Monorail Accident

[PhotoDave219]

I'm guessing the other two were the CM's who went to Denny's. Isn't it interesting how it's pretty difficult to find real concrete information? Disney sure knows how to sweep something under the rug. :sohappy:

I hate to quote Jason Garcia here, but In an effort to keep factual information going as opposed to speculation, here's his take on it.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading an investigation into the accident, said it has not found any evidence of a mechanical malfunction, suggesting that the tragedy was the result of human error. And Disney said Thursday it has placed three employees who were working at the time of the accident on paid leave.

The resort did not identify the employees by name, but they include a monorail pilot, a worker in the system's maintenance shop, and a transportation manager. All three would have had crucial roles in the attempted track switch.

He's also got a good story (just posted) on Disney's procedures and how they've changed over the years.

 

[donsullivan]

.... Disney sure knows how to sweep something under the rug. :sohappy:

It is reasonable to assume that with the NTSB investigation underway, Disney has been asked not to comment on any aspect of this. This would be a completely normal condition surrounding this sort of investigation and not Disney 'sweeping something under the rug'.

 

[luckyeye13]

I'm not entirely sure there would be a "recording of the radio transmissions". The letter to "the media" suggests that the FCC should release the recordings, I almost positive the FCC isn't allowed to record transmissions, to say nothing of the amount of storage that would be required to store recordings of all transmissions...

When I worked in parts of WDW that used the Nextels, I was told that all conversations over the various channels are recorded. (I am not sure about the direct connect conversations, but those are not used in Monorails except sometimes between coordinators and managers.)

 

[ChrisFL]

I've been thinking....if Pink had already been out past the station when it hit purple, it may have been VERY difficult to see Purple coming, because it is not directly behind until it is very close to the station. Since there is only a headlight in the very front (and no other lights that I know of) I really don't know if the driver in Pink COULD have seen Purple.

Now, what do I think should happen? I think all of the monorails should have some light panels on the sides...that would make it a bit safer AND make them look cooler at night.

Yes, this is a very minor suggestion and IMO MANY other changes and improvements could be made, but this would be a "plus" to me.

I am glad the driver of Pink's identity hasn't been released, they have enough to deal with and I really, really feel for them.

To think, I came very close to being a monorail pilot a few years ago before I took another position.

 

[PhotoDave219]

It is reasonable to assume that with the NTSB investigation underway, Disney has been asked not to comment on any aspect of this. This would be a completely normal condition surrounding this sort of investigation and not Disney 'sweeping something under the rug'.

I agree completely. Disney is not hiding anything. They want to cooperate completely so that any legislation that mandates more theme park regulations will die a hasty death.

Let the NTSB do their job. They'll rake Disney over the coals soon enough.

 

[board57796]

There are no limits as far as age/weight/height etc that prevent one from being in Monorails (other than conforming to the Disney Look). Openings are 1 out, 1 in right now I believe. You can transfer into it, or be placed there as a new hire.

Monorail radio communications are recorded.

I have read an article that mentions a name of a driver believed to be in Pink. I won't repost it here. Why they would release this persons name but not the other two is beyond me.

 

[Cannon3]

There are no limits as far as age/weight/height etc that prevent one from being in Monorails (other than conforming to the Disney Look). Openings are 1 out, 1 in right now I believe. You can transfer into it, or be placed there as a new hire.

Thank you Board. I appreciate your contributions to this thread. I am somewhat fascinated by monorail operations and you have provided more information that I ever imagined to know.

I believe I read somewhere that normal operations with the 12-train fleet were three trains on Resort, three on Express, four on Epcot with two in reserve. I imagine that at peak attendance and at closing the other two would be placed into service. Is this correct?

Also, is there any rhyme or reason for what train goes on what rail for the day? Is it a rotating schedule or random?

 

[Figments Friend]

This might already be 'old news'...but i just read this and wanted to share.

It is hard to feel anything but sorrow reading/viewing this.

The video shown here is absolutely heartbreaking..Austin captured in a Guests' 10 min video from their vacation in the front cab entertaining their 4 year old.

It is a tear-jerker..be warned...but worth sharing as it needs to be seen.



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ail-austin-wuennenberg-070709,0,2265988.story

 

[board57796]

Thank you Board. I appreciate your contributions to this thread. I am somewhat fascinated by monorail operations and you have provided more information that I ever imagined to know.

I believe I read somewhere that normal operations with the 12-train fleet were three trains on Resort, three on Express, four on Epcot with two in reserve. I imagine that at peak attendance and at closing the other two would be placed into service. Is this correct?

Also, is there any rhyme or reason for what train goes on what rail for the day? Is it a rotating schedule or random?

Normally it is "3-3-3" at opening, read "Resort-Express-Epcot" and at around 3pm they usually bring out 2 more trains to make it "4-4-3" for the exits. Its actually pretty rare to have all 12 out. Only on holidays, busy weekends, etc.

There is no real rotation. Although some trains seem to run better on different beams, for example Gold runs better from Cab 6 so is usually on Resorts, but thats not a rule by any means. All trains must be "qualified" for the beam they are on. This means a train may only operate on a certain beam for x number of hours before the train will stop opening its doors, as a sign it needs to be requalified (either in shop, or by maintenance coming to the station.) You can still open the doors, but after that the train is offloaded and must be requalified. Its so a train can't stay out for longer than it should between maintenance checks. Its usually no more than 2 days.

 

[deix15x8]

Thank you Board. I appreciate your contributions to this thread. I am somewhat fascinated by monorail operations and you have provided more information that I ever imagined to know.

I believe I read somewhere that normal operations with the 12-train fleet were three trains on Resort, three on Express, four on Epcot with two in reserve. I imagine that at peak attendance and at closing the other two would be placed into service. Is this correct?

Also, is there any rhyme or reason for what train goes on what rail for the day? Is it a rotating schedule or random?

I've been wondering about this as well. The night of the accident Pink was leaving the line but hit Purple instead and Coral was left out on the beam behind purple. So does that mean that one monorail had already successfully left the Epcot line that night or do they only use 9. Since Epcot is the longest line I would assume it would require the most monorails to be operating.

 

[deix15x8]

I've been thinking....if Pink had already been out past the station when it hit purple, it may have been VERY difficult to see Purple coming, because it is not directly behind until it is very close to the station. Since there is only a headlight in the very front (and no other lights that I know of) I really don't know if the driver in Pink COULD have seen Purple.

Now, what do I think should happen? I think all of the monorails should have some light panels on the sides...that would make it a bit safer AND make them look cooler at night.

Yes, this is a very minor suggestion and IMO MANY other changes and improvements could be made, but this would be a "plus" to me.

I am glad the driver of Pink's identity hasn't been released, they have enough to deal with and I really, really feel for them.

To think, I came very close to being a monorail pilot a few years ago before I took another position.

It would look cool if the color stripe was slightly recessed with a light above and below so that the recessed color area would light up all the way around the monorail.

 

[Monty]

When I worked in parts of WDW that used the Nextels, I was told that all conversations over the various channels are recorded. (I am not sure about the direct connect conversations, but those are not used in Monorails except sometimes between coordinators and managers.)

That makes sense, however the FCC wouldn't be the ones holding the recordings, it would be Disney and I'm sure if there are recordings of radio chatter from the 4th/5th, they would now be part of the NTSB investigation.

 

[PhotoDave219]

This might already be 'old news'...but i just read this and wanted to share.

It is hard to feel anything but sorrow reading/viewing this.

The video shown here is absolutely heartbreaking..Austin captured in a Guests' 10 min video from their vacation in the front cab entertaining their 4 year old.

It is a tear-jerker..be warned...but worth sharing as it needs to be seen.



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ail-austin-wuennenberg-070709,0,2265988.story

Since this has been posted and buried about 6 times over in this thread alone, I gave it a thread of its own. That way it can stop getting buried.

 

[PhotoDave219]

That makes sense, however the FCC wouldn't be the ones holding the recordings, it would be Disney and I'm sure if there are recordings of radio chatter from the 4th/5th, they would now be part of the NTSB investigation.

You're correct - the FCC is merely a regulatory agency and does not record conversations.

 

[Cannon3]

Although some trains seem to run better on different beams, for example Gold runs better from Cab 6 so is usually on Resorts, but thats not a rule by any means.

Thank you again.

Three final questions and I will leave you alone...

Based on your answer above, does this mean that all Resort trains are piloted from Cab 6?

Follow-up on the train-beam question, so is is strictly a matter of who gets out first as to what beam they use for the day or does someone say "Red, go to Epcot today...Blue Resort, etc."

Finally, how many "laps" or time does a Pilot take before swapping out with another Pilot?

 

[Cannon3]

It would look cool if the color stripe was slightly recessed with a light above and below so that the recessed color area would light up all the way around the monorail.

THAT, would be very cool.

 

[board57796]

Thank you again.

Three final questions and I will leave you alone...

Based on your answer above, does this mean that all Resort trains are piloted from Cab 6?

Follow-up on the train-beam question, so is is strictly a matter of who gets out first as to what beam they use for the day or does someone say "Red, go to Epcot today...Blue Resort, etc."

Finally, how many "laps" or time does a Pilot take before swapping out with another Pilot?

Yes, it is physically impossible for Resorts to be operated IN NORMAL DIRECTION WITH THE PILOT FACING FORWARD from Cab 1 of any train. That would require taking the train completely off the beam, and rotating it 180 degrees. There is no "railroad wye" in our system (google it )

Yeah its pretty much whichever trains are started first, and wherever Shop/Central decides to send them.

It all depends on how many laps, because Express is 10mi , Resorts 15min, and Epcot 20min. But in general you drive about 45 minutes to an hour before being "bumped" by another driver.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

This might already be 'old news'...but i just read this and wanted to share.

It is hard to feel anything but sorrow reading/viewing this.

The video shown here is absolutely heartbreaking..Austin captured in a Guests' 10 min video from their vacation in the front cab entertaining their 4 year old.

It is a tear-jerker..be warned...but worth sharing as it needs to be seen.



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ail-austin-wuennenberg-070709,0,2265988.story

So sad. He seemed like such an awesome guy and CM for TWDC.

 

[board57796]

This might already be 'old news'...but i just read this and wanted to share.

It is hard to feel anything but sorrow reading/viewing this.

The video shown here is absolutely heartbreaking..Austin captured in a Guests' 10 min video from their vacation in the front cab entertaining their 4 year old.

It is a tear-jerker..be warned...but worth sharing as it needs to be seen.



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ail-austin-wuennenberg-070709,0,2265988.story

So sad

An example of MAPO override can be seen at -1.09 also.

 

[flynnibus]

I've been thinking....if Pink had already been out past the station when it hit purple, it may have been VERY difficult to see Purple coming, because it is not directly behind until it is very close to the station. Since there is only a headlight in the very front (and no other lights that I know of) I really don't know if the driver in Pink COULD have seen Purple.

There is also a strobe on top of the cabin that fires off for visibility.

Pink would have had a hard time seeing Purple, yes. But the problem is Pink should have realized he was in the wrong place period.