Monorail Crash in 1980?

[Invero]

Originally posted by Disney campers
This has been an interesting thread, question for the experts, what time do they switch the trains to the track that head to the monorail house?? i would love to see this....

Every half hour, when another train dies. :lol: Just kiddin, they don't break down that often... it just seems that way. At any rate, 7:30am-8:15am is when they bring out the Express trains... and 90 mins after the MK Closes is approx when they'll bring the Express trains back to shop.

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

Originally posted by Disney campers
This has been an interesting thread, question for the experts, what time do they switch the trains to the track that head to the monorail house?? i would love to see this....

Follow the path between the MK and CC and you can see them switch it at about 7:00 am. Just tell the guard at the gate you want to see them switch it and they will let you. I have posted a picture of Beam Switch 9 which connects the Epcot spur to the Epcot/TTC line. It is fun to watch. :sohappy:

 

[MrNonacho]

Afternoon safety checks?

A few days ago, I was on a monorail at the TTC when the pilot came on to inform us that it was time for the afternoon safety checks. We sat in the station for a few minutes and then the monorail seemed to have "trouble" moving (kind of started/stopped a few times before actually leaving).

Could you elaborate on these checks a little?

 

[FutureCEO]

were still on this topic. no offense but you can't talk about monorials 24/7

 

[jimmybop]

I love the break tests they have right before you pull into the MK stop.... even more so when standing....

Fantasia Boi, if you ever feel like giveing a tour to a fellow CM of any of the transportion buildings give me a yell :animwink:

 

[Fievel]

Originally posted by FutureCEO
were still on this topic. no offense but you can't talk about monorials 24/7

People are free to talk about whatever they want on these boards, to whatever ends they feel necessary....stop being so judgemental.....

 

[Monorail Lime]

Re: Afternoon safety checks?

Originally posted by MrNonacho
A few days ago, I was on a monorail at the TTC when the pilot came on to inform us that it was time for the afternoon safety checks. We sat in the station for a few minutes and then the monorail seemed to have "trouble" moving (kind of started/stopped a few times before actually leaving).

Could you elaborate on these checks a little?

They were doing checks of the MAPO system which keeps the monorails seperated. One train is intentionally driven too close to another train to see if the safety system kicks in. The starting and stopping is a good thing, that means it was working!

 

[Invero]

Re: Afternoon safety checks?

Originally posted by MrNonacho
A few days ago, I was on a monorail at the TTC when the pilot came on to inform us that it was time for the afternoon safety checks. We sat in the station for a few minutes and then the monorail seemed to have "trouble" moving (kind of started/stopped a few times before actually leaving).

Could you elaborate on these checks a little?

We call these "MAPO Checks." We have an anti-collision system onboard the train called the MAPO System. It's basically a moving blocklight system. Basically, there are three frequencies being broadcasted on the beam, like: 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 etc... When a train's MAPO system can see all three frequencies, it knows it's all clear, and displays a green light. When a train gets close to another train (which is blocking one of the frequencies) and only can see 2 of the frequencies, it signals the driver to stop at the next Hold Point. It does this with a flashing and beeping amber light. If the driver does not stop the train, and the train only sees one frequency, it initiates a full emergency stop (80psi of air brakes) and displays what we call a MAPO RED on the display. Should a driver "Over-run" by accident, and violate safety clearance proceedures, proper disciplinary action is taken.

Twice a day we will check the MAPO system to make sure it is working, by simulating a train over-running. (Once in the morning before anyone is on board, and another time in the afternoon). The first train will sit inside the station, and "bump his groups." This means that he will release the air pressure from the brakes, and place his train in neutral. We do this, so that the train can move out of the way instantly in the unlikely event that the other train's MAPO system fails to stop the train.

In order for one to bump thier groups, they place the train in Propulsion just long enough for the brakes to release, and then back into Neutral. Good drivers (like myself :animwink: ) can bump thier groups without actually moving the train. Less skilled drivers sometimes create the popping/jerking that you encountered... which causes the guests in the train and on the platform to think that there is something wrong with the train.

 

[MrNonacho]

Thanks for the info!

 

[MonorailBlack]

That was some great information, thanks alot!!!!

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

Tyler, how long have you been a driver. How long does it take to get to drive the monorails and what is it like. When I was in the WDWCP a long time ago I wanted to drive the monorails but got stuck in Merchantainment. BTW, thanks for the info on MAPO. I always wondered how that worked.

 

[Disney4648]

Re: Re: Re: Hello all!

Originally posted by Monorail Lime


Plan:

1. Go to Costco and buy film in bulk. $3 per roll.
2. Go to Disney World, take pictures in all sorts of stupid places, get it confiscated for $5.
3. PROFIT!

Profit, haha i'll to try that!:lol:

 

[Disney4648]

Originally posted by jimmybop
would $5 even cover the cost of a roll of film @ disney... (next time ask for a no strings attaced card)

The average cost per roll is about $7.99....a lotta money for 24 expourses!

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by DisneyWorldGuru
Tyler, how long have you been a driver. How long does it take to get to drive the monorails and what is it like. When I was in the WDWCP a long time ago I wanted to drive the monorails but got stuck in Merchantainment. BTW, thanks for the info on MAPO. I always wondered how that worked.

In my time at Disney, I spent about a year and a half in Monorails. About 2 months ago, I transferred to Busses for personal reasons (more money, new challenges, etc...), however, I still pick up shifts in Monorails for overtime... like next Wednesday.

 

[adr315]

Fantasia Boi, i know this is a sad question considering ive gone to WDW over 20 times in my life, but since ive only been on the monorails 5 times max, im going to ask...... (i havent been on a monorail in like 8 years, but hopefully i will next month)

What are the different rails (Epcot, MK, etc etc) and which monorail trains run on each rail? Are all the rails interconnected? Please help.

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by adr315
What are the different rails (Epcot, MK, etc etc) and which monorail trains run on each rail? Are all the rails interconnected? Please help.

We have three different beams...

The Epcot beam which services the TTC and Epcot
The MK Express beam which services only the TTC and MK
The Resort beam which services the TTC, Poly, Grand Flo, MK, and Contemporary.

The beams are only connected via switchbeam... There's one between the MK and Contemporary that switches between the spur line (Monorail Shop), the Express beam, and the Resort beam. The switchbeam for Epcot is located at the TTC.

We have 12 different colored trains... each train will run any beam... it just happens to be wherever it happens to be placed the night prior, or that day, or however shop and central wants to do it. So you might see Lime on Epcot one day, and the next day it's on Resort.

 

[jimmybop]

another question

ok, tonight rideing the monorail back from MK, I was wondering what the purpouse of the base of the middle handrail is (between the two benches faceing each other). was it actually designed to be used as something but never was? or is it just there to make it pretty? I've heard some people on the train say "oh thoes are seats" and try to pull on them, but they wont pull out.

thank you

 

[Invero]

Re: another question

Originally posted by jimmybop
ok, tonight rideing the monorail back from MK, I was wondering what the purpouse of the base of the middle handrail is (between the two benches faceing each other). was it actually designed to be used as something but never was? or is it just there to make it pretty? I've heard some people on the train say "oh thoes are seats" and try to pull on them, but they wont pull out.

thank you

I took the Ferry back tonight... an Epcot train died... lol... so the Express beam was out of service while they brought Red back to shop. At any rate though... They are fold out seats... however, they aren't very good... and so Disney has them locked closed.

 

[Monorail Lime]

The seats are locked because too many people were banging their legs against them when getting in the cars. They also reduce capacity, which is a big deal during park closings. They haven't taken them out because the ceilings need the support they provide, which is ashame because they handicapable cars would be much less of a hassle without them.

They are locked and can't be pulled down without a tool that only the shop people have. I've seen them open before and they are really dinky and take away way too much standing room.

 

[MMC]

Monorail Crash?

This is what I heard (back in 1989)... It was not a monorail crash but a fire. It was nothing major but a few guests freaked out and jumped from the cars. No one was killed, however, several people were injured (broken bones, etc...) from the jump. Of course, they sued Disney, blah, blah, blah. The end result of this mess (I was told) was that once the old monorail cars were replaced--in 1989--with the new ones, any law suits involving monorail accidents were the problem of the Canadian company who designed/built the trains/cars and not Disney.

Considering how rumors fly around this resort, I would take the above with a granin of salt. However, this rumor of a monorail crash has persisted for years.