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Where do they keep the monorail at night?
- Thread starter mickey04
- Start date
sorcerermic01
New Member
Behind the MK there is a transortation buliding and i belive the monterails are kept there at night and broought there for repairs.
niteobsrvr
Well-Known Member
some are parked at the maintenance facility and others are parked in the stations.
MCMike37
Member
Yup, most are kept in the maintainence area. If you look between the Contemporary and the MK, there is another beam running off towards Space Mountain. This is better known as the Maypo (Spelling) Bypass and is where they change trains on and off the MK and resort beams. The EPCOT train is switched off at a junction just after leaving TTC and the rail again runs towards Space Mountain.
raven
Well-Known Member
That's right. MaPo (actually came from Mary Poppins years ago) was a term used like a production company might use. The monorails are stored in the maintenance sheds after dark. Third shift workers then clean each monorail every night and make any needed repairs. Each train engine is also checked over carefully each night.
This is also the area that is the entrance for the Utilidoors and also a store for CM's that has defective or broken merchandise for a cheap price. (Don't get too excited. It's under a tent and you have to scrounge through boxes.)
Roey º0º
This is also the area that is the entrance for the Utilidoors and also a store for CM's that has defective or broken merchandise for a cheap price. (Don't get too excited. It's under a tent and you have to scrounge through boxes.)
Roey º0º
Cosmo
Member
When my girlfriend and I went in March, we were the last people out of EPCOT, we then took the rail from ttc to contemporary (where we were staying). We rode up front and when we arrived, the driver shut the monorail down and it just stayed in the Grand Canyon concourse all night. Do they just take them to the maintenance house when they need upkeep?
Disneyowner182
Member
isn't it called the monorail barn?
Disneyowner182
Member
i'm sure someone cameback to take it to maintaince
Disneyowner182
Member
does anyone know if the monorails are taken off the track by cranes?i've heard this somewhere before.
niteobsrvr
Well-Known Member
Nope - It stays in the Contemporary all night
MCMike37
Member
Well, that is how they are put no the rails, I would imagine if they need to do work on the underside they lift them off with cranes. I personally don't know what type of facilities they have in the maintainence shed, but I would think they would at least one "bay" that has the ability to take apart the trains and lift up single cars if needed.
Monorail Lime
Well-Known Member
The beams in the monorail shop are low enough to the ground that maintenance workers can work underneath the monorail without ladders or lifting the train. The skirt of the monorail (the dark grey section at the bottom) folds up for easy access to the tires and stuff. There are also beam sections that can be dropped out for various kinds of maintenance. I don't think they've ever had to completely take a train off the rail since they were delivered.
Cranes were used to put the monorails on the beam when they were first delivered. There's a really cool picture of monorail blue (the first Mark VI) being delivered in the transportation offices, Mickey was there to celebrate the occasion when they were placing it on the beam!
FatBoy976
New Member
Did anyone else ever have a dream of driving the monorail? I try to ride up front as often as possible, and I find the whole thing fascinating. One of the drivers told me about a 'dead man' switch. Basically, if he takes his hand off the joystick controlling the speed for more than 5 seconds while it's in motion, the whole monorail shuts off. This is a fail safe device in case he has a heart attack or a terrorist attack. Cool, huh?
Hyperion93
Member
I wish I were a monorail conductor....
Invero
Well-Known Member
The actual "Driving" in itself is quite easy. Often times you'll see me leaning back, foot up on the bench, quite relaxed... However, there is still a lot to know, and a lot to be aware of. I must listen to the radio at all times, make sure my speil is cued properly, maintain visuals on the train in front of me, keep proper cycle times, and I need to know what to do in case of a problem. All in all, it's an easy job... and a lot of fun... but there are moments that it can get hectic.
How do you fix the spiel if it isn't in the right place? Is it like a CD player or something (w/ tracks or rewind and fast forward). I can imagine if you don't set it to exactly the right place, it may confuse those on board. It was out of place a few times during my visit, and was quickly fixed each time.
Hyperion93
Member
Still sounds like a great job.