Slope car

A slope car (スロープカー, surōpukā) is a small automated monorail, or a fusion between monorail, people mover, inclined elevator and rack railway. It is a brand name of Kaho Manufacturing. Since this mode of transportation is relatively unknown, it lacks widely accepted generic name, other than the simple "monorail". The system is different from normal modern monorails in many ways. It is a development from industrial monorails used in 1960s orchards. Slope cars are installed in more than 80 places in Japan and South Korea.[1]

Overview

The system is introduced generally when there are steep slopes or stairs between entrance gates and buildings. Slope cars generally function as amenities that provide accessibilities for elderly or handicapped people visiting particular places, such as parks, golf courses, or hotels. As most lines move fairly slowly, people without disabilities often find it faster to walk the same routes on foot, rather than to use slope cars. However, there are also places where slope cars climb very steep slopes which people without disabilities can not climb unless there are stairs. In Japan, slope cars are not legally considered as railways.

System

There is a type that is 3 m (9 ft 10 in) long, having a 4 to 8 passengers capacity, and another type that is 6 m (19 ft 8+1⁄4 in) long, having around 30 passengers capacity. Some slope cars are "trainsets" consisting of two cars. Most slope cars are straddle-beam monorails, but there are suspended monorail slope cars as well.[2] Normal monorails generally use rubber tyres running on a concrete beam, while slope cars use a steel beam with a rack rail on one side. As such, slope cars can climb 100% (45°) slopes at maximum speed. The system is powered by a "third rail" on the other side of the beam.

The system does not require a driver. A car starts when a user pushes a button, and it automatically stops at the selected destination.

History

In 1966, Yoneyama Industory, an agricultural machinery maker in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, invented "Monorack" (モノラック, Monorakku), a freight-only rack monorail system. It soon became widespread in mikan citrus orchards in the prefecture, and in other parts of Japan. Other makers also started to build similar systems. Later in 1990, a company called Chigusa developed a passenger rack monorail system. These rack monorails were first used to transport workers in construction sites or forests. However, from 1990s, public facilities such as parks also started to use the system. Kaho Manufacturing started to sell their "slope cars" in 1990.

Similar systems were designed for vineyards in Switzerland and Germany in the 1960s. These were also transporting workers from the start. The brand name Monorack is used here for the Graventa Monorackbahn since 1976. The main difference is the type of rail being used - the Japanese systems use 4 cm (1.6 in) and the European systems use 6 cm (2.4 in) square tubing.[3] The cooperation between Nikkari in Japan and Habegger in Switzerland started in 1975, so the Monorack tractors are mostly identical.[4][3][5]

Other names

As "slope car" is the brand name of Kaho Manufacturing, similar, if not the same, concepts are called differently by different manufacturers.

  • Ansaku makes Trans Mobile (トランスモービル, Toransu Mōbiru).
  • Chigusa makes Raxcar (ラックスカー, Rakkusukā).
  • Monorail Industry makes Monorider (モノライダー, Monoraidā).
  • Senyō Kōgyō makes Mountain Liner (マウンテンライナー, Maunten Rainā).
  • EMTC of Korea makes the Mountain Type (which has two rails) and the monorail Inclined Type and Locomotive Type[6]
  • Doppelmayr Garaventa makes the Monorack for agricultural use. They say they have installed 650 systems worldwide.[7]

Slope cars are similar in some ways to personal rapid transit systems in that they offer on-demand service for individuals or small numbers of passengers.

List of slope cars
Facility, line name Function Diagonal line length (m) Diagonal line length (ft) Speed (km/h) Speed (mph) Maximum gradient Passenger capacity Opening year Location
168 stairs MonorailAccessibility 60200 2.1 1.3 42° 8 2016 Choryang-dong, Dong District, Busan, South Korea
Aburagi DamDam 87285 2.1 1.3 45° 6 2002 Soeda, Fukuoka
Aburayama Golf CourseGolf course 96315 2.1 1.3 21° 4 2004 Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Akagi Kōgen Highland Pasture KronenbergZorbing 70230 4.8 3.0 11° 2003 Shibukawa, Gunma
Ashikita Kaihin Sōgō ParkZorbing 140460 4.8 3.0 15° 2003 Ashikita, Kumamoto
Amanohashidate ViewlandPark 3931,289 3.3 2.0 25° 40[8] Miyazu Bay, Kyoto
Ashikita Kaihin Sōgō ParkZorbing 153502 5.1 3.2 11°40′ 2005 Ashikita, Kumamoto
Bay Hill View ChayagadaiDiagonal elevator 3098 1.8 1.1 24° 4 1999 Ōita, Ōita
Bukkō-ji TempleAccessibility 38125 1.8 1.1 29 6 2005 Kyōto, Kyōto
Bukkoku-ji TempleAccessibility 90300 2.4 1.5 15° 4 2004 Sendai, Miyagi
Cactus Herb ParkPark 191627 4.8 3.0 19°30′ 30 1995 Nichinan, Miyazaki
Changwon Country ClubGolf course 60200 1997 Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do,
South Korea
Funaoka Castle ParkPark 3051,001 4.8 3.0 18° 40 1996 Shibata, Miyagi
Garden Sight Sakurajima, Sakurajima-gōDiagonal elevator 2789 1.7 1.0 32°30′ 8 2001 Kagoshima, Kagoshima
Gassan DamDam 166545 2.7 1.7 35°32′ 8 1994 Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Genkai IslandAccessibility 47154 2.1 1.3 33° 2 1998 Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Gifu Prefectural Museum, Rakuraku-gōDiagonal elevator 87285 4.8 3.0 13° 8 2002 Seki, Gifu
Gohan-eup MonorailAccessibility 206676 3.53 2.19 16° 12 2009 Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Grandee Nasu Shirakawa Golf ClubGolf course 50160 2.4 1.5 17° 6 2005 Nishigō, Fukushima
Haenam TtangkkutPark 826 0.9 0.6 26°50′ 2005 Haenam, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Haenam TtangkkutPark 3951,296 3.6 2.2 23°30′ 40 2005 Haenam, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Hamamatsu Flower ParkPark 59.8196 3.0 1.9 25° 16 2020[9] Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka
Hamyang Daebongsan monorailPark 3,93012,890 2020[10] Hamyang County, South Korea
Hanatateyama OnsenPark 99325 3.0 1.9 15° 8 2004 Chikuzen, Fukuoka
Hanawa Ski ResortSki resort 212696 5.4 3.4 28° 10 1996 Kazuno, Akita
Hayakuchi DamDam 200660 1.5 0.9 45° 2 2003 Ōdate, Akita
Hinokidai DanchiAccessibility 87285 3.9 2.4 22° 6 2000 Sasebo, Nagasaki
Hotel HatsuhanaPark 3098 1.8 1.1 29°50′ 6 2005 Hakone, Kanagawa
Hwaam CavePark 5271,729 6.6 4.1 20° 2003 Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hwanseongul CavePark 6002,000 2006 Samcheok, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Iiyama Ski JumpSki resort 136446 5.4 3.4 27° 8 1999 Iiyama, Nagano
Iizuka City Chikuho Community CenterAccessibility 1756 0.9 0.6 29° 3 1997 Iizuka, Fukuoka
Ikawa X ParkZorbing 82269 3.9 2.4 18° 2004 Miyoshi, Tokushima
Inaniwa Castle KonjakukanPark 237778 4.0 2.5 33°30′ 24 1993 Yuzawa, Akita
Iya OnsenDiagonal elevator 3.0 1.9 42° 2004 Miyoshi, Tokushima
Jōō-ji TempleAccessibility 31102 2.1 1.3 29° 4 2002 Taku, Saga
Kannondaki Park, Kajika-kunPark 202663 4.8 3.0 13° 10 1997 Satsuma, Kagoshima
Kayase DamDam 231758 1.5 0.9 45° 2 1999 Isahaya, Nagasaki
Kunimi Forest ParkPark 8002,600 3.6 2.2 35° 40 2006 Shisō, Hyōgo
Kwangju Country ClubGolf course 70230 2002 Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Maruoka ParkPark 236774 3.0 1.9 15° 10 2005 Kirishima, Kagoshima
Mashiki Country ClubGolf course 73240 3.6 2.2 24° 4 1992 Mashiki, Kumamoto
Masutani DamDam 172564 1.5 0.9 36° 2 2003 Minamiechizen, Fukui
Minami Kiyosato Flower ParkPark 185607 3.6 2.2 25°30′ 20 2000 Hokuto, Yamanashi
Minamihata DamDam 79259 2.1 1.3 28° 6 2003 Nakagawa, Fukuoka
Minaminooka Memorial ParkAccessibility 52171 2.1 1.3 24°30′ 6 2004 Yokohama, Kanagawa
Misawa Adonis Golf ClubGolf course 99325 3.0 1.9 33° 4 1994 Ena, Gifu
Miyamoto residenceAccessibility 1962 1.5 0.9 28° 2 1992 Hisayama, Fukuoka
Mizutori-gōAccessibility 60200 0.9 0.6 29° 2 2002 Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Moritate ConstructionAccessibility 1446 0.6 0.4 45° 2 1999 Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Mount Hiko, Mount Hiko Slope CarPark 8492,785 4.8 3.0 18° 80 2005 Soeda, Fukuoka
Muya Bus Stop, SloppyDiagonal elevator 161528 9.6 6.0 5°40′ 20 2002 Naruto, Tokushima
Mount InasayamaPark 5211,709 4.8 3.0 21° 40 2020[11] Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
Naengcheon Country ClubGolf course 110360 2003 Daegu, South Korea
Nagasaki Subtropical Botanical GardenPark 3801,250 3.0 1.9 10° 20 1996 Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Nakadake DamDam 125410 1.8 1.1 35° 2 2006 Soo, Kagoshima
Namgwangju Country ClubGolf course 40130 2001 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Nanakura DamDam 96315 2.1 1.3 45° 4 1993 Ōmachi, Nagano
Nanreku Shōken-yama ParkPark 203666 6.0 3.7 11°30′ 12 1990 Ainan, Ehime
Ogasayama Sports Park EcopaPark Fukuroi, Shizuoka
Okuhagi Honjin GardenPark 4531,486 4.2 2.6 25° 24 1990 Hagi, Yamaguchi
Okutadami DamDam 228748 4.8 3.0 21° 40 1997 Uonuma, Niigata
Otaki DamDam 101331 2.7 1.7 50° 6 1997 Kawakami, Nara
Passage Kinkai Island Golf ClubGolf course 95312 3.0 1.9 22° 5 1997 Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Rusutsu ResortSki resort 4801,570 10.8 6.7 9°30′ 36 1998 Rusutsu, Hokkaidō
Saga Sōgō GroundAccessibility 826 0.9 0.6 35° 2 1999 Saga, Saga
Sakura-gōAccessibility 50160 0.9 0.6 33° 2 2003 Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Sanbōdai SchanzeSki resort 145476 5.4 3.4 28° 8 1997 Shibetsu, Hokkaidō
Sanda Onsen Kumano no SatoPark 43141 3.0 1.9 14° 8 2006 Sanda, Hyōgo
Sazanka Kōgen Pincnic Park, Kōgen MonorailPark 4021,319 6.0 3.7 17° 20 1995 Isahaya, Nagasaki
Sazanka Kōgen Pincnic Park, Kōgen MonorailPark 280920 6.0 3.7 14° 16 1993 Isahaya, Nagasaki
Shin Takasegawa DamDam 102335 2.1 1.3 30° 4 1996 Ōmachi, Nagano
Shirahama Mermaid TownAccessibility 69226 2.1 1.3 24° 4 2000 Shirahama, Wakayama
Shōkaien Care House ToyonosatoAccessibility 48157 1.8 1.1 36°9′ 16 2001 Mizumaki, Fukuoka
Siesta PatioPark 213699 4.8 3.0 16° 15 2000 Taku, Saga
Soeda Park, SakuraPark 181594 3.6 2.2 17° 16 1991 Soeda, Fukuoka
Sugiyama residence, Noboru-kunAccessibility 2066 1.5 0.9 28° 2 1996 Shizuoka, Shizuoka
Sun Village AkaneSki resort 46151 2.4 1.5 30° 12 1995 Iizuka, Fukuoka
Tachibana Thermal Power PlantAccessibility 2789 0.9 0.6 27° 2 2000 Anan, Tokushima
Takasakiyama Natural Zoological GardenPark 250820 3.6 2.2 9°30′ 40 2003 Ōita, Ōita
Takasegawa DamDam 104341 2.1 1.3 45° 4 1994 Ōmachi, Nagano
Takayama DamDam 72236 1.5 0.9 42° 8 2006 Minamiyamashiro, Kyōto
Takeo Onsen Hoyōmura, Skybus Noboru-kunPark 4881,601 4.2 2.6 23° 16 1993 Takeo, Saga
Tenjin DamDam 96315 1.5 0.9 45° 2 1999 Miyakonojō, Miyazaki
Tenjin-kunAccessibility 60200 0.9 0.6 29° 2 2002 Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Tsunagi Onsen ShikisaiPark 56184 2.1 1.3 32°30′ 6 1994 Tsunagi, Kumamoto
Ueda Women's Junior College Tea HouseAccessibility 58190 2.4 1.5 22° 2 2005 Ueda, Nagano
Ulsan Country ClubGolf course 32105 4.8 3.0 12° 6 2005 Ulsan, South Korea
Ulsan Country ClubGolf course 135443 1993 Ulsan, South Korea
Urayama DamAccessibility 216709 2.7 1.7 45° 2 1998 Chichibu, Saitama
Wakato HospitalDiagonal elevator 94308 3.0 1.9 9°15′ 4 1992 Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka
Watanabe residenceAccessibility 2582 0.9 0.6 31° 2 1998 Minoo, Ōsaka
Wespa TsubakiyamaPark 5721,877 4.8 3.0 25° 40 2000 Fukaura, Aomori
Yamano HotelPark 36118 2.4 1.5 36° 6 2004 Takayama, Gifu
Yeongju-dong Oreumgil MonorailAccessibility 70230 3.6 2.2 20° 8 2014 Yeongju-dong, Jung District, Busan, South Korea
Yoichi Ski JumpSki resort 129423 5.4 3.4 30° 8 1999 Yoichi, Hokkaidō
Yong-in Country ClubGolf course 100330 2001 Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Yong-in Country ClubGolf course 78256 2001 Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Zaō Ski JumpSki jump 200660 5.4 3.4 35° 10 2001 Yamagata, Yamagata

See also

References
  1. Delivery results search Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine at Kaho Manufacturing's official website yields more than 80 cases (slope cars only).
  2. "斜面走行モノレール・スロープカーは嘉穂製作所". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  3. Thomas Pösch (2021-12-02). "Moderne Methoden zur Erschließung steilster Weinberge an der Untermosel, am Beispiel der Monorackeinschienenzahnradbahn" [modern methods for accessibility of steepest vineyards in the Lower Mosel region by example of Monorack monorail rack rail] (PDF). Diplomarbeit (master thesis) (in German). Fachhochschule Mainz / ARGE Landentwicklung. Retrieved 2022-10-03. Der größte Unterschied zwischen der japanischen Monorailbahn und der europäischen Monorackbahn besteht in der Schiene. Die japanischen Modelle fahren auf einer Schiene von 4 cm Kantenlänge, während die Schienen in der Schweiz und später auch in Deutschland eine Kantenlänge von 6 cm haben. Der Traktor ist vom Aufbau her nahezu gleich.
  4. "Nikkari - Works History". Retrieved 2022-10-17. 1966: Developed the first mono-rail carrier for steep slopes for agricultural use (Monorack) in Japan / 1975: Technical cooperation with HABEGGER Maschinenfabrik AG. a mono-rail manufacturer and seller in Switzerland / 2010: Developed a battery-powered mono-rail for one passenger
  5. Note: Nikkari adopted the name in 1973 while Habegger was sold to Van Roll in 1981. Graventa bought the rope business from Van Roll in 1996 including the Monorack systems.
  6. "Smart Monorail". Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  7. "Monorack Ecofriendly, energy-saving and compact A transport solution of the special kind". Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  8. "天橋立ビューランド（京都府）". Retrieved 2021-08-14.
  9. "浜松フラワーパーク様に納入しました。". Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  10. "The longest monorail in Korea'Hamyang Daebongsan Recreation Valley' opened at the end of August". tekdeeps. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  11. "稲佐山様に納入しました。". Retrieved 2021-08-15.
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