Monorail Pilot Memorial

[T16GEM]

Hi guys,

The memorial for Austin the Pilot of the monorail that crashed on Sunday is today, just found this story online, there is a fantastic video of him working on the monorail with a family up front only taken last week.

The video is really lovely, but it may upset you as you really get a sense of what a wonderful CM this guy was. I just wanted to prepare you for that.

Such a sad thing.

http://www.examiner.com/x-2200-Orla...monorail-pilot-Austin-Wuennenberg-with-guests

Gems

 

[Twilight Terror]

That video was lovely! He really loved his job, and was very good at it. That is going to be one sorely missed CM

 

[amystevekai&bump]

so very sad to watch - such a tragedy

 

[disneyholic family]

what a lovely CM - so very very very sad...

 

[DISWolves]

He seemed a real good CM with the Disney spirit. We have ridden up front quite a few times and have not always had pleasant pilots. Surely a sad loss not only to his family and friends but also to Disney and the many park visitors who have travelled on his monorail.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

So sad, he's so young with all his life ahead of him. Would have loved to have had a ride up front, we asked on our last visit but the driver was training at the time and we weren't allowed, its going to be out of the question now this awful accident happened.

 

[TracyK]

Bless him

 

[natalielongstaff]

Thanks for posting this xx

 

[Pegasus928]

He was exactly what we have come to know and love about CMs.
The other thing that stood out for me was how professional he was, and the amount of time he spent on the radio checking everything was as it should be. It just begs the question again - what went wrong??
A great shame and he will obviously be a great loss to his family, friends and co-workers

 

[wickesy]

Watching that video 3 things jumped out at me:

The video not only shows the face behind the name but also the personality. It's easier to deal with when you only know the name.

The guest asks Austin Wuennenberg if he can see behind him. If the pilot of monorail Pink had been able to see behind him Austin Wuennenberg might still be here today.

It seems that at the time the video was shot the safety system that keeps monorails apart was not working properly, but the radio calls being made show how seriously the situation was being taken in order to maintain safety.

I can well imagine how the family who provided the video felt when they heard about the accident and how they prayed so hard that it wasn't "their Austin".

 

[wickesy]

It just begs the question again - what went wrong??

Somebody somewhere missed a step in the procedure, it's unfortunate but it does happen. My personal belief is that no matter how hard we try nothing is, nor will ever be, 100% safe. This was the first fatality in 38 years and all anybody can do is their best to make sure it doesn't happen again.

 

[Pinky166]

So very sad.....he seemed like a lovely CM & I am sure will be sorely missed.

 

[Nubbedy]

He did seem such a really lovely guy, a wonderful example of a true Disney CM. Such a terrible shame.

 

[craigs bride]

thoughts and prayers to his family

 

[brer_rabbit]

Oh my goodness that was so sad I would love to ride up front on the monorail one day.

 

[The Fetherstons]

So sad, he seemed to be a lovely CM who really loved his job, bless him

 

[Tinks1984]

He was a great CM, showed it very much so in the video.

Thank-you for posting.

 

[fizz13]

Thankyou so much for posting this, of course I welled up watching it. What a tragedy that a CM who clearly loved his job and created magic like that had to be taken away.

 

[jen_uk]

Very, very sad

 

[Cyrano]

I have been watching this video most of today as it was Austin's memorial service today