Remember the excitement of the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride? This wasn’t just any ride. It was an adventure through the zoo’s diverse landscapes.
The Toronto Zoo Domain Ride, often called a monorail, started its journey in 1976. It offered a unique way to travel between different sections of the zoo. Think of it as an early automated guideway transit or AGT.
The Toronto Zoo Domain Ride wasn’t a true monorail. Its cars ran on rubber tires within a concrete guideway. Electricity was supplied via rails above the guideway. The ride provided views of animals in remote areas. Moose and white-tailed deer were visible only from the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride. An operator would share facts about the animals during the ride.
However, the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride closed in 1994 after a train accident. A train lost power on an incline. It rolled backward into another train at the station. Many people were hurt in the incident. The Zoo was later fined for inadequate operator training.
Despite the accident, the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride left a lasting impression. Parts of the guideway remain today, overgrown with vegetation. The electrical supply rails are gone.
Three stations still stand. The Americas station is behind closed gates. Weston station offers accessible washrooms. The Main Station now serves new purposes. It houses wheelchair rentals, the Peacock Cafe, and the Main Zoomobile station.
Interestingly, there were plans to replace the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride with a maglev train. Magna and Lockheed Martin joined forces as Magnovate. They received approval in 2018. The maglev train was projected to open in 2021, but progress is unclear.
Today, the Zoomobile offers a similar function. It is an open-air vehicle that operates on paved paths. It replaced the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride.
So, as you explore the zoo, remember the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride. It was a pioneering way to see the animals. It may be gone, but its legacy lives on. The ride provided unique access to the zoo’s hidden corners. It offered views that walking paths couldn’t match. The Toronto Zoo Domain Ride remains a piece of Toronto Zoo history.