Back in 2016, I visited the Wuppertal suspended monorail in Germany, and I said that monorails are almost always a bad idea.

2016年，我參觀了德國的伍珀塔爾懸掛式單軌列車，我那時說，單軌列車的發明很糟。

Monorail enthusiasts sent me angry messages, but I stand by that.

後來單軌列車愛好者給我發來了憤怒的私訊，但我還是堅持觀點。

In 2020, I visited one of the last surviving Roadmachines cargo monorails.

2020年，我參觀了世上最後一批Roadmachines貨運單軌列車。

They were actually useful and practical, but they were temporary constructions designed for having cargo hauled around work sites.

事實上，它們還是有用、實用的，但它們是作為在工地周圍托運貨物的臨時建築。

And they've been replaced by modern heavy construction equipment.

而它們已經被現代重型建築設備取代。

Monorails are usually bad ideas, because the track has to be either elevated or in a trench, and because switches at junctions involve moving the whole track.

單軌列車的發明很糟，那是因為軌道必須是高架或在溝渠中，而且若要在連接點改變方向就要換到整個新軌道上。

In almost every case, a monorail is a worse and more expensive idea than light rail, or a tram, or a bus.

大部分情況下，單軌列車比起輕軌、有軌電車，或公車都是一個更難用又更貴的做法。

But.

但是。

While I was researching a while ago, I found a type of monorail that is useful and practical and better than any alternative for its job.

前段時間我在搜索資料時，我發現了一種有用又實用的單軌列車，而且比任何替代方案都更適合處理某項工作。

And not only is it still in use, new versions of it are being built.

而且，它不僅仍在使用，新的版本還在建造中。

So I reached out to the company that makes them and I asked them, "Can I have a go on one, please?"

所以我聯絡了製造這些產品的公司，我問他們：「我可以試一試嗎？」

This is the monorack.

那就是單軌搬運車。

We build mainly ropeways. That's our main business.

我們主要業務是建造索道。

Everything with the rope. Aerial tramways, chair lifts, ski lifts.

一切有繩索的東西。空中索道、吊椅索道、滑雪索道。

And monorack is a Garaventa product since nearly 45 years, in 1978 I think, or '79.

單軌搬運車是Garaventa這45年以來的產品，我想是大在1978年，或者79年時。

Some two years after the petrol monorack, they start with electrical monorack.

在汽油版單軌搬運車推出大約兩年後，電動單軌搬運車跟著上線。

They installed mainly in the Alp area.

主要安裝在阿爾卑斯地區。

Germany, Switzerland, a lot of monoracks in Italy, but also Canada, Sweden, Asia.

德國，瑞士，意大利有很多的單軌搬運車。但也包括加拿大、瑞典、亞洲。

All over the world we have more or less about 800 monoracks.

在世界各地，我們有大約800架單軌搬運車。

The petrol monoracks are mainly installed in the agriculture area.

汽油單軌搬運車主要安裝在農業區。

The electrical monorack usually is quiet, but here the customer made his own box.

電動單軌搬運車通常很安靜，但客戶自己做了一個小車廂。

That's the reason why it's still a little bit loud!

這就是為什麼它仍然有一點聲音的原因！

The invention that makes this thing so useful is down on the track.

讓這個東西如此有用的發明在軌道上。

This is a rack railway, so the track has grooves and the cogs onboard the train lock into it.

這是一條齒軌鐵路，所以軌道有凹槽，而火車上的齒輪則鎖在軌道上。

That means it can climb very steep hills like this and take tight corners with no risk of slipping.

也就是說它可以像這樣爬上非常陡峭的山丘，並在沒有滑落風險的情況下通過狹窄的轉角。

Having just one lightweight rail means it doesn't take up much room.

只有一條輕型軌道意味著它不會佔用太多的空間。

It can go around tight corners and it's easy to install.

它可以繞過狹窄的角落，而且很容易安裝。

Being elevated, means it can go over rough terrain and if there's rain or mud below, it doesn't matter.

它也能抬高，便可以在凹凸不平的的地形上行走，如果有雨水或泥濘也無所謂。

I genuinely can't think of a better solution for regularly, safely, moving things up and down steep, rough terrain like this.

要定期、安全地將東西在這樣陡峭、崎嶇的地形搬上搬下，沒有什麼比它更適合了。

Every monorack is based on a brake, and on an engine chassis.

每個單軌搬運車都是基於一個煞車和一個發動機底盤。

And what's between the two chassises is up to the customer, we can choose different models, different chairs, whatever the customer needs or wants.

而這兩個底盤之間的規劃則可以由客戶決定，可以選擇不同的模型、椅子，無論客戶需要或想要什麼。

You can see the charging rails.

你可以看到充電軌道。

If the customer wants two or three, he can choose two or three charging points.

如果客戶想要兩個或三個，他也可以選擇兩個或三個充電點。

Normally we have only one, in one of the end stations.

通常只有一個，在其中一個終端站上。

I know this sounds like an advert, I promise it isn't.

我知道聽起來像一個廣告，但我保證不是。

I just got actually properly enthusiastic at being proved wrong.

我只是在發現原先想法是錯的後覺得很有意思想了解更多。

There are useful monorails in the world. And this?

世界上還是有一些有用的單軌列車，而這個呢？

This is one of them.

就是其中之一。