Monorail beams

[kgaf99]

i know that the monorail beams have been up for ages but how long do you think they will last? how do you think they will go about replacing them when the time come years down the road? i was thinking that they might have to shut it down to one lane. but given the large amount of attendance i dont see how thats possible. or they could shift the track, build a new set of tracks and take down the other ones (exp though). or they could replace a beam per night so it doesnt interrupt sevice....if thats even possible.

 

[Tom]

When they built the vegas monorail, they used the WDW beam design (slightly modified). That's a testament to how well they were designed and built in 1971.

They're extremely durable. The only areas that are showing real wear is typically in the stations, where the trains drip oil and erode the concrete, and where water is constantly dripping or running on the concrete, eroding away the surface.

But overall, they're likely only reaching their half-life now, if even that. To the best of my knowledge, they've never had to repair or replace a beam, pylon or foundation for any part of the system. They only recently power-washed the track, and the completed parts look brand new.

But if they were to need to replace a beam, they'd have to shut down a line for at least a week, and that's if everything went PERFECTLY, with the new beam section fitting exactly, and the electrical work being done at night. It's not a plug-n-play overnight fix. And this is only for an isolated beam. The need to replace an entire run isn't necessary.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

That system would never last that long up north, the cold weather would crack and shift those beams in all directions

 

[JIMINYCR]

I'm hoping that by the time the cement beams deteriorate and need replacing, Disney will have the new levitating/hovering monorails ready to go. They will be able to service all the parks and resorts and there will be less need for busses. They have the patents in place already riiight??? At least somebodys on the ball.....



SkyTran Inc. and Israel Aerospace Industries just signed an agreement to build a high-speed, levitating, energy-efficient transportation system at the Israel Aerospace Industry (IAI) campus in Lod, Israel. The futuristic “hover-monorail” is a network of computer-controlled, 2-person vehicles that fly through the sky using maglev technology.

 

[jloucks]

I got a week pass for the Vegas monorail and it is very similar to WDW. However, due to ADA or fire code or something they have exit paths along the whole thing. That is bound to be way more expensive than what WDW has.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Just for the heck of it...Here's a neat pic of the Mark IV Monorails when they were decked out in Vegas..

And what did Vegas do them after they retired them?

 

[07vanquish]

I presume that once a beam reaches its end, temporary beams built on each side of the permanent beam could be used while it gets restored. It would be a long process but service shouldn't be affected much

 

[MaryJaneP]

Seems like the ultimate considerations will be cost, convenience, and safety. Somewhat similar to the crumbling infrastructure elsewhere in our country. Although the replacement of a bridge could be accomplished with minimal inconvenience to the travelling public, the taxpayers often are loathe to pay for such a procedure. Thus roads get closed for an extended period, to the consternation of the travelling public, to accomplish a cheaper, piecemeal replacement that minimizes cost, provides safety, and maximizes inconvenience.

 

[danlb_2000]

I presume that once a beam reaches its end, temporary beams built on each side of the permanent beam could be used while it gets restored. It would be a long process but service shouldn't be affected much

There really wouldn't be a good reason to create a temporary beam. The MK line already has two beams so they could use one while repairing the other, and the Epcot beam could be switched into a "shuttle mode" while the other half is repaired. Neither of these options is ideal, but they would probably do this instead of going through the expense of building temporary beams.

 

[07vanquish]

There really wouldn't be a good reason to create a temporary beam. The MK line already has two beams so they could use one while repairing the other, and the Epcot beam could be switched into a "shuttle mode" while the other half is repaired. Neither of these options is ideal, but they would probably do this instead of going through the expense of building temporary beams.

Fair enough, but for the sole purpose of entertainment, I'll play the devils advocate on this one: Depends how long the repairs would take (decreased monorail service during high season always sucks) and for such a big job, I'd assume they would use recyclable temporary beams. However, your idea is still better lol

 

[lazyboy97o]

Fair enough, but for the sole purpose of entertainment, I'll play the devils advocate on this one: Depends how long the repairs would take (decreased monorail service during high season always sucks) and for such a big job, I'd assume they would use recyclable temporary beams. However, your idea is still better lol

The beams are precast. You'd be wasting a lot of time and money to build a temporary beam, attach it into the existing beam, get all of the train control systems working on the new track, replace the beam, disconnect track and systems, and then finally tear down the temporary beams. You're doing everything twice and then some.

 

[Clamman73]

You gotta give the original designers/engineers props for having all those beams premade and put into place precisely with all those curved sections and height levels.

 

[rangerbob]

I've been stopped in a couple different places and I could see repairs done on the tops of some of the beams. You can see that it has a different colored cement on it. I'd presume that they would use hydraulic cement on the area due to the extreme hardness of the material and how quick it dries. I've heard that lightning will and has struck the running portion of the beams before so I don't know if that is what I've seen.

 

[wdwmagic]

I presume that once a beam reaches its end, temporary beams built on each side of the permanent beam could be used while it gets restored. It would be a long process but service shouldn't be affected much

I would be more willing to bet the monorail would close, and buses and water craft would become the available options during the work.

 

[kgaf99]

You gotta give the original designers/engineers props for having all those beams premade and put into place precisely with all those curved sections and height levels.

for sure. they knew what they were doing and they knew that it HAD to last for a long long time.

 

[kgaf99]

I would be more willing to bet the monorail would close, and buses and water craft would become the available options during the work.

OMG....that would be a nightmare. they would have to get 2 more ferries and buses GALORE.....which they should have anyways.

i'm not a big fan of seven seas bc it takes you forever to get back to your car. it should have been more like epcot. leave the park and walk to your car or take the tram.

 

[kap91]

OMG....that would be a nightmare. they would have to get 2 more ferries and buses GALORE.....which they should have anyways.

i'm not a big fan of seven seas bc it takes you forever to get back to your car. it should have been more like epcot. leave the park and walk to your car or take the tram.

In the seventies it made sense...not just the whole theatrical idea of escape (which granted is awesome) but the whole philosophy of Epcot was built on similar principles - keeping the ugly bits of society at the edges or out of view and then slowly bringing people from the outside in via transportation systems etc.

Speaking of the 60s and 70s...gotta love that they overengineered the heel outta everything. I always say that when the apocalypse hits I'm heading for the utilidors.

 

[wendysue]

I would be more willing to bet the monorail would close, and buses and water craft would become the available options during the work.

This exactly. I don't see them replacing monorails at the end of their life spans. Suck it up and ride the bus or ferry....

 

[Chef Mickey]

Think of them as large concrete blocks that really don't get the traffic and beating that a major city highway gets on a daily basis. 95% of the time, a given section is completely undisturbed. It only gets "stress" or "traffic" when a monorail passes over for a brief period. A highway in a major city gets cars constantly pounding it essentially 24/7 and those last decades.

My guess is they'd last 100 years with proper maintenance.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I presume that once a beam reaches its end, temporary beams built on each side of the permanent beam could be used while it gets restored. It would be a long process but service shouldn't be affected much

No. Even to put in a temporary set of beams to carry the monorail it would require all of the footing and vertical supports to be build along with all of the "temporary" beams. This would be like building an entire new monorail track systems. Then add in the cost for the replacement beams for the existing track. They have not even extended what there is now into other parks because of the huge cost to build new track.

I can see the Epcot line closing in the future when replacement become to only means of maintenance. The MK loops I would expect would be replaced when it becomes a necessity.

If beam replacement ever, happens I would expect exactly what @danlb_2000 said.