Train derail @ AK

[Magic Maker]

To me the main point is that there was no way for them to walk back. A similar thing happened to my family in March. We were almost ready to leave AK for our afternoon rest when we decided we had 45 min or so to ride out to Conservation Station, since we had not seen it before. It was a nice trip, a quick walk through the exhibits, and then BOOM. The line to get back on the train was way way way down the path and not moving at all. We finally learned that something was wrong with the train and they were trying to fix it. When it finally starting running, it took about 6 ot 7 trips to get everyone back to "civilization". We were in line for about an hour and a half - hot, tired, and cranky.

On our next visit we were smart enough to skip Conservation Station. Once you get there you are at the mercy of one means of transportation.

I totally get that concern. Just know that if anything major happens with the train or anything else out there, we have a couple of options beside the train to get our guests back to the main park.

I am not going to sit here and say one way or the other for certain as I do not want to be held responsible.

 

[barnum42]

Hi Guys! I was working at DAK, right next door at safari. I had a radio on me. I do not know if there was a derailing. I am pretty sure there WASN'T. There was a concern with the rain, but there was no major issue that I was aware of and the radio I carried was connected to all of Africa operations. But I cannot say 100% either way if anything did or did not happen.

Thanks for the update. If something as big as a derail happened, I'm pretty sure it would not have been kept secret.

 

[STGRhost]

One of my old roommates worked on the Train ("The Choo-Choo", she'd call it). She talked about the train derailing often. Not usually a big deal - part of it would slip off the tracks, and the whole train would get stuck. Mostly it was an irritation, with guests stuck on either end of the trip, and sometimes the train ittself. (Of course, this was a few years ago, and I never actually experienced a derailment first hand. Unconfirmed? I suppose...I believed it.)

Also, this:

All 14 miles per hour? Did it do the 'honk, honk' think before it started to flip?

is AWSOME - such a funny visual. :lol:

 

[Buzzes Dad]

This is just too funny. lol

 

[wdIMAGINEER1208]

as i am not trying to start rumors....notice on my first post, i wrote "derailed" (in quotes) since, i am not there to witness it...my friend said it "came off the tracks"


whether he was misinformed or not...we will never know

wdIMAGINEER1208

 

[dandaman]

This just goes to show you: Trust no one.

 

[bgraham34]

That pic is funny.

 

[dandaman]

The driver's still trapped in the tram!

 

[SpenceMan01]

People should never always believe someone. You should always wait for more information. All I meant was that someone who had been here a long time has a reputation. People know if they are normal right or wrong. It still wouldn't answer the question but it would help to add support.

Pretty much any info from Gen. Grizz, Lee, and yen_sid is deemed reliable. There are others, but they escape me....

 

[dandaman]

^mkt's quite credible as well.

 

[peter11435]

Pretty much any info from Gen. Grizz, Lee, and yen_sid is deemed reliable. There are others, but they escape me....

Yeah, I would agree that those are the most reliable sources on the board.

 

[peter11435]

^mkt's quite credible as well.

Yeah, him and photodave do a good job also.

 

[imagineersrock]

With all this talk about having frequent derailments at AK, it makes me wonder why it would happen so often there and rarely at MK... I don't think I have ever heard a report about the train at MK derailing. :veryconfu

 

[peter11435]

With all this talk about having frequent derailments at AK, it makes me wonder why it would happen so often there and rarely at MK... I don't think I have ever heard a report about the train at MK derailing. :veryconfu

Have you ever heard a report about the AK train prior to this one? The fact is no one said that derailment was frequent at AK, only that it has happened before. It has also happened at the MK. It was said that trains frequently derail not specifically those at AK or Disney for that matter. It really isn't that big of a deal and is more common with trains traveling at low speed (like those at Disney). There is a difference between a derailment where cars fly off the track (like you see with CSX and Amtrak every now and then) and a derailment where a single axel becomes "derailed."

 

[imagineersrock]

There is a difference between a derailment where cars fly off the track (like you see with CSX and Amtrak every now and then) and a derailment where a single axel becomes "derailed."

Well obviously, lol but thanks for the insight anyway. I guess I'm just showing my lack of train car axle knowledge here but... is it much of a hassle to get an axle back on the track, or does it not require lifting the weight of that train car to do so?

 

[peter11435]

Well obviously, lol but thanks for the insight anyway. I guess I'm just showing my lack of train car axle knowledge here but... is it much of a hassle to get an axle back on the track, or does it not require lifting the weight of that train car to do so?

Its not that much of a hassle at WDW. It takes a bit of time but isn't a huge ordeal.

 

[dizknee]

Man you guys girls) kill me. Many a boring day have been saved by your humour. I have seen some pretty nasty beatings on the forum but you reap what you sow.

I for one would probably not post anything I hear from a bus driver, CM, hotel clerk, mother-in-law but heck I live in a piddly little town in quebec, Canada. For me big Disney news is a new plush toy at the department store.

Keep' em coming everybody.... you crack me up.

 

[wdIMAGINEER1208]

update...

my friend just told me that after the "malfunction," (where they had to stand in the pouring rain/thunderstorms for about 45 minutes)....disney gave them FREE WATER:slurp:

wdIMAGINEER1208

 

[MagliteL13]

update...

my friend just told me that after the "malfunction," (where they had to stand in the pouring rain/thunderstorms for about 45 minutes)....disney gave them FREE WATER:slurp:

wdIMAGINEER1208

So you're sayin it started to rain?

Wow, free anything from Disney.

 

[Magic Maker]

Have you ever heard a report about the AK train prior to this one? The fact is no one said that derailment was frequent at AK, only that it has happened before. It has also happened at the MK.

MK = Actual, real steam train, very well built

AK = Let's just say that MK crew dubs it the tractor. It is hard to qualify it as a train. It is nice little ride, and I hope to be trained (pun not really intended) on it soon. But it is certainly new comparision to the beautiful steam trains of the WDWRR.