Monorail Evac Aid

[Hoop Raeb]

Just saw this in the Orlando Sentinel. I'd like to see this thing. Basically a scissor lift with monster truck tires. Would you get on it?

Monorail rescue aid

Disney World's government has a new toy.

Reedy Creek Improvement District recently bought a vehicle designed specifically to evacuate tourists from the resort's monorail in emergencies.

The vehicle features a scissor lift, similar to the vehicles that load airplanes but with off-road capability. Its platform extends to a height of 22 feet — tall enough to reach the monorail's highest point — and is capable of unloading 45 people at a time.

The price tag: $250,000.

"It's a neat little vehicle," Reedy Creek District Administrator Ray Maxwell said. But he added, "Hopefully, you'll never have to use it."

 

[One Lil Spark]

Ooo, off-road capabilities? That would be a fun toy to play with!

 

[RiversideBunny]

Is it available to rent for parties?

 

[EPCOTPluto]

That's cool! And useful!
I was wondering on the monorail some time ago how to evacuate it.
I remember a Jim Hill article that mentioned a monorail fire that had people supposedly walk on top of the safe, far-away-from-the-fire part of the monorail and on the track?!?!?

EDIT - Here's that part of the article:

...Like that time back in June of 1985 when Monorail Silver caught fire. And with the train stopped dead a half mile south of the Ticket & Transportation Center, it was only the resourcefulness of two WDW visitors (Who first pulled open the doors of the car they were trapped in. Then -- after climbing up on the roof of their monorail -- they pulled all of the other passengers in their compartment up onto the top of the train. Everyone then walked along the top of the monorail and -- after sliding down the windshield to the two-foot-wide beam -- walked the rest of the way to the TTC) that saved those 240 passengers after the last two cars of Monorail Silver were entirely engulfed in flames.

 

[kap91]

Can you please post a link to the article? I'm having trouble finding it.

EDIT: Never-mind found it in the zip-lining article

Thank God. I love the monorail but this is the one thing that's always scared me to death. Up until this point the official evacuation procedure consisted of everyone hopping up onto the roof, the pilot putting a knotted rope down the windshield, and everyone walking the track to safety. At least with this, most of the route will be safer...ish. I still wonder about the safety of the 40ft tall segments over the Seven Seas Lagoon, and by the contemporary though.

 

[EPCOTPluto]

Can you please post a link to the article? I'm having trouble finding it.

Here you go: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...s-a-very-entertaining-disney-world-expos.aspx

It really is just that snippet I posted ago, but the article on "Realityland" is also intriguing.
I do hope to buy it someday. :wave:

Also, you supposedly can still see a darker hue on that route to the Contemporary. But it's now hard to tell...

 

[Buried20KLeague]

That's cool! And useful!
I was wondering on the monorail some time ago how to evacuate it.
I remember a Jim Hill article that mentioned a monorail fire that had people supposedly walk on top of the safe, far-away-from-the-fire part of the monorail and on the track?!?!?

EDIT - Here's that part of the article:

...Like that time back in June of 1985 when Monorail Silver caught fire. And with the train stopped dead a half mile south of the Ticket & Transportation Center, it was only the resourcefulness of two WDW visitors (Who first pulled open the doors of the car they were trapped in. Then -- after climbing up on the roof of their monorail -- they pulled all of the other passengers in their compartment up onto the top of the train. Everyone then walked along the top of the monorail and -- after sliding down the windshield to the two-foot-wide beam -- walked the rest of the way to the TTC) that saved those 240 passengers after the last two cars of Monorail Silver were entirely engulfed in flames.

Wow. Had NO idea! Great story.

 

[RoRo]

Cool vehicle. All the time I have been on the monorail, I have always thought a fire truck or something would evacuate you off.

 

[brkgnews]

Neato! Time to go searching for pix

 

[GrumpyFan]

Sounds cool! I wonder where they'll store it though. I would think for it to be effective in case of an emergency, the best place might be near TTC. Of course, in the case of a fire, speed is of the essence.

 

[ann0d]

I would definetely get it on it my life was in danger! !

 

[Figment632]

That's cool! And useful!
I was wondering on the monorail some time ago how to evacuate it.
I remember a Jim Hill article that mentioned a monorail fire that had people supposedly walk on top of the safe, far-away-from-the-fire part of the monorail and on the track?!?!?

EDIT - Here's that part of the article:

...Like that time back in June of 1985 when Monorail Silver caught fire. And with the train stopped dead a half mile south of the Ticket & Transportation Center, it was only the resourcefulness of two WDW visitors (Who first pulled open the doors of the car they were trapped in. Then -- after climbing up on the roof of their monorail -- they pulled all of the other passengers in their compartment up onto the top of the train. Everyone then walked along the top of the monorail and -- after sliding down the windshield to the two-foot-wide beam -- walked the rest of the way to the TTC) that saved those 240 passengers after the last two cars of Monorail Silver were entirely engulfed in flames.

How come nothing fun ever happens when Im on the monorail?

 

[EPCOTPluto]

how come nothing fun ever happens when im on the monorail?

lol! :roflol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Sounds like a nice little plan they have. Glad they thought of it.

 

[brkgnews]

Sounds cool! I wonder where they'll store it though. I would think for it to be effective in case of an emergency, the best place might be near TTC. Of course, in the case of a fire, speed is of the essence.

If it's being considered "emergency equipment" I would *presume* they would store it at one of the RCES fire stations. The station nearest MK would be the most logical choice, I think. It's near the roundhouse and would have pretty quick access to reach the EPCOT line too. The station on Buena Vista (behind Epcot's World Showcase) would be a bit too far away from the Resort Loop and the Express Loop... and the station near Saratoga Springs would be too far away period.

On the other hand, if they're just considering it "maintenance equipment," they might just store it at the roundhouse (north of MK) or at any of a number of random places around property.

 

[Captain Hank]

Hmm, I'm pretty sure that they already had a vehicle specifically designed for monorail emergencies. I guess it's a replacement.

 

[PaulTetul]

Thats pretty cool...beats a firetruck which couldnt reach alot of the track or even jumping....hopefully this tool never comes into use.

 

[Timon]

BRKGNEWS - RCID Firehouse has moved from near the Monorail Shop to Floridian Way and the Firework Storage/Landfill Rd. Still just a quick hop to any part of the track.

Captain Hank - Evacuation plans before involved RCID Fire Dept. Ladders Trucks and Bucket Lifts. There never was a "special truck" before.

Before any of these "trucks" are used a stuck train will first try to limp to a station, or be pulled by one of 3 Monorail Diesel powered tractors to station. I don't know if they evacuate to a second train that pulls up along side like Japanese Monorails do. In Japan the Emergency Personnel open the doors of both trains and drop a metal ramp to cross to the rescue train. Also, Japanese trains are open between cars, have front doors and one train can tow another train.

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Not nearly as "sexy" as the Disney monorails!

 

[brkgnews]

Timon, that's right... I forgot they'd moved. Last time I was back on the road back there, they were just moving.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

How come nothing fun ever happens when Im on the monorail?

BRKGNEWS - RCID Firehouse has moved from near the Monorail Shop to Floridian Way and the Firework Storage/Landfill Rd. Still just a quick hop to any part of the track.

Captain Hank - Evacuation plans before involved RCID Fire Dept. Ladders Trucks and Bucket Lifts. There never was a "special truck" before.

Before any of these "trucks" are used a stuck train will first try to limp to a station, or be pulled by one of 3 Monorail Diesel powered tractors to station. I don't know if they evacuate to a second train that pulls up along side like Japanese Monorails do. In Japan the Emergency Personnel open the doors of both trains and drop a metal ramp to cross to the rescue train. Also, Japanese trains are open between cars, have front doors and one train can tow another train.

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

Not nearly as "sexy" as the Disney monorails!

There are some in Japan, that have the open interior, but are sexy, too.:lol: One line looked like a dead ringer for a updated Mark Model.


I'll search for pics.