Chester Zoo Monorail | Goodbye Monorail Zoofari Ride | Monorail Compilation 2015 -2020
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Farewell to the Monorail at Chester Zoo!
After 28 years in service the Chester Zoo Monorail made it's last journey to zoo visitors in 2019.
The Monorail gave visitors a unique perspective of the zoo and fantastic views of the animal enclosures as well as a rest from walking around the many acres around the zoo.
It was built and installed by Computerised People Mover International at a cost of $4 Million and was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent in 1991. The system was 1 mile long on a elevated guideway. Each train could seat 24 Passengers between its four cars and a full tour took around 15 minutes. In 2009 T&M Machine Tool Electronics made improvements to the monorail's drive system costing £300,000 which included more than 25 miles of new cabling. The monorail was relaunched by music producer Pete Waterman, who drove the first loop of the new system. A week later a power failure occurred, requiring the first eight visitors of the day to be escorted off the monorail using a hydraulic lift.
The Monorail was paid in addition to the entrance fee and depending on what type of ticket you purchased, you could ride choose a single ride to both stations or unlimited rides for the day. Riders had to disembark at each station before riding on to the next.
At the time of closure the two stations were named Tsavo Station (formally named Monkey Island Station) located near the main entrance of the zoo and Jubilee Square Station named in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, located near to Junes Food Court and Oakfield House, the former residence of the Zoo's Founder George Mottershead and his Family.
The Queen visited the zoo in May 2012 on her Jubilee Year and to celebrate the occasion Chester Zoo re-skinned the Zebra Theme number 3 Monorail with the Union Flag, which Her Majesty famously rode in during her visit.
Chester Zoo opened in 1931 and is now one of the UK's largest zoo's at 125 acres. The decision was taken to close the Monorail as it was very costly to run, often broke down and no longer covered the entire zoo which has expanded over the years. In June 2019 Chester Zoo announced in its members magazine, that it would be closing the Monorail as it "no longer fits our vision for a world-class modern zoo" at 5pm on the 3rd September 2019, the Chester Zoo Monorail named Zoofari Ride closed permanently.
The monorail is to be replaced with a new attraction that is proposed to open in 2022. The dismantling of the monorail will clear areas of the zoo so a new attraction called Grasslands can be built, comprising of a large open Savannah Habitat with 2 storey restaurant boasting views of the Savannah. The zoo is also proposing to build overnight accommodation for guests.
Пікірлер: 18
Great Video as always, I didn’t realize this had closed permanently, I was looking forward to going on it too 😪 Thanks for sharing, Hope your week is going well, stay safe 🥰👍
@FindTheMagic
4 жыл бұрын
We spoke to some of the rangers at the monorail station and they where saying that due to its age maintenance had become an issue, plus during the hot summer in 2018 they couldn't run it due to health and safety. We mainly enjoyed filming it going past rather than riding on it. Thanks for watching and have a great weekend.
I love a monorail!!! And all the different designs are so cool. Shame the zoo monorail closed 😢 it looked like such great fun. Hope you all are having a good day!
@FindTheMagic
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks guys, we only ever remember the zoo having the monorail so it will feel strange when all the rail is gone. I think they have some good plans for the space it will create though. Have a great weekend you guys and keep well.
A Circular Cable Car would be a good replacement if they were to consider a new overhead transport system in the future (like Alton Tower's Skyride, which does have midway stations). At least there's onsite accommodation now, which is a bonus for anyone who has travelled a long way.
we were hoping to get to Chester Zoo in May but we know its not going to happen xx thanks for sharing xx we enjoyed watching- stay well x
@FindTheMagic
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks guys, really hope we all get to visit again soon. We are sure you will have a great time there when it reopens. They have been doing some live streams over the past few weeks that have been pretty good. Have a great weekend and look after yourselves.
Monorails exist outside of Disney! Yay! -Ali 😍
@FindTheMagic
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah it's a real shame it is gone now as whenever we saw it go past it always reminded us of Disney. Thanks so much for watching, have a great weekend and keep well.
As of my latest visit this year there isn't much left of the old girl but there are 2 small sections of track still standing the part you showed at the end beside the bridge that crosses over the paff below part of that is still there and one segment beside the capybara area that goes through the trees
@FindTheMagic
Жыл бұрын
Thats right, we were sorry to see it go but fortunately we videoed it every time it went overhead 🤣 Thanks so much for watching, we really appreciate it. 🥰
@theamazingtattletale8983
Жыл бұрын
No problem, plus I have actually located the monorail cars. A lot of them ended up at greenacres Animal Park, including the ant and elephant liveries, and I think the penguin liverie as well, but I'm not sure if it was there or not.
Any idea what the ‘grasslands’ actually is?
@FindTheMagic
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching, the Grasslands project was a planned hotel and redevelopment of the African section . It was due to open in 2022 but has been put on hold due to the impact of the virus. Keep well and have a great week. 🥰
@ZEK.0
2 жыл бұрын
@@FindTheMagic thank you man, you too! Yeah, don’t think that’ll be happening any time soon considering the state of the zoo :/
Great Work my Friend! I ALWAYS return support to channels who support me! I wish you a nice WEEKEND! #StayHome and travel #WithMe!
@FindTheMagic
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the video. Have a great weekend.
Shame. I visited the zoo for the first time the day after the monorail closed