EPCOT Monorail

[rangerbob]

I was at EPCOT yesterday and was leaving at around 5. As we were walking out they were closing up the monorail station and the monorail was going backwards toward the TTC. What could have been going on that they were going the opposite way on the beams.

 

[Hakunamatata]

It broke

 

[rangerbob]

If it broke it wouldn't have been running at all. It was running backward on the loop.

 

[Gullywhumper]

Perhaps there was something on the track up ahead?

 

[s8film40]

Taking a train out of service requires at some point for the driver to switch to what on the Epcot beam would appear to be the back end. Depending on the situation they may have the driver switch to that end and drive back the other way from epcot or go to TTC and then switch there.

 

[Tom]

Taking a train out of service requires at some point for the driver to switch to what on the Epcot beam would appear to be the back end. Depending on the situation they may have the driver switch to that end and drive back the other way from epcot or go to TTC and then switch there.

I agree, but at 5pm? Something must have been wrong with the train to put it away in the middle of the day.

 

[rangerbob]

If it were just the train having problems I wouldn't think they would shut down the monorail station and send people to the busses. At the time the storms hadn't happen yet to it wasn't lightning unless if it was a tree resting on that beam but then the other would have been affected as they run almost parallel for most of the way.

 

[s8film40]

I agree, but at 5pm? Something must have been wrong with the train to put it away in the middle of the day.

Yes, that's what it sounds like. Typically the more efficient way to take an Epcot train out of service is to cycle it around to TTC then move it out past the switch and then back out of the Epcot line while the other train is Loading at Epcot and on it's way to TTC. This could be done with very minimal impact. Now days it seems they are more inclined to just shut everything down and take it slow.

 

[nace888]

Yes, that's what it sounds like. Typically the more efficient way to take an Epcot train out of service is to cycle it around to TTC then move it out past the switch and then back out of the Epcot line while the other train is Loading at Epcot and on it's way to TTC. This could be done with very minimal impact. Now days it seems they are more inclined to just shut everything down and take it slow.

Reversing over Switchbeams 8 and 9 is part of the reason of the 2009 accident. I'd imagine they'd just find it safer to do it this way. You switch ends at the station, and you'll be forward facing the whole trip back to shop.