Pictures of Layouts from Around the World
Speaking of Birthdays...
Happy Birthday Disneyland!
In 2012, Schuco published a book about their history since they are now 100+ years old. In the book, there are only 2 pages concerning the monorails. It is still great information. For example, Schuco spent over $250,000 DM in just the development of the Disneyland monorails.Apparently this was a tremendous amount to spend on a new toy product. There were also arguments whether the monorails should be 1:90 scale or 1:87 scale. The head of Schuco won out on this argument. Schuco had a model car line that was already 1:90 scale. When the monorails failed to sell well, workers blamed the choice of the 1:90 scale over 1:87. I think this was a scapegoat excuse as probably most modelers would not care about the minor difference.
The book mentions that Schuco gave up on the Disneyland monorails in 1969. In my opinion, Schuco "gave up" after poor sales during the 1967 Christmas season. As mentioned above, I have not found a toy catalog past 1967 that lists them, nor can I find them listed in a 1968 Schuco catalog. Again, I have found them in a Schuco 1969 AND in a 1970 Schuco price list. I’m guessing that Schuco stopped producing them around 1968 or 1969 and for the next couple of years just sold off whatever they had in inventory.
Schuco Disneyland Monorail Basic Facts
Website updated 5/27/26*
New Text
The 1961 to 1970 Schuco1:90 scale model Mark I
The first Disneyland monorail, the Mark I, was introduced at the park June 14, 1959. There was a red and blue one with the red being the one to operate that day. Schuco did not offer its first set until Christmas of 1961. I have read that the price of that set was $39.95 at the park. This price has also been verified by several collectors. In today's money, that would be over $300! Remember, it only cost $3.50 to gain entrance into Disneyland in 1961. You could purchase a book of 10 tickets plus admission for less than $5, so this new monorail train set was rather pricey for the time. For Christmas of 1962, Schuco offered a downsized starter set in an effort to lower the price. This one started at $29.95, but Schuco continually lowered prices as time went on. A collector tells me he bought a set on a Disneyland vendor's cart for $25. Click here to see pictures of actual Disneyland price tags!
Why Collect Schuco Disneyland Monorails?
We try to make it to Disneyland’s birthday every year. Hard to believe it opened 71 years ago in 1955. Here are some photos from our last four years of visits.
If you can’t make it to the park, maybe you can celebrate by watching one of the many documentaries about Disneyland or a movie that takes place there such as “Forty Pounds of Trouble.” Better yet, run some Schuco Disneyland monorails!
What is it like to work at Disneyland? CLICK HERE!
July 17th
The real Mark I monorailas it appeared in 1959 at
Disneyland!
Welcome to the website dedicated exclusively to the 1960's HO operating model of the Disneyland monorail!
The monorails were offered at other hobby shops throughout the world, not just at Disneyland. Collectors have shared various prices for these. The large S set featuring a Mark II monorail (four units instead of three) was priced anywhere from $89.95 to $125. That is close to $1,000 in today's dollar! Needless to say, the combination of a high price, the declining interest in model trains in the 1960's, and the fact that the Schuco monorails were known to have their own operating personalities led to low sales, and thus the low number of sets available today. The last year the Schuco Disneyland monorails appeared in a Christmas catalog that I can find, is 1967. I can’t find a 1968 Schuco catalog where the monorails appear, BUT, I have recently purchased a 1969 Schuco catalog, and the small and large sets are listed!!
What's for Sale?
The purpose of this website is to share information about these fun and well engineered, transformer controlled, model trains designed after the first monorails operated in Disneyland. Hopefully, whether you are a collector, operator, or both, you will find the information you need here! IMPORTANT NOTE: Most of my research and information comes from years of talking to collectors and acquiring brochures from Schuco, or catalogs from toy retailers. Therefore, any information you may have would greatly enhance the knowledge shared here! Please email me at Trainfool@aol.com with any information, stories, or pictures you may have.
With that said, here are some basic facts I know about the Schuco Disneyland monorails. There is much more detail in the "Schuco Disneyland Monorail Basic Facts" section.
Keeping Your Monorails Running
Sets Produced by Schuco
Disneyland Monorails
...Tom from Maryland has designed some special patriotic monorails to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Enjoy the photos he sent!
If you have designed a special Schuco Disneyland monorail, please share them by emailing your story and photo(s) to Trainfool@aol.com.
*What's been recently updated:
Home Page (5/27/26); What’s for Sale/Sets, Monorails & Transformers (5/9/26); Pictures of Layouts from Around the World/Europe/Germany (2/19/26); What’s for Sale/Accessories (1/22/26); Home Page (1/18/26); What’s for Sale/Miscellaneous (1/18/26); Pictures of Layouts from Around the World/North America/USA/Idaho (1/2/26); Pictures of Layouts from Around the World/North America/USA/California (12/21/25); Pictures of Layouts from Around the World/North America/USA/Georgia (10/22/25); Pictures of Layouts from Around the World/North America/USA/Alabama (9/17/25); Pictures of Layouts from Around the World/Europe/Italy (9/6/25); Sets Produced by Schuco (8/15/25); Keeping Your Monorails Running/Oddball Trouble Shooting (6/26/25)