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Build Your Own Monorail

jpatokal writes "Building your own roller coaster may be fun, but how about something a little more practical -- like a monorail in your back yard? Kim Petersen designed his from scratch, building the elevated track from wood, scavenging the engine from a motorized walker and handcrafting the train from sheet metal. Total cost: $4000! See the photo tour and the construction history."

7 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Um, say what? by Slash+Veteran · · Score: 5, Funny
    but how about something a little more practical

    More practical?

    More practical for someone who needs a tram in their backyard? K.

    What would be more practical for the referenced site is a webserver than handle more than 5 hits per hour.

  2. The money might be better spent... by jcsehak · · Score: 5, Funny


    ...fixing the potholes. But if he has a catchy jingle, I'm all for it!

    --

    c-hack.com |
    1. Re:The money might be better spent... by Loligo · · Score: 5, Funny


      >...fixing the potholes

      Fixing potholes? Bah. That'll never put Ogdenville, North Haverbrook, or Brockway on the map. Sheesh.

      Some people.

      -l
      The kids can call me "Ho-Ju"!

  3. Re:C'mon people.... by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Seriously, why in the hell would you want this? "

    Rail building materials: $4,000

    Roses to sooth diplomatic relations with your wife: $100

    Being the coolest dad on your block: Priceless

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  4. From the Monorail Simpsons episode... by AnimeFreak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Quimby: And now, I'd like to turn things over to our Grand Marshall, Mr. Leonard Nimoy.
    Nimoy: I'd say this vessel could do at least Warp Five.
    [appreciative laughter from the crowd]
    Quimby: And let me say, ``May the Force Be With You!''
    Nimoy: [annoyed] Do you even know who I am?
    Quimby: [indignant] I think I do. Weren't you one of the Little Rascals?

  5. Other railroads nearby by Animats · · Score: 5, Informative
    It's appropriate that this is in Niles. It's the home of the Niles Canyon Railway, a full-scale hobby railroad.

    Also nearby is the Redwood Valley Railroad, which is in slightly larger scale than the monorail and runs half-scale steam trains. Redwood Valley has quite a layout, with a roundhouse, turntable, sidings, bridges, and tunnels.

    Niles was once the Western terminus of the first transcontinental railroad. So there's much railroad history there.

  6. I can't believe... by bmooney28 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How can y'all bash the creator of this masterpiece left and right? This is creativity in pure form... a technical wonder... 100 points of "coolness"... one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! I know people who have spent half this much on the game Everquest buying intangible items, yet I doubt such purchases would drum up anywhere near the negative response that spending $4000 on this creation has elicited on Slashdot... Give this guy some credit!