, then New York to Portland Oregon (probably 12 hours of flying) only to discover you now had to fly another 6 hours to get back to where you should have been.

[@MattMcIrvin]

I've heard of a case of a British man who somehow accidentally ended up in Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT) instead of Manchester Airport in the UK (MAN). That must have taken some doing since MHT is not even set up as an international airport. (It's dominated by Southwest Airlines running flights mostly to Orlando, BWI and Chicago-Midway.)

[@GeorgeActon]

In the days when you booked your travel through travel agents, I was behind someone at the car rental counter at Dulles airport when the agent said, "I'm sorry sir, but we don't have a car for you. Your vehicle reservation is for Dallas!"

[@erictaylor5462]

@@GeorgeActon Oh Snap. Was he meant to be in Dallas or Dulles?

[@nonenowherebye]

Every few years, someone winds up in Sydney Nova Scotia, rather than Sydney Australia. You'd think they'd start questioning things when they board a narrowbody airliner in Toronto rather than a widebody.

[@erictaylor5462]

@@nonenowherebye How does that happen? "Oh, the flight is just $300? I thought it was going to be more than $900. Score! AND it's only 3 hours? Score, score!

[@gtoger]

I've never felt closer to you. Seriously. You were very close on my screen.

[@Alphaspartan26]

No tow trucks. 😢 #drumbeats.

[@WarriorsPhoto]

gtoger LOL, took me a minute to figure out the joke.

[@bobroberts2371]

If the internet is so big, why do I tend to see some of same people this vast expanse? Anyway, we really need a tow truck on Mars, the last message from the rover Opportunity was "My Batteries are low, and it's getting dark" ( Maybe someone with a vid editor can make something. ) See vids NASA Stops Trying to Wake Mars Opportunity After It Remains Silent and The Truth Behind Opportunity's Last Message and It's Final Days On Mars the channel Scott Manley

[@WarriorsPhoto]

Bob Roberts I am not fully understanding the message here. Would you elaborate more?

[@asimplecheeseburgerwfries469]

What is this!? I kept getting recommended videos from you in my feed, so I watch them on the side of those videos this video always comes up as a recommended so when I watch this you're here!? O_O You do make some funny vids though.

[@newtondickson]

WOW! I work at IAH, and for years I've heard a rumor about the subway being a Disney production. Thanks to your awesome video, I now know it's true. Thank you!

[@kentharris7427]

The reason for the redundant trains at the Houston International Airport. It is that a lot of times you will fly out at one terminal and fly into another terminal. You might fly out of terminal C and fly back into terminal A. When you get your bags and outside the secure zone, you still need to get to your car that is parked at terminal C.

[@grizzly._.]

It's apparently possible for the public to ride the Capitol subway, so that's what you gotta do next! Maybe talk to your congressman, get an invite, maybe try and see if you could get to meet whoever's in charge of running it? Would make for one hell of a follow-up video!

[@bizzzzzzle]

Grizzly If you need an invite, that’s not public lol

[@grizzly._.]

@@bizzzzzzle It's not public-public, but apparently you can get on it if you're on a Capitol guided tour and such. So it's not completely inaccessible to the public, that's what I meant.

[@G4m3G3ni3]

That is a phenomenal Idea! Upvote and comment so Alec sees this!

[@Galbex21]

Yeah you should deffinetaly do that. You would also get lots of attention, not many people know about that system.

[@HB-ps6rn]

Reaching out directly to whoever runs it might be a good idea too. I know some government facilities will let you check it out but there might be too strict of a security requirement.

[@deanchur]

You did a video on something to do with airports that Wendover Productions hasn't. Watch your back bro...

[@gambacherkalbenstein]

@WendoverProductions

[@BIGMIKEREC]

"...because, 1993." *laughs in NYC subway*

[@DominicMV]

He said 1993 not 1893 😝

[@skuzzyj]

At least you got the option of taking one ?

[@cherrypepsi2815]

And? Nobody here said 1893...

[@BoGy1980]

I'm from europe, i don't get the 1993 reference... what's that about??? only things i could find about 1993 are things like the "I-70 Killer" and stuff like that ... please elaborate!

[@spoiledmilk2587]

@@BoGy1980 the joke is its old looking

[@matthewsmith9358]

Recently rewatched this and only just realised how well put together this is. This deserves so much more views!

[@arranr]

You can sure talk for a long time about technology that most people will never use. I love it. Never stop.

[@horseshoe_nc]

You may want to check out Techmoan here on KZbin as well.

[@Philip02K]

Arran Retzlaff everybody visits Disney and uses these when traveling

[@RetroDawn]

@@Philip02K Most people do not visit Disney World.

[@WOSArchives]

I got a big PBS vibe with the announcement at the beginning. All you need is a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and to say "Thank you" after "Viewers Like You" and then you'll be all set to air on PBS.

[@spugintrntl]

I get the same vibe from Videogame Historian. It's a beautiful nugget of nostalgia.

[@ianmsutherland]

@Windows OS PBS Digital Studios exists and supports many channels on KZbin. Also why am I getting a memory management bsod when I play music. Is that a driver issue?

[@Andy1dude]

Someone call the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

[@GilbertTang]

Gaming Historian does just that to great effect.

[@SianaGearz]

@@ianmsutherland You can use BlueScreenView by NirSoft to see the past BSODs and copy down all the information there - the type of exception, the module that caused the exception. There can be numerous issues. If the module is consistently the same, then chances are, that module belongs to a buggy driver. But generally you'll have a hard time coming across drivers this bad, because everything is signed off by Microsoft and most hardware barely changes from software perspective year to year. Thermal issues, memory module degradation, contact oxidation, seating issues on the RAM or the CPU are more likely.

[@UrbanTransportEtc]

Vancouver skytrain uses linear induction motors regardless of snow and considerable slopes

[@MobiusPeverell]

I was hoping someone would mention the Expo & Millennium Lines!

[@jp-ui6qg]

Torontos Rt uses it in snow, and on slopes as well

[@MrJoeBob12345]

Linear Induction Motors are actually used BECAUSE of the snow and slopes. Traditional propulsion through steel wheels could slip in those conditions, so LIMs were used instead.

[@NCC651]

@@MrJoeBob12345 Ah yes, the Linear Induction Motor. The only propulsion to have practically infinite traction.

[@sentientarugula2884]

@@MrJoeBob12345 There's a comment above from a guy in Brussels who wrote to the original Disney Peoplemover branch, and they responded back saying light snow is actually ok with the system because the heat from the LIM's will melt it before the cars go over the track. TC missed this!

[@6erender]

You are so amazing for this! We’re trying to reimagine transportation methods in local neighborhoods. I Used to work at Disney and knew the people mover could be a good idea. Documentaries out there are this specific and descriptive. Could tell this took a lot of work! thanks immensely!

[@HliarusProd]

Technology Connections the capitol Subway is actually built by Disney, and was in 1995, if I remember correctly. In fact, in the 1980's, the WEDway PeopleMover was deemed by the US Federal Transportation Department the ONLY and official mass transport system of the Federal Government. There is a whole assessment by the Transportation Department online (can't retrieve the link yet though). Also, Walt Disney Imagineering's CTS division has since then been disolved (probably was in the late 90's/early 2000's), as Walt Disney Imagineering told me last year, when I did a whole study of the WEDway system, for a school exam.

[@kenk8215]

About a year ago my toddler daughter and I flew to IAH and had a long wait to be picked up. We spent probably 2 hours riding the "subway". I remember it feeling very odd because there were so few people down there and in many parts the lighting was quite dim. It felt as though we had found a little secret and for some reason I have a strong memory of it. Thanks for the great video!

[@MrLangDog]

I can't put my finger on it but I have a memory of being in a "secret" area like that when I was really young. Dim, underused, etc. Funny how certain things burn such lasting memories.

[@idowahio]

Dude, videos like these really go to show how excellent your planning and script writing skills are. Awesome job.

[@stephensalex]

Hey sir, absolutely love your content. Like myself, you've got a real love for technology and it shines in how excitedly and accurately you present the information in your program. Keep up the excellent work!

[@JeremyMcCracken]

So THAT'S what the powered rails in Minecraft are, I'll be damned...

[@joesterling4299]

I was just thinking the same thing. Those linear-induction "tiles" sure bring back memories of Minecraft railways.

[@CaveyMoth]

But where's the 60hz hum?

[@l3p3]

@@CaveyMoth Redstone is neither ac but also nor dc.

[@CaveyMoth]

@@l3p3 It's RC! (Redstone current)

[@bibasik7]

Or they could be roller-coaster style boosters, because you can have powered rails going up & down hills.

[@TS6815]

Every time you talk Disney we get a step closer to the defunctland collab my body is ready

[@xxalex423xx]

how dare you quote reggie when he is dying from nintendo joke im up for free speech

[@glitchwalker5422]

Even the emergency exit leads to a gift shop... Capitalism!

[@iforgotmyusername0]

lol

[@jordan__.]

chill the fresident nah

[@jordan__.]

chill the fresident name one time capitalism hasnt killed anyone. capitalism has killed more people than hitler and communism combined

[@jordan__.]

chill the fresident what

[@RemoveBolshevik]

@@jordan__. Capitalism existed since the being of civilization and communism has really existed for about 100 years and has already killed 130 million people.

[@TheYoungYoungster]

I love this content so much I could watch people-movers with his narration all day!

[@CAF51]

I worked at IAH for a while fixing the Bombardier trains. The subway train is currently serviced by Johnson Controls and has a small compliment of service techs on site. Usually a few guys at a train yard at terminal A and someone hiding in an office under the stairs at D/E. In the train yard there is actually a Disney plaque commemorating its construction, but I don't have any photos of its existence. Surprisingly, the most notable wear item is the metal plate under every car. The hot/cold cycles from the induction motors actually warp them pretty bad, usually needing annual replacement. I suspect they will stay around quite a while though, the whole area flooded badly during Harvey, and the airport paid quite a lot to dry it all out. It's a very popular tram for overnight pilots and employees, especially TSA.

[@nicholas_scott]

Great Video. WED sold the rights to the WEDWAY system back in 1984 to Bombardier. Bombardier built the Capital system under contract. I don't think they really wanted the technology as much as they wanted to remove the competition to there similar, but different INNOVA system

[@jg-7780]

Where did you find this info? This seems very interesting.

[@nicholas_scott]

@@jg-7780 Hal Lindsey of Bombardier was the guy in charge of setting up the DC people mover... more surprisingly, years before, he worked for Disney, in transportation. He also setup the Houston People Mover, and supervised construction of the monorail trains. Disney and Bombardier have a good relationship

[@attackeagle]

And the mk6 monorails that replaced the mk4 at wdw we’re built by Bombadier, iirc.

[@akraut]

I also found this: www.force.co.uk/applications/people-mover.php

[@laughoutvancouver6338]

One of the first implantations of the INNOVIA system can be found in British Columbia's biggest city, Vancouver. It's especially interesting how the LIMs are spaced out on the WED version, but on the Vancouver SkyTrain, the LIMs are a straight line without gaps. But yeah, I would agree with the video in the fact that these systems aren't designed for snow. When it snows in Vancouver, chaos ensues, both on the roads, and on SkyTrain. So much so that it has to be manually driven.

[@CFSworks]

Man, I've been on that Houston Subway and never knew Disney had any involvement! Now I want to ride it again. (For the record, I actually found the carpeted basement hallway it was in to be pretty charming. It made the whole system feel like a bigger version of the model train systems I used to build in my own basement as a kid, only I could actually ride on this one!)

[@Recordology]

Excellent work. I love the cuts from one city to another. Very disciplined filmmaking.

[@liamtwentyman7275]

Because of this video, my brain finally clicked onto the blazingly obvious fact - That "EPCOT" is an acronym for "Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow" . How could I have never noticed this before????

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

I blame Disney Theme Park Board members, They transformed EPCOT, and now its barely even a husk of its former vision. Fairness to them though, that vision was a truly private and self-sufficient city, not everyone has what it takes to be a founder! Last year though I went digging, a simple seed: What was that park that was about the future? Turned into 2 hours of reading about the Construction and Intention of EPCOT, and the downfall.

[@GeorgeActon]

Here's a video where Walt Disney explains his vision. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX2meZpvorp1l8k The EPCOT part starts at 10 : 22. Too bad that he died later that year.

[@ethanblevins412]

WHAT

[@markjreed]

I think they later backronymed it to "Environmental Planned City of Tomorrow", but yeah.

[@mycrowatt]

I've always remembered it as "Experimental Prototype COMMUNITY of Tomorrow" (emphasis added). In the Walt Disney video linked above he actually expands it both ways, only 11 seconds apart (10:31 and 10:42). I'm still not sure what the canonical version is.

[@Kodachrome40]

My Father worked on that peoplemover. He worked for a division of Disnay called MAPO. That was a very busy time for Disney. They built the peoplemover, EPCOT, Tokyo Disneyland and remodeled Fantasyland at Disneyland.

[@Jeffah24]

I love your candid approach at narration, perfectly edited with your on-camera dialog. First time finding your channel. Well done! I'll be watching more :)

[@MadScientist512]

"Everything you need to know about the train in Half-Life."

[@jean-lucpicard3012]

I was thinking the same thing, might make sense Disney would have a hand in black Mesa

[@MrSefe]

8:54 Welcome to the Black Mesa transit system

[@mr.hitchens]

I swear they used the same voice too!

[@jesspace4069]

honestly rofl

[@kalleguld]

Was Disney involved in the people mover at the Black Mesa Research Facility?

[@alexandramiller9887]

yes.

[@freddyburger5574]

Yes. There are head crabs under those big, cartoony mascot heads.

[@Senzeni]

No. It has a powered rail.

[@Senzeni]

Maybe you'll find someone else to help you. Maybe Black Mesa... That was a joke. Ha ha. Fat chance.

[@avijarjo]

Ha prollu

[@TheOfficialCzex]

The one inside Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson IA is ridiculously quick. I suppose it needs to be for such a high volume of passengers...

[@rblossey]

I've been on that one, and if it wasn't there, people would be missing their flights left and right! that place is huge

[@legostar55]

@@rblossey Oh yeah, Hartsfield-Jackson is absolutely massive. I've been there quite a few times.

[@andrewcoates3050]

Yes I have been on it several times and that is exactly why it is so fast, also the announcement sequence from the ATL plane train gives me nostalgia

[@Schwertsan]

Vancouver Sky Train. The system is automated, the original lines are linear induction, and Vancouver has plenty of winter. In fact, that is why they went with linear induction, since it will pull the trains along whether the wheels have good traction with the rails or not.

[@Shlooomth]

Oh boy, here comes TechConnects again to tell me all about something I've been sickeningly fascinated by ever since youth. Thank you for continuing to spotlight technologies that fascinate me in particular 😂

[@SimuLord]

No joke there mate, my mom couldn't get her head around my fascination with the PeopleMover back in the mid-80s when I was a wee lad.

[@hubblelord999]

"a passive vehicle in sub-zero temperatures is just unacceptable" Toronto and Vancouver both have outdoor lines using ICTS linear induction (now called Bombardier Innovia) that run in the winter, and have a 3rd rail system to provide power for HVAC and such.

[@colemanadamson5943]

I just figured it out. You have a talent for stating complicated things in a simple, yet detailed manner. You don't dumb things down so much as using words that illuminate the concepts. That is a wonderful talent God has given you and I'm glad to watch and listen to you using that talent. Thank you! EDIT: I'm going to copy this comment to a recent video as TC likely won't see it here.

[@paulgracey4697]

Both the linear motor versions and the Goodyear rubber tire driven systems were an answer to the question how do you build a transport system that has no exposed high voltage electrical contact, either third rail or overhead that can operate with minimal maintenance and operators. Today it can be done with microprocessors in every vehicle, and those vehicles could even be battery powered autonomous vehicles findiing their own charging stations. The battery technology back then was only good enough for golf courses with high greens fees and lots of cheap labor within a publicly restricted enterprise. Note the half height wall of the Houston system, which serves as an easily accessed emergency escape in a very confined guideway. No high voltage to worry about, no big drops like a standard subway and the speed is controlled by the local guideway and linear motor through each corner at speeds appropriate. the vehicles, are so simple and cheap as a selling point. Horizontal elevators but stretched out so that the cost per linear measure could be thought to be comparable to the design architect.

[@joer8854]

I actually think it's good if there are no parts requiring Maintenence on the vehicle for subway purposes. You're underground so the temperature is the temperature regardless and the same with the weather. You could have more cars closer together that wouldn't break down allowing you to have an almost continuous stream of cars running 24 hours a day without a driver. An updated system like that would be perfect as an update for the Toronto subway shuffling people around without many of the issues that they currently have. Obviously, it would require more thought and consideration but it's an interesting idea and having smaller cars with groups that are travelling together allowing for social isolation on public transportation during times of crisis like the current one make it really interesting. Move more people in smaller more isolated cars reducing the chance of spreading illness. Also, it would mean virtually no time spent waiting for a car.

[@25566]

using battery on something that goes on tracks is pretty stupid, batteries have a limited lifespan

[@joer8854]

@@25566 They do but governments don't have an upfront cost investment problem and if you use the right batteries and you charge and discharge them in the right manner the amount of time they will last can be measured in decades. Engines will always require far more maintenance than electricity and batteries and exhaust is also very problematic underground. Having a power rail also comes with its own host of problems. Maintenence is always a bigger problem for the government than the upfront cost and the maintenance cost and amount of maintenance on a power rail system underground is always going to be very high and problematic. It's never as cut and dried as people think.

[@zmknox]

Really enjoyed the voiceover and vlog style you used in this video! Really made sense for this topic where you really need to see it in action. Great as always.

[@lagcom]

This was the first technology connections video I watched, the moment it got on my recommended I knew it was a professional and interesting video.

[@trentthompson627]

That's awesome that you went to Houston just for this video! I can't imagine all of the planning and scripting and time it took you to film this video but it was pretty cool

[@robmausser]

In Canada in the 1980's, the Ontario government designed and built an entire LRT style transit system using this type of Linear Induction system. However, the motors are on the trains and the track is the nickel metal to repel the train forward off of. This cuts down on the number of LIM's you need. The system was built in Canada, and then sold to Vancouver, whose SkyTrain system uses it extensively, Detroit and then bought by Bombardier and used in several areas today. The system is also entirely automated. Its now known as the Bombardier Innovia Metro, but the original history is told in this wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Innovia_Metro

[@t.johnson8221]

The down side to Line 3 in Toronto is that it doesn't handle snow well, plus it's aging out. I remember the initial rides on the Scarborough line, it was neat back in the day. Now, it's not a comfortable ride at all.

[@irtbmtind89]

The UTDC system is used for the people mover at JFK airport too.

[@jcabralda]

Don’t know if he is saying that the “people mover” has to travel in a circle but if it an automated system.... the Vancouver’s sky train is the longest automated transit system in the world.

[@Techdisk42]

The system may be designed to be automated, but the Scarborough RT has always been manually operated. Don't get me wrong, the SRT itself is indeed designed to be automated; the TTC could flip a switch and gain a fully automatic system today. They just decide not to.

[@tecjag]

Yea I'm dissapointed he didn't mention Vancouver. Our SkyTrain (except for the Canada Line) uses LIM and they work great, even in snow and ice conditions.

[@GregPeden]

If you're ever in Vancouver, go check out SkyTrain Millennium and Expo lines, or in Toronto the Scarborough line. These use magnetic propulsion from Bombardier and use it to navigate some insane incline grades for a public transit system. They are driverless, though Scarborough puts a staff member on every train anyway.

[@chryco4]

Wow I live right by IAH and I never knew I could easily experience a tiny small part of Disney magic so close to home!

[@whitesky18]

No lack of information in this video. Very well done, and a pleasure to watch.

[@usaverageguy]

It is great how you make such offbeat mundane things seem so interesting. Thanks. Each video is a nostalgic gift.

[@AdamLeuer]

0:56 Heresy! The 90s are hallowed decade for any Chicago kid, as you well know. I have a soft spot in my heart for the (admittedly dated) industrial look of the O'Hare Automated People Mover stations. The bright primary blues and reds and the exposed steel structural elements are visually iconic, and especially evocative of early 90s Chicago for a kid born in 1989 like me. That style is actually all over the architecture of Chicago, if you look for it. I believe a lot of it can be attributed to the influence of Helmut Jahn. He designed the current Terminal 1 (which was built in the same era as the APM), as well as the modern Northwestern Station (now Olgilvie Transportation Center), which are visually almost twins in their design. But I've noticed that same industrial steel and glass look in other places too, like the subway and other public spaces.

[@AlienHazard]

I love coming back to this video. It's the one the YT algorithm recommended for me a year ago and how I found out about this channel.

[@DratsumX]

This is the most James Burke / Connections style video I’ve seen you make yet. Especially the jump location cuts. Love it.

[@allmycircuits8850]

There is pretty weird thing: Moscow monorail. It was based on Intamin system, but in order for it to work in winter (in Moscow it is pretty snowy and cold sometimes) they decided to use linear induction motor, because this way wheel slip (if steel rail is covered with ice) doesn't affect traction, train gets pushed by magnetic field itself! But unlike PeopleMovers, 3-phase coil (active part of LIM) is located inside of train, while the whole rail have aluminum sections at the middle which function as passive part (short-circuit "rotor"). So train itself is active all right. Also, there are pretty steep climbs which are handled prretty well. This device is pretty slow, it accelerates to roughly 40 km/h. It probably could go faster, but it nearly fell of a track once during testing, so the speed limit was put. Also there is paranoid limit that train may go no faster than 5 km/h when it approaches the station. Interesting thing, but its maintenance costs are extremely high compared to other mass transit in Moscow because of it's unique nature. So it is going to be closed soon.

[@buddyclem7328]

I hope somebody gets some good video before it closes!

[@Volodimar]

@@buddyclem7328 Plenty of videos on YT, not closed yet, its fate is still uncertain.

[@l3p3]

Let us write to Путин. :D

[@voidofspaceandtime4684]

that's a teeny

[@MattMcIrvin]

I had no idea that existed! It hasn't been there for very long and it's already on its way out.

[@JJRicks]

Super big boost in production quality with this one, I love it! Phoenix Sky Harbor airport has a super similar system to the skyway; goes between teminals and the parking garage. Thanks for posting!

[@nicholasboncardo]

This is your best video yet! Thank you so much for your great work

[@david.e.h.]

I've been on the IAH train a ton of times since the early 80s and never new the story. Thanks for sharing!!! Love your videos!

[@Lord_Godd]

Hey you said Bombardier correctly!

[@sebastianelytron8450]

We must of done something right🤔

[@darkmagician1184]

sir, you can't say "bomb" in an airport

[@buddyclem7328]

@@darkmagician1184 LMFAO! 😃 You're the _bomb!_

[@Crazyboxhead]

For some reason, I've always pronounced it "bomb-ra-deer".

[@eliot6775]

I was wondering... I always heard it called "bom-bar-deer", but didn't know for sure. Those damn French!

[@ThePlaceAndTime]

I lived in Houston for years, and loved to ride this as a kid. I had no idea the history of it! awesome vid

[@blacksanreynolds3087]

Houston has the best ride at the airport.

[@JEdwardBanasikJr]

That was a Sunday drive destination for my family as a kid in the 70/80s. Free entertainment riding the IAH people mover and watching planes take off and land. I have ridden that thing so many times in my younger years. And the groovy carpeted walls are still there from when they built the airport. The rest of the terminals used to have carpeted walls as well. It was so futuristic. :)

[@BigAL68xyz]

So you got to ride a Disney ride without having to get on a plane. Cool!

[@maddercat]

I rode the system in washington when i was in high school on a field trip in the 1980's, and sat next to Senator Inouye. I was really struck by the similarities and wondering, I was super happy you mentioned it, really fascinating.

[@kevi747]

I rode that thing once at IAH and always wondered what the backstory was. It’s such s weird little train. Your video was so well researched and executed. Well done!

[@WarriorsPhoto]

This video took a lot of hard work to create. You have my respect and I hope to see more videos like this on your channel. Congratulations on being able to make KZbin your full time gig.

[@japzone]

For those closely spaced induction motors between different speed sections, I think the reason for that is acceleration. Each motor only has a certain output, that might not be adjustable. In order to accelerate you need to increase the force on the object rapidly. So those series of motors each give a shove to get the train to the right speed. Once it's at speed you don't need the extra force from acceleration, just an occasional shove to maintain the speed, so just the occasional motor is needed. Same thing with slowing down. Each motor only has so much power, so you need several in a series, running in reverse, to slow down the train. Once it reaches the desired speed it's back to normal "maintain speed" spacing.

[@QuadroNVS]

This was a very informative video. Having to travel to different locations to gather the information you provided in this video requires some serious curiosity on your part. Thanks for going outside for us!!!!

[@southerncomfortuk]

In Italy there’s one of these at the airport at Pisa. It’s called the ‘Pis Mover’. The first time we used it - we were surprised when it set off without a driver. First time for everything I guess.

[@nliberty]

Another well made video! You've got the perfect archiving and presentation skill. Thank you, Alec.

[@corbinhoppy1]

I would say the one nice thing about the Houston Airport subway is that it let's you get to the Marriott hotel which the skyway doesn't let you get to since it's in the secure area. Honestly I think that's the only reason it's still around is mainly to get from the hotel there to the terminals

[@TechnologyConnections]

I'd wager that's part of it but you might be surprised to learn that, at least while I was there, the Marriott stop was the least active! It seemed most people were getting on from either A or D/E (the end stops).

[@jeremiefaucher-goulet3365]

@@TechnologyConnections Maybe people were just bored, fell asleep, and only were getting off at the end stops :P

[@billzukley1616]

IAH is my home airport. The subway is the easiest way to move WITH YOUR LUGGAGE from the terminal baggage claim to the parking structure. Terminal E departures will have their luggage returned on your return to terminal C. So if you park at Terminal E parking to depart, you will need to get back there from terminal C baggage claim upon your return. It's very convenient to take the subway. (In other words, even though you departed from E, and your plane returns to an E gate, your luggage will be at C. You move from the E gates inside the sterile areas to the C baggage claim (outside of the sterile area), then after you have your bags, a short walk brings you to the subway, and a longish ride takes you to the E elevator. That elevator goes directly up into the E parking garage. And you are back at your car, having rolled your bags, and ridden the subway.)

[@ARedCatJoe]

Thanks to Technology Connections, my layover at IAH wasn’t totally boring. Thanks for opening my world to this unique people mover!

[@13BD]

Very informative and great camera work! Thanks for the video!

[@6yjjk]

Well, they could hardly call it the *A*irport *S*huttle *S*ystem, could they.... Also, you know you're at Disney when you're in a train crash and exit through the gift shop.

[@puskajussi37]

I read PeopleMower and was getting worried.

[@EricICX]

😂

[@Neojhun]

Well Ford was involved but it wasn't a real Mustang.

[@ihaveasticknmyi]

It just takes a little of the top.

[@andyjay729]

During Grad Nite celebrations in 1967 and 1980 (when Disneyland is overrun with carefree high school graduates), some idiots jumped off the Peoplemover, somehow got caught in the track, and ended up getting "mowed" by it.

[@RRansomSmith]

Mover

[@spagamoto]

What a fascinating series of events, brilliantly presented! I rode that train once or twice, almost by accident. I swear, the dim lights, lack of people, and odd sensation of being in a train in a carpeted hallway was rather surreal, liminal.... seriously, all it needs is some impractical indoor swimming pools and abandoned chairs in the middle of the hallway.

[@sandiegofun1]

Thanks for posting this! I totally thought it was a dream that I took this one time when transiting in Houston!

[@iamjoshroper]

Wow, I've lived in Houston my whole life and have been on that train many times, but never knew it was made by Disney.

[@ShrimplyPibblesJr]

You should do a series of videos on guitar pickups and amplification as well as various systems of amplification. I love the science behind pickups because it just makes perfect sense.

[@curs5tproductions958]

I live in Houston and I absolutely love this train. Before 9/11 when I was young I would ride it all the time for fun, and the few times I ride it nowadays it brings back good memories. I actually like the dark and isolated feel of the system, but the turns are way too violent and you have to hold onto something while turning. Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@laz288]

The use of tires gives the people a more comfy ride. Tire use was solidified in Montreal in the 60-70’s with their Metro System. The biggest difference with the Montreal system was side and bottom tires which allowed for high speeds as the side tires steered the Metro and kept it centered on the tracks. Of course It still had a metal 3rd rail for power. The Orlando Outdoor People Mover has tires but bottom metal rails to steer them which saves money with simpler tracks but makes them slower. I grew up in Montreal as a kid in the late 70’s and was always amazed at the technology.

[@MayContainJoe]

Rubber tire systems are cheaper to build and more expensive to operate than railroads. That's why they aren't in wide use anymore. Ride comfort is a function vehicle suspension and track layout, not the wheel surface material.

[@laz288]

@@MayContainJoe Not true at all. Rubber systems like in Montreal are more costly to build instead of durable rails they need concrete pads and side pads. And you are wrong with ride comfort, yes suspension is the major player in comfort but tires play a role that too, aside from noise reduction the tires themselves are suspension albeit the rebound and compression are determined by the tire compound and wall flex. I race MX and Enduro and tires play a major role in the suspension. Just changing tire brands can have a big effect on the suspension settings.

[@MattMcIrvin]

The main thing I notice about the Montreal system is that it sounds different--no squealing from the metal wheels.

[@goclunker]

Lars Slate it's also LOUD AS SHIT. The ttc subway is silent in comparison

[@elizdavidson]

For Disney fans, the train at MCO is considered your first and last ride of your trip :) (if flying in/out). And I love the people mover- it's especially great to hit all the pokestops in Tomorrowland if you are into pokemon go :)

[@MattMcIrvin]

With the second one being Disney/Mears's bus, the Magical Express. I've always thought it was brilliant that they have you check in by scanning your wristband at a queue gate like you're getting on a ride at Disney World--it serves the practical purpose of tracking you, but also the psychological purpose of telling you you're in the Mouse's hands already, even at MCO.

[@dougware]

I know this video is old, but I enjoy watching all of your videos. There's another (non-Disney) people mover that isn't around anymore. Duke University Medical Center had two lines of PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) that were developed by the Otis elevator company. From my research, it was marketed as a horizontal elevator and actually used hovercraft like "lift pads". It was completely automated and I remember hearing the blowers start-up and then the cab would float off the ground slightly before you started moving. Thanks again for your great content.

[@whodecidedthat9540]

I watched your informative video a few days ago and today read a headline about the people mover at tomorrowland slamming into the one in front of it. Excellent video.

[@zac8603]

I use houston's airport like once a year and I never knew that the subway existed. I have always used the skyway. Definitely going to use it next time I go through there.

[@thewordshifter]

I lived in Houston my whole life and I didn't know the subway existed until the last time I was at that airport, this summer. Google Maps had us walk through the tunnel to international arrivals. Very confusing, haha.

[@wb5mct]

I designed a very large cable reel about 30 years ago using a LIM to provide motion and was fascinated by the device. They have a force/speed relationship (set by the pitch of the pole pieces and power frequency) that limits the speed. I seriously doubt that any regenerative braking is used in the people mover systems as that would require adding variable frequency drives or specially built LIM's. Excellent video!

[@ArchitectGang]

Im so high on acid and just discovered your channel. The flashbacks man! Whoa! I love it

[@atomic32205489]

As a kid I flew through IAH many, many times. When there were long lay-overs, my siblings and I would "ride the rails". The airport opened in 1969 and thats about my earliest memory of it. It was just about the same as now, but much busier since there were no security checkpoints and therefore no "sterile" areas.

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

It would have been great for you to do an episode on Vancouver's SkyTrain. It also uses Linear Induction Motors with a 4th rail system. You're right about reversing the motors to brake. This returns power to the system and makes maintaining things like brakes happen less often. The system was designed in Ontario by ICTS. The technology was bought by Bombardier and used in Kuala Lumpur, JFK's AirTrain, Yongin Korea, Beijing Airport and a few other places. One of advantages of the system is that due to the LIM motor being so compact, overall vehicle height is lower and tunnels have a smaller diameter.

[@claws3131]

I’ve lived in Houston all my life and been to IAH a dozen times and never knew this was there.

[@ag3498]

Living in Houston there's really no reason to ever ride it unless you work at the airport. The only time I've ever used it was when I parked at one terminal then arrived at another but first had to retrieve a checked bag. Otherwise the more modern train located inside of security is about 100x better.

[@amyself6678]

@@ag3498 ... " Otherwise the more modern train located inside of security is about 100x better."" … 100x? It has strippers and booze and grants wishes? 100x. … You liberals arts majors shouldn't watch this channel. 100x.

[@macuser7080]

Bonus nachos for knowing “sterile area” is the area beyond security! Great video.

[@raychang8648]

Very interesting, Alec! About 16 years ago, I worked with an engineer who had worked on the Taipei Metro system. He explained that the motors are directly connected to the wheels. The apparent "gear changing" sound that you hear upon accelerating or coming to a stop is just the way the 3-phase electricity pulls on the motor magnets. I have a DC motorcycle (Gogoro S1), and moving it around while off is difficult because you can feel the pull of the magnets. I would really love to know exactly what kind of motor it is and I would appreciate any future video about motors commonly used in EVs or AC vs. DC motors. Hope you keep this idea on the back burner. Keep up the good work! I thoroughly enjoy all of your videos!

[@alejandroarroyo9659]

I live here in Houston. Transdyn was is subsidiary of Powell, and Powell had a government contract for the electrical lay in in DC. Transdyn also partnered with a 3rd party to build the passenger compartments in what was hoped to be a new downtown inter-building transportation system to be marketed to middensity downtown districts.

[@bryede]

Wow, this video was obviously a lot of work. Good job!

[@davidfulginiti5985]

thanks for your great vids------------as a young boy(old guy now) i rode the ford people mover @ the 64 worlds fair, a Mustang! just introduced in 1964 the Mustang was a smash hit. thanks again.

[@BadDriversofHouston]

The subway at IAH plays a vital role connecting passengers on United who might have parked at a different garage. For example, sometimes you'll depart Terminal C (so you park at Terminal C), but might arrive at Terminal B, so youll have to take the basement subway. Also, the only transit options are out of C, so passengers use it to get to the bus stop. So, I doubt it will be going anywhere anytime soon.

[@flanigomik]

if this kind of train interests you, you may also be interested into looking into Vancouver's SkyTrain system, it is very similar to this, also using LIM motors and is the largest fully automatic railsystem in the worlds. The cars ARE NOT passive (heat and AC and power) but rely on LIM motors and cover quite steep grades as well.