Epcot monorail loop down.

[RSD Part Deux]

It has been out of service all day today and all yesterday evening. I saw workers working at transformer(?) boxes near the bases of the beam pillars near the Mk entrance. I spoke to a CM who said they are hoping to have it back up for the weekend. Seems like a long time to be out of service. They had bus service running between the TTC and Epcot.

 

[wdwfan22]

Test laps on the Epcot line were completed a little bit ago, and they were cleared to reopen for park exit however due to time constrants and the fact the bus service was already being offered for the monorail resorts they decided to not reopen the Epcot line tonight. The Epcot line will resume operation tomorrow.

 

[articos]

The infrastructure is showing its age. Time to spend some money.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

The infrastructure is showing its age. Time to spend some money.

I couldn't agree more with your post. That money should go towards the beams (cleaning,maintenance,etc.) and a new fleet of monorails so it can alleviate some of the demand for the WDW buses. Didn't they not to long ago (like a couple of years ago) sand blast certain sections of the monorail in/near Epcot and made it look clean?

 

[Horizons78]

Didn't they not to long ago (like a couple of years ago) sand blast certain sections of the monorail in/near Epcot and made it look clean?

Sure did. They cleaned the Epcot in-park loop last year if I remember correctly.

Old trains run just as well as new trains when you have switchgear and transformers popping on the ground - which is to say, not at all.

I know it has become fashionable to slam the monorail trains every time there is an outage but I'd like to know how much downtime is power supply issues compared to actual mechanical issues of the individual trains.

 

[SMS55]

I know it has become fashionable to slam the monorail trains every time there is an outage but I'd like to know how much downtime is power supply issues compared to actual mechanical issues of the individual trains.

Well said. The monorails can be stored for the night and probably get regular maintenance. In Florida concrete is going to crack. Just a part of life due to the elements. Then you have electrical components that may be exposed to those same elements or run through soil that is close to sea level and very moist.

 

[articos]

I know it has become fashionable to slam the monorail trains every time there is an outage but I'd like to know how much downtime is power supply issues compared to actual mechanical issues of the individual trains.

Quite a bit is power related.

 

[Horizons78]

Quite a bit is power related.

Had a feeling. Spent some time in the power systems industry.

This becomes a "perception = reality" (...hate that phrase...) issue with many people any time there is an issue with the monorail system.

Transformer problem? "New trains!"

Switch problem? "New trains!"

Squirrel on the beam? "New trains!"

I'm not excluding the reality of equipment life expectancy, but correctly identifying the failure points in a system keeps you from having to replace the ENTIRE system.

 

[articos]

Had a feeling. Spent some time in the power systems industry.

This becomes a "perception = reality" (...hate that phrase...) issue with many people any time there is an issue with the monorail system.

Transformer problem? "New trains!"

Switch problem? "New trains!"

Squirrel on the beam? "New trains!"

I'm not excluding the reality of equipment life expectancy, but correctly identifying the failure points in a system keeps you from having to replace the ENTIRE system.

Have to admit, Squirrel on the bean? "New trains!" just made me laugh out loud. That's not quite out of the realm of Disney management-think at times, although it would more likely end up being "put a planter in front of it" followed by "What monorail?".

The truth is any equipment left out in the FL sun is going to need replacement at some point. The concrete beamways are made to last, but you have metal busbars, brackets, transformers, wiring...all of that needs a regular maintenance and replacement schedule. Correctly identifying and maintaining failure points, including preventative maintenance, keeps you from having to replace any of the system.

Nicely said in your post.

 

[lego606]

Bird on the track? HOOOOOOOONNNNNNK