Monorail Expansion Joints?

[MonorailBlack]

After studying the monorail track, I have some questions that I know our experts will know in a flash. About every 5th pylon there is a separated joint in the monorail beam that is met with a series of metal teeth, while the rest of the joints in the beam are cemented over. So, are these expansion joints???

Also, what do some monorails leak? I imagine it is condensation from the ac system....also, it is rare that you get leaked on, most areas where the monorail crosses pedestrain path, the is a metal tray that catches any liquids that falls from the train.

Last, during a storm, they told a family no one is allowed to ride up front. What is the safety reasoning behind this? Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!

 

[Monorail Lime]

The metal teeth segments are there to keep the track from cracking. The concrete expands and contracts ever-so-slightly in the Florida heat and those metal segments reduce stress which would otherwise cause damage. You will notice similar metal segments in some concrete bridges.

You are correct about the air conditioners, they leak perfectly harmless water when they are working hard. The grey plastic bits on the side of the beam are really to cover the buss bar which serves electricity to the monorail. The air conditioner usually leaks from the nose area and will drip down the side of the beam.

No passengers are allowed in the front during a storm because it is a distraction to the pilot. Visual aids are important so a pilot has to work extra hard during a storm when visability is reduced. The air is usually colder during a storm so warm bodies next to the windshield will cause it to fog up quickly.

 

[Invero]

Lime, ya beat me to it... My power went out during that nasty storm... blah... But yeah... What he said...

As for the A/C leaking from the nose area... that's just the cab A/C I beleive... as for the other A/C units, they just leak down on the passengers inside... hehe

 

[MonorailBlack]

Hey, thanks for the answers...great responses...as an architecture man, I imagined it involved expansion/contraction.

I looked for you Tyler this weekend, see if I saw any Tyler name badges walking around the monorails!!! Very crowded so cab rides were far and few in between. I looked at the train paint jobs, they looked okay, I imagined they were fixed somewhat.

Another question, if I recall there is two different strobe light indicators on the forward cab and the rear cab(the ones at the top, not the ones by the headlights)...is that to tell which beam a train is on at night????

Thanks again for the info.

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by MonorailBlack
Hey, thanks for the answers...great responses...as an architecture man, I imagined it involved expansion/contraction.

I looked for you Tyler this weekend, see if I saw any Tyler name badges walking around the monorails!!! Very crowded so cab rides were far and few in between. I looked at the train paint jobs, they looked okay, I imagined they were fixed somewhat.

Another question, if I recall there is two different strobe light indicators on the forward cab and the rear cab(the ones at the top, not the ones by the headlights)...is that to tell which beam a train is on at night????

Thanks again for the info.

I'm now statused in Bus Operations... I havent driven a monorail in months... At any rate, each cab has a set of headlights, and a strobe light. Depending on which cab is keyed on, the front will have the headlight, and the rear will have the strobe. On the top of the cab is a beacon light. Amber = Epcot, Red = Express, and Green = Resort

 

[MonorailBlack]

oooooooh, thats where you were...anyhow, thanks for the beacon info...........

 

[jmarc63]

Originally posted by Fantasia Boi


I'm now statused in Bus Operations... I havent driven a monorail in months... At any rate, each cab has a set of headlights, and a strobe light. Depending on which cab is keyed on, the front will have the headlight, and the rear will have the strobe. On the top of the cab is a beacon light. Amber = Epcot, Red = Express, and Green = Resort

Tyler if I'm not mistaken the Monorails had an orange strobe before EPCOT was built. What would that have been for??

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by jmarc63


Tyler if I'm not mistaken the Monorails had an orange strobe before EPCOT was built. What would that have been for??

A faded red, perhaps?

 

[jmarc63]

Originally posted by MonorailBlack
After studying the monorail track, I have some questions that I know our experts will know in a flash. About every 5th pylon there is a separated joint in the monorail beam that is met with a series of metal teeth, while the rest of the joints in the beam are cemented over. So, are these expansion joints???

Also, what do some monorails leak? I imagine it is condensation from the ac system....also, it is rare that you get leaked on, most areas where the monorail crosses pedestrain path, the is a metal tray that catches any liquids that falls from the train.

Last, during a storm, they told a family no one is allowed to ride up front. What is the safety reasoning behind this? Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!

The trays also collest the tiny bits of metal that fall from the shoes caused by the friction on the buss bar.

 

[Invero]

Re: Re: Monorail Expansion Joints?

Originally posted by jmarc63


The trays also collest the tiny bits of metal that fall from the shoes caused by the friction on the buss bar.

They're not trays, actually... if you look at them, they're only on the positive side, and only near an area in which it could be touched. They're just to protect the buss bar

 

[jmarc63]

Re: Re: Re: Monorail Expansion Joints?

Originally posted by Fantasia Boi


They're not trays, actually... if you look at them, they're only on the positive side, and only near an area in which it could be touched. They're just to protect the buss bar

Thanks for clearing that up, I figured that was the reason since the beam is so close at the MK station entrance/exit ramps you could almost jump for it.

 

[Monorail Lime]

Does the carbon from the carbon shoes actually leak out in a noticable manner? I've never seen it, but I guess it has to go somewhere. I just kinda assumed it rubbed off onto the buss bar or gathered in the skirt or something. Interesting...

Did the Mark IVs have color coded beacon lights or were they all red? I'm too young to remember details like that.

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by Monorail Lime
Did the Mark IVs have color coded beacon lights or were they all red? I'm too young to remember details like that.

They also had color coded lights. Remember, they had to actually use Visuals... WABCO didn't come along till the late 70's, and then MAPO in 1983