Rumor New Monorails Coming Soon?

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Who is making that rumbling? I've not seen that from any of our insiders or any of the blogs.

Is wdwrealinsiderforthefans.com down today?

 

[trainplane3]

Is wdwrealinsiderforthefans.com down today?

Are you sure it wasn't .net, .org, .world, .us or my favorite, .city?

It would be kind of fun to have a domain like this that changes between "No, it's not happening" or "Yep, it's happening!" randomly (on page load) on a blank white background. Everytime someone asks a question, they could be directed to that site since everything is always changing.

 

[Bender123]

If I am not mistaken this info is false.

I don't doubt its possible to run them for 50 years, but, like any machine, the returns and efficiency drop off significantly over time. With the millions of miles these trains have and the crazy beating the guests give them, Im amazed they haven't just fallen off the tracks yet. It seems Disney has settled on Monorails having a 20 year standard life span, as a matter of history, at least.

Mark 1/2- 10 years
Mark III - 19 years
Mark IV - 20 years (Some overlapping between Mark VI deliveries)
Mark V- 21 Years
Mark VI- 29+ years and still going

The Mark VI is just such an outlier that its not even funny, at this point.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The Monorails qualify and the MK-VI are barely half that age.
The MK-VIs (according to internet talk) were delivered and fit the existing monorial beams BUT there were problems with fit going into the Hotel entrances/ramp areas. Expensive work had to be done to get the new MK-VI's operational on the beams to fit through the hotels... go figure.. I understand lawsuits were involved.

Disney knew that the Mark VIs would not fit the Walt Disney World route without modifications. The trains were intentionally bigger to increase capacity. It was the Mark VIIs that had unplanned issues with navigating the beamway and ventilation.

 

[marni1971]

Disney knew that the Mark VIs would not fit the Walt Disney World route without modifications. The trains were intentionally bigger to increase capacity. It was the Mark VIIs that had unplanned issues with navigating the beamway and ventilation.

Platforms (and hurricane doors) had to be rebuilt for the MK VIs.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Platforms (and hurricane doors) had to be rebuilt for the MK VIs.

...In case your train got hit by a sudden cat 4 as you exited the poly?

 

[wishiwere@wdw]

...In case your train got hit by a sudden cat 4 as you exited the poly?

Good Point. I presume the Contemporary “doors” as in the portals into the building?

 

[marni1971]

Good Point. I presume the Contemporary “doors” as in the portals into the building?

Yes. They close for the severest weather. And they had to be widened in 1989. The Contemporary can hold several MKVIs if needed.

 

[montyz81]

Yes. They close for the severest weather. And they had to be widened in 1989. The Contemporary can hold several MKVIs if needed.

I'd say probably 4 right? With the noses almost sticking out.

 

[marni1971]

I'd say probably 4 right? With the noses almost sticking out.

I want to say they can get two on each beam at once but am not sure. There again they only need to store two out of the barn. Usually they’re parked at the TTC overnight unless it’s a hurricane plan.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I want to say they can get two on each beam at once but am not sure. There again they only need to store two out of the barn. Usually they’re parked at the TTC overnight unless it’s a hurricane plan.

I’m not sure they could fit 4 in there...but as you said: they don’t need that much extra space for storage

 

[HauntedPirate]

I want to say they can get two on each beam at once but am not sure. There again they only need to store two out of the barn. Usually they’re parked at the TTC overnight unless it’s a hurricane plan.

I'm fairly sure you are correct and they could fit 4 monorails inside the Contemporary, if needed.

Each MK VI is listed at 203 ft 6 inches in length, and from using DaftLogic.com, the Contemporary is about 440 ft in length. So, presuming that the position of the hurricane doors isn't shaving off more than 30 feet from the enclosable length of the monorail track, you could fit two on each line.

 

[MatthewWho13]

4 do indeed fit, they had 4 inside the contemporary during Charley

 

[donsullivan]

Platforms (and hurricane doors) had to be rebuilt for the MK VIs.

Yup. The monorails had to run in shuttle mode TTC to MK on the west side of loop (both ways) while path thru Contemporary was closed to support expanding the openings.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

I don't doubt its possible to run them for 50 years, but, like any machine, the returns and efficiency drop off significantly over time. With the millions of miles these trains have and the crazy beating the guests give them, Im amazed they haven't just fallen off the tracks yet. It seems Disney has settled on Monorails having a 20 year standard life span, as a matter of history, at least.

Mark 1/2- 10 years
Mark III - 19 years
Mark IV - 20 years (Some overlapping between Mark VI deliveries)
Mark V- 21 Years
Mark VI- 29+ years and still going

The Mark VI is just such an outlier that its not even funny, at this point.

Monorail Length of Service

DISNEYLAND RESORT
Mark I : 1959 - 1961 (3 Years)
Mark II - 1961 - 1969 (8 Years) [266.667% Life Span Increase]
Mark III : 1969 - 1987 (18 Years) [225% Life Span Increase]
Mark V : 1987 - 2008 (21 Years) [116.667% Life Span Increase]
Mark VII : 2008 – Present (10 Years old and Counting)

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
Mark IV: 1971 - 1991 [Last Train of the Mark IV Fleet] (20 Years)
Mark VI: 1989 [First Train of the Mark VI Fleet] - Present (29 Years and Counting) [145% Life Span Increase and Counting / 5% Every Year]


Average Lifespan of a Disneyland Monorail
12 Years [With Mark VII Added]
12.520 Years [Without Mark VII Added]

Average Lifespan of Walt Disney World Monorail
24.5 Years [Added with the Three Years Between the Introduction of the Mark VI Fleet on the Beams and the Last ride of the Mark IV Fleet]
23.5 Years [NOT added with the Three Years Between the Introduction of the Mark VI Fleet on the Beams and the Last ride of the Mark IV Fleet]

 

[montyz81]

more evidence:

 

[Flalex72]

If I am not mistaken this info is false.

There is no limit to how long a train will last, provided it is maintained. VIA Rail in Canada uses cars built as far back as 1947 in daily service.

As trains get older though, especially custom units and those with drive systems, maintenance does get more intensive and parts harder to find. A 30 year design lifespan for mass transit vehicles isn't uncommon.

 

[Rteetz]

There is no limit to how long a train will last, provided it is maintained. VIA Rail in Canada uses cars built as far back as 1947 in daily service.

As trains get older though, especially custom units and those with drive systems, maintenance does get more intensive and parts harder to find. A 30 year design lifespan for mass transit vehicles isn't uncommon.

True however I don't think the current trains were built to last 50 years. As others noted Disney monorail life spans have been about 20 years. We have also seen more frequent problems with the current monorails in recent years.

 

[Flalex72]

True however I don't think the current trains were built to last 50 years. As others noted Disney monorail life spans have been about 20 years. We have also seen more frequent problems with the current monorails in recent years.

As I mention, a design lifespan of 30 years isn't uncommon for a mass transit vehicle, though 50 years would be. A 30 year lifespan would also involve multiple overhauls, minor and major, over the life of the vehicle.

Though it certainly isn't OK, Disney isn't the only place where the lifespan of a train is being stretched past what it was originally designed for.

 

[Rteetz]

As I mention, a design lifespan of 30 years isn't uncommon for a mass transit vehicle, though 50 years would be. A 30 year lifespan would also involve multiple overhauls, minor and major, over the life of the vehicle.

Though it certainly isn't OK, Disney isn't the only place where the lifespan of a train is being stretched past what it was originally designed for.

And lets say it is 30 years, we are at about that point right now so if it is 30 years it is the right time to get some new trains. I am not disagreeing with you just discussing the life span aspect which some seem to be caught up in.