Yep unfortunately this couldn't be used in this situation.View attachment 128642
There's your tug.
Yep unfortunately this couldn't be used in this situation.View attachment 128642
There's your tug.
They said coaches so I thought bus my bad I don't know names of trains.
Even then I don't know how comparable that is to a monorail because isn't a monorail electric? I'm no train expert but it looks like monorails don't have as long of a life span as normal trains. I also don't know what type of maintenance those trains get vs. Disneys monorails.
And that's one of 3 that Disney has in FLView attachment 128642
There's your tug.
Locomotives use gas powered engines to turn electrical motors that turn the wheels. The monorails (like streetcars), use electricity from a power sub station to eliminate the need for a gas engine. Properly maintained, they should last a long time. That being said, after years of everyday use, things break. That's the problem with mechanical things.
This is a huge weakness in the monorail design ... emergency evacuation is impossible without massive help from the ground in the form of ladders, hydraulic lifts, etc. Where do you go when you're stuck in an immobile monorail, if it's on fire, or you just plain have to go to the bathroom. Nowhere, except maybe up on the roof or else jump 25 feet straight down. That's on top of the weaknesses shared by all railed transportation, that any failure in any part of the system such as vehicle, track, signals, power, etc. makes the entire rail line blocked and therefore useless.
If they insist on keeping the monorails, they should build a gasoline "donkey engine" into each train which is capable of limping forward or backward to the nearest station in case of loss of power or signaling.
Sorry to be a stickler but that's not quite true. On an old system like the WDW monorail there will be wire brushes which will eventually wear and it wouldn't surprise me if they have rewound the odd motor at least once. Both are classed as electrical faults. Also I shouldn't forget sensors that need replacing and contactors etc.
The cables themselves shouldn't degrade as long as they are properly contained. But there are a lot of electrical issues that can happen too.
They are currently spending millions on the automation system which was supposed to be completed already but isn't even close to being ready. Disney is going to try and run these monorails until they can't anymore.
Tens of millions is chump change for Disney compared to what they typically spend in the parks. Look at the budget for DCA, or now DHS. Disney needs the infrastructure in order for the parks to work efficiently, hence why a lot of the DHS budget is for infrastructure.
I am completely aware and understand what is involved. With that said Disney could order new trains with the automation system built in already.DUDE. They are creating an automation system from scratch, for which there is no real prototype. Have a little respect for the engineering involved in a project like that! Things like that go over budget and over schedule as a matter of course.
...and of course they're going to run the monorails until they can't run them anymore. That's what I do with the machinery at my business. And I'm still shaking my head at this comment: "Tens of millions is chump change..." I'm glad you're not the CFO.
These trains have been breaking down more frequently.
Well I don't know where you could actually find statistics on this. Disney doesn't release that type of info. I know within the last year or two there have been at least two evacuations. Otherwise there have been many delays in many monorail operations because of technical difficulties.Are there statistics to back-up that claim or are we just guessing, based upon the fact that every breakdown is now considered "news" on social media?
Well I don't know where you could actually find statistics on this. Disney doesn't release that type of info. I know within the last year or two there have been at least two evacuations. Otherwise there have been many delays in many monorail operations because of technical difficulties.
I'd say within the last five years there have been an increase in problems or at least complaints about monorail problems including evacuations. I can't tell you how that compares to 20 years ago, I'd assume 20 years there wouldn't be many problem because there were overall less people in WDW, and the fleet of monorails was relatively new.Statistics is probably a poor choice of words. Let me rephrase: On what basis are you concluding that the trains have been breaking down more frequently?
Two evacuations in a 2 year period doesn't seem out of line to me. Certainly not an indication that mechanical issues are escalating. And "many delays" is not particularly quantifiable.
In order to say that issues are increasing, there must be some valid basis for demonstrating a decrease in reliability. How do recent operational issues compare with 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 20 years ago?
I'd say within the last five years there have been an increase in problems or at least complaints about monorail problems including evacuations. I can't tell you how that compares to 20 years ago, I'd assume 20 years there wouldn't be many problem because there were overall less people in WDW, and the fleet of monorails was relatively new.
Yes but as far as I'm aware this current fleet has been the same other than monorail purple which was involved in the crash which was rebuilt and given a new color. So these 13 monorails have been in service since they came on board 25+ years ago. 25+ years ago not as many people were coming to WDW, DHS was MGM and brand new, AK wasn't existent yet and WDW didn't have as many resorts as they do today.Less people. Less monorails. Probably pretty close to the same ratio. And no internet to get reports on these things almost immediately, and by fanatics that will report it.
Without data, the argument it fruitless on both sides.
Yes but as far as I'm aware this current fleet has been the same other than monorail purple which was involved in the crash which was rebuilt and given a new color. So these 13 monorails have been in service since they came on board 25+ years ago. 25+ years ago not as many people were coming to WDW, DHS was MGM and brand new, AK wasn't existent yet and WDW didn't have as many resorts as they do today.
I think we are more aware of breakdowns and complaints now because of the access to the internet and forums, twitter, etc. over the past twenty years, not necessarily because there are more such problems. Based on almost weekly visits 20 or so years ago, when we lived in the area, there seemed to be no more problems then than there are now.I'd say within the last five years there have been an increase in problems or at least complaints about monorail problems including evacuations. I can't tell you how that compares to 20 years ago, I'd assume 20 years there wouldn't be many problem because there were overall less people in WDW, and the fleet of monorails was relatively new.
I think we are more aware of breakdowns and complaints now because of the access to the internet and forums, twitter, etc. over the past twenty years, not necessarily because there are more such problems. Based on almost weekly visits 20 or so years ago, when we lived in the area, there seemed to be no more problems then than there are now.
d. Both were bangs not rolling thunder and both associated with lightening. All traffic on Seven Seas lagoon including ferries and launches stopped immediately and were down for 1.5 hours.
The question is did that lightening affect the monorail. My guess from the evidence is yes.