Double Monorail break down

[Langdonj]

While riding Monorail yellow from The Polynesian Resort to The Magic Kingdom late this afternoon we had to stop at support pylon 96 because Monorail Coral broke down as it was leaving The Magic Kingdom. After about 20 minutes (I didn't keep track, so if anybody knows the actual down time you can fill in the detail) Coral started running without passengers while waiting for a part to replace in the "front" cab. They actually backed up Coral, unloaded it, then began dead heading, I think operating from the back cab.

Then, as we pulled into The Contemporary, Yellow lost power before coming reaching the load spot. After a few anxious moments the driver executed a reset and the power came back on. It was odd to have two problems that close. Any chance they were connected, or was it just bad timing?

Since I was riding the Monorail mostly to videotape the ride, and I was in the front cab hearing the radio chatter, I didn't mind the delays. Plus I was impressed with how quickly they diagnosed the problem and were back to limited service while the part was on the way. I am guessing people who had hopper passes burning a whole in their pockets were not to happy.

 

[mousermerf]

Eh, these things happen every so often. I doubt it was mroe than a coincedence.

I once spent 20 minutes parked infront of the Imagination/Land in the nosecone of Silver because Yellow had died at Epcot station.

 

[Robfasto]

We had a simular problem on Yellow back in July, while traveling from Epcot to the Ticket & Transportation Center one of the standing guest 'leaned' a bit to hard on the door causing an emergency stop. After a bit of a time to reset it too another 20 minutes or so to get to the station as the door sensor never reset and the only way to do it properly was to cycle the doors. Cycling the door out of the station is not something the can be done very easily.

 

[speck76]

and people think it is smart to expand the monorail system

 

[astewart]

and people think it is smart to expand the monorail system

While I agree with you that it's not a good idea to expand the monorail, what does this have to do with it? Everything breaks down sometime. If they went with this theory, they'd stop building roller coasters, or dark rides, or 50 more dumbo/aladdin/tricertops etc etc... hehe

 

[Robfasto]

and people think it is smart to expand the monorail system

Yes I do...

How buses break down also, you also have to worry much more about buses being involved in traffic accidents.

One thing you don't see with monorails that nice big plumm of black smoke each time they start up from a stop light.

Of course I am old school, I remember the days when Disney World had no stop lights on property.

Triva question, when did Disney install it's first full blown traffic/stop light

 

[Lokheed]

Triva question, when did Disney install it's first full blown traffic/stop light

I dunno... about fifteen minutes after the first lost out-of-towner got t-boned going through a four way intersection on property?

 

[Master Yoda]

I could have been given some incorrect information from the monorail driver I spoke with, but back in December I got to ride in the front of the monorail and when speaking to the driver I asked about the rumored automation of the monorails. He stated that the Yellow monorail already had the automation installed and they were keeping the drivers in place to monitor and override the automation system if necessary. He also added, with a ton of sarcasm, "For some reason it always seems to break down". Now I have no conformation whatsoever that this is what happened, nor am I implying that what this driver told me was correct. I have often thought that the WDW transportation cast members get together once a month and decide on what wild rumors they were going to start this month. But I wouldn't ming hearing some numbers on which monorails are the most problematic.

 

[Master Yoda]

One thing you don't see with monorails that nice big plume of black smoke each time they start up from a stop light.

You are right, but you will see a much larger plume of black smoke coming out of the power plant on property that produces the electricity to run the monorails. If I am not mistaken if you compare the two the busses actually pollute less per passenger carried than the monorail.

 

[Robfasto]

You are right, but you will see a much larger plume of black smoke coming out of the power plant on property that produces the electricity to run the monorails. If I am not mistaken if you compare the two the busses actually pollute less per passenger carried than the monorail.

This could be true, although as far as I know the only power planets on Disney Property are for 'back-up' emergency power only, people would be able to see a plant big enough to power the property as well as the rail line (or river) that would be needed to supply the coal used to generate the power.

The advantage to having a generated power at one place would be that the pollution would be centralized and not where each bus is running all over property. There is nothing like standing in line for a bus after a long day in the parks and have to smell and breath the exhaust of all the buses that pass by while you are waiting.

 

[bgraham34]

Yeah can we get some more confirmation on this.

 

[peter11435]

This could be true, although as far as I know the only power planets on Disney Property are for 'back-up' emergency power only, people would be able to see a plant big enough to power the property as well as the rail line (or river) that would be needed to supply the coal used to generate the power.

The advantage to having a generated power at one place would be that the pollution would be centralized and not where each bus is running all over property. There is nothing like standing in line for a bus after a long day in the parks and have to smell and breath the exhaust of all the buses that pass by while you are waiting.

WDW does generate about 29% of the power they need. They have gas powered turbines behind the MK to do this. The Monorails are powered by this plant. Lets not get in to it here but the fact is there are just far too many disadvantages to expanding the monorail.

 

[bigkidz895]

Wow, interesting stuff. I've never had a problem while riding the monorail.

 

[speck76]

While I agree with you that it's not a good idea to expand the monorail, what does this have to do with it? Everything breaks down sometime. If they went with this theory, they'd stop building roller coasters, or dark rides, or 50 more dumbo/aladdin/tricertops etc etc... hehe

The monorail is transportation, not an attraction.

If the system breaks down, it stops the flow of people (the same can not be said of a rollercoaster)......if the system was property-wide, and broke down, transportation on property would come to a stand-still.

If the monorail system was property wide, WDW would not have the bus system that they have today, and would not be able to recover from such a breakdown very easily.

 

[shoppingnut]

The monorail is transportation, not an attraction.

Well, that all depends on who you talk to, some folks consider it an attraction.

 

[peter11435]

Well, that all depends on who you talk to, some folks consider it an attraction.

Thats irrelevent. The fact is while some may see it as an attraction its primary purpose is to be a transportation system.

 

[wannab@dis]

Thats irrelevent. The fact is while some may see it as an attraction its primary purpose is to be a transportation system.

A transportation system with very little backup in the event of a breakdown. Busses will continue to be the best form of mass transportation at WDW for the forseeable future.

 

[Thrawn]

A transportation system without a backup system in the event of a breakdown. Busses will continue to be the best form of mass transportation at WDW for the forseeable future.

Rephrased that for you to make it more clear. I know what you meant but others might not. :wave:

 

[marni1971]

Triva question, when did Disney install it's first full blown traffic/stop light

I wondered about this a while ago... when Fort Wilderness expanded?? During EPCOT Centers construction?? I think I`ve got the correct Junction (World Drive/Vista Blvd)

 

[wannab@dis]

Rephrased that for you to make it more clear. I know what you meant but others might not. :wave:

Good point.. but "very little backup" was in reference to the express loop / resort loop. They, by default, can be a backup for the other if necessary. The Epcot loop has no backup system and IF an expansion was done, the backup system would be a major issue and probably the budget killer.