Monorail Crash

[mommy2allgirls]

I have not been on this site for months so please forgive me if this has already been addressed.

Does anyone know what the outcome of the investigation into the monorail crash that happened this summer?

 

[glitterkittyy]

The OSHA findings are supposed to come out January 5th.

The trains involved are being retired, but they are going to salvage the portions that are usable and make a "teal" train (after it has been cleared for safety).

Also found this online:

A report released by the NTSB said the crash happened when a switch failed to change position and allow the two trains to pass one another. Wuennenberg's train, designated the purple train, was in the process of taking passengers to Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center station. The other train, designated the pink train, was empty and was supposed to be going to the Magic Kingdom station.

However, the switch did not change position and the pink train backed into the purple train, the report said.

According to the autopsy, Wuennenberg suffered blunt trauma to the head, resulting in death. All toxicology tests came back negative.

Source: http://www.wesh.com/news/20224776/detail.html

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Wow, thank you for the update. I can't imagine being one of the witnesses. It was weird because we rode on those monorails just the day before.

 

[Squidrific]

I didn't realize that they stopped allowing guests to ride in the front of the monorail trains due to the crash.

 

[DizBelle]

The OSHA findings are supposed to come out January 5th.

The trains involved are being retired, but they are going to salvage the portions that are usable and make a "teal" train (after it has been cleared for safety).

Also found this online:



Source: http://www.wesh.com/news/20224776/detail.html

I'm glad to hear this. I thought the should at least retire the purple color (not the train itself, just paint it a different color). Is pink being retired too?

 

[DizBelle]

Does anyone know what happened to the person that was operating the pink train? I'm sure they were devastated at the incident even though it does not seem they are to blame at all. I hope they are able to get past it.

 

[diesel]

Yes Pink and Purple will be retired. They will piece together a new train from the pink and purple and make a new train Teal.

 

[hellokitty86]

I didn't realize that they stopped allowing guests to ride in the front of the monorail trains due to the crash.

Yep, we were just there in October and asked to ride in the front, and they said it wasn't allowed anymore due to the crash.

 

[glitterkittyy]

Does anyone know what happened to the person that was operating the pink train? I'm sure they were devastated at the incident even though it does not seem they are to blame at all. I hope they are able to get past it.

He was suspended. Although he did have approval to back up his train, he backed it up WAY too fast IMHO.

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Since two trains are out is the monrail running time slower

 

[Geoff_M]

There was also another possible clue found a few weeks ago when there was a bug found in the monorail switching system whereby a signal in the control room indicated that a switch had moved when in fact it hadn't (or vice versa).

 

[glitterkittyy]

Since two trains are out is the monrail running time slower

I go a lot, and I really haven't noticed any delays.

 

[glitterkittyy]

There was also another possible clue found a few weeks ago when there was a bug found in the monorail switching system whereby a signal in the control room indicated that a switch had moved when in fact it hadn't (or vice versa).

It'll be interesting when the OSHA report comes out to see their findings...and suggestions.

 

[mommy2allgirls]

I can't imagine how the other drive must feel, this just breaks my heart. Thanks for all of the updates. I must not know how to google well because I couldn't come up with anything when trying to find an update so I appreciate it.

 

[Geoff_M]

It'll be interesting when the OSHA report comes out to see their findings...and suggestions.

It happened October 18th... here's the details: Link

From the article:

Yesterday, however, switches 8 and 9 were lined up with the mainline, but the lights on the computer console at Shop erroneously indicated 8 was on the spur.

“Express is operating, but they can’t bring up power on the Epcot beam through the switches,” an insider reported early yesterday evening. “The conflict today casts doubt on who ultimately was at fault in July. It’s possible that Shop’s board may have indicated that the switches were aligned on the spur while they were actually still on the mainline.”

However, that wouldn't completely eliminate the human error aspect of the crash, IIRC, there's also supposed to be visual confirmation of switch movement before a train is cleared to proceed.

 

[glitterkittyy]

It happened October 18th... here's the details: Link

From the article:However, that wouldn't completely eliminate the human error aspect of the crash, IIRC, there's also supposed to be visual confirmation of switch movement before a train is cleared to proceed.

Thanks for sharing. It makes me very interested to see the final OSHA report. The glitch is horrible, but interesting. However, the supervisor being off-site has got to be another one of the major contributing factors. You can't really oversee things from Denny's!

 

[sorcerormickey]

Teal is almost ready to go - should be up and running by Thanksgiving. I have seen it sticking out of the Roundhouse for the past couple of weeks, the color looks nice.

I have a friend that is in Monorail management, and they told me that Disney is not 100% sure what to do about a 12th train. They may make another train (with a new color) or they may make a new prototype train and test that out for a possible new fleet. Neither of these things would happen until late 2010 at the earliest tho.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm glad to hear this. I thought the should at least retire the purple color (not the train itself, just paint it a different color). Is pink being retired too?

I believe both are retired and the undamaged vehicles will be the new "teal" train.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Teal is almost ready to go - should be up and running by Thanksgiving. I have seen it sticking out of the Roundhouse for the past couple of weeks, the color looks nice.

I have a friend that is in Monorail management, and they told me that Disney is not 100% sure what to do about a 12th train. They may make another train (with a new color) or they may make a new prototype train and test that out for a possible new fleet. Neither of these things would happen until late 2010 at the earliest tho.

Do you have any info about the drive of monorail pink?

Did he return to work?

 

[sorcerormickey]

Do you have any info about the drive of monorail pink?

Did he return to work?

You know, I've never asked about the driver.