Monorail Crash

[Seabean]

One question I had posted elsewhere, but I'll try here too... it would seem the key error was in NOT throwing the track switch?


(in other words, instead of backing onto the express rail, Pink simply went back onto the Epcot rail where it had just been, and backed into Purple which was now sitting there... because the switch wasn't thrown)

 

[nnanciejean]

FYI - monorails are still shut down. Just heard from my son who is at work today.

 

[nnanciejean]

FYI - monorails are still shut down. Just heard from my son who is at work today.

Also, just in: trains are out but parked. That means it looks like they will eventually get them running soon....I hope.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

Our families thoughts and prayers are with all those involved with this tragedy.

 

[Notatourist]

Oh my--the drawing makes it more clear. But it concerns me--not that I would fault Austin--but where was the chain of command that permitted him to radio to someone to get the train to stop. You can see in those stations--he would have seen the train coming.

Maybe he expected it to stop?

There's a missing link somewhere.

This didn't happen in the station, it happened outside the station and remember-it's DARK out there.

 

[ckdsnynt]

the diagram was most helpful!

 

[honey11dog]

Also, just in: trains are out but parked. That means it looks like they will eventually get them running soon....I hope.

We have been staying at the Poly. Monorail trains have been out and parked at the resorts since the incident happened. So not sure that is any idication that they are running again.

 

[DCTooTall]

There is no way the pink monroail could be going that fast in reverse, they only get up to 40 going forward.

While the reports and rumor's I've heard didn't have the train going anywhere near that top speed, you should remember that on a monorail train "forward" is a relative term.

The trains use electric motors and are geared totally different than your car. There is also the fact that the train's are designed with fully functional cabs on both ends. There isn't really any way to "turn the train around" on the system, so it's not like they can flip a train around to go "forward" when it is opperating on the resort track one day and the MK express the next. It's all a matter of which driver position is in operation as the primary.


Something that I'm wondering about which someone more familiar with their operation might be able to answer: What is involved in changing the operating mode on a train? Is it just a matter of flipping a switch, or is it somewhat more involved like having to completely shut the train down and then "restart" it from the other cab. I can see obvious reasons why you can't have both cabs operational at the same time, i'm just wondering what type of precautions or systems are in place to prevent that from happening.



Oh, and to the person who mentioned the pink driver should've seen the switch'ed beam out his window the the side, keep in mind how dark it is outside at 2am. those beams aren't really lit, and the ambient light from the TTC wouldn't really come into play until it was almost too late. I've ridden in the front during the summer too, and sometimes the windows can fog a big from the temp difference inside (with AC) and out. It's easy to see why a driver may not be able to see the switched track out the window in the dark to begin with, and if the windows did fog even a little bit it makes it that much easier to see how they may not be able to verify which track they were on.

 

[Len90]

The reports are saying it will reopen later today, but nobody really knows what time. The two trains involved were towed back to the shop at 3am and all roads that could give you a view of the monorail were shut down so nobody could view the damage. It should be interesting to see how they will run the system now

 

[Traveliz]

I am sitting in my room at the Poly now and the monorails are going around the lagoon.

Liz

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The reports are saying it will reopen later today, but nobody really knows what time. The two trains involved were towed back to the shop at 3am and all roads that could give you a view of the monorail were shut down so nobody could view the damage. It should be interesting to see how they will run the system now

Wouldn't they still have to take the cars through the Contemporary?

I am curious as to what they did to block the view from residents--BLT would have a clear view if they were up at that time of morning.

 

[safetymom]

Bay Lake Towers isn't open to guests yet. At 3 AM I am sure they figured not many people would be up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I thought it was--guess I haven't been paying attention.

Sorry about that.

 

[TxMickeyLover]

Just read this in the Orlando Sentinel...It looks like the NTSB will be stepping in to investigate.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-disney-monorail-ntsb-070709,0,7351564.story

 

[theweave]

I posted this in another thread on here but here it is again:

http://www.wesh.com/news/19963457/detail.html

It too says NTSB is involved, the monorail has re-opened and that people are not allowed up front right now.. here is hoping they change that but right now I don't blame them. I would not want to be a driver with people up there right after this!

 

[jaycat]

I feel so bad for the driver of the pink train - he must feel horrid! This is so tragic. My heat goes out to all the families involved.

 

[theweave]

Yeah he probably didn't know what happened!

 

[ztbz]

Wouldn't they still have to take the cars through the Contemporary?

Its Likely the went the other way, but would have to pass the Poly and the Grand Flow in the process, how many people are going to be up at 3am to see it.

 

[DIS1130]

Something that I'm wondering about which someone more familiar with their operation might be able to answer: What is involved in changing the operating mode on a train? Is it just a matter of flipping a switch, or is it somewhat more involved like having to completely shut the train down and then "restart" it from the other cab. I can see obvious reasons why you can't have both cabs operational at the same time, i'm just wondering what type of precautions or systems are in place to prevent that from happening.

To answer this question- it is more than a matter of flipping a switch- It is about a 10 minute process. However, from what has been explained on here is pretty much the general idea. It was Purple which Austin (the driver which was killed) was in, and pink which reversed into him. It was a matter of the other driver getting instructions and following them, though, not being aware of his surroundings. You can clearly tell that you are on the wrong beam. It was 2 am, unsure if he was unaware or not paying attention or what that situation was. But it is a horrible situation- and my heart and prayers go out to everyone involved!

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

I'm confused. Maybe this has already been addressed but I didn't read the whole thread. Why was the Epcot line still running? If the park closed at 10pm, why were there guests in the monorail on the Epcot line? Was it coming back from Epcot? If it was, doesn't transporation stop like 2 hours after a park closes?

Also, how did the driver not see monorail pink if its true that the purple monorail hit the pink one? I am really confused by the whole thing but my heart breaks for the driver and his family.