I miss those old MKIV's.... It's probably just like with Classic cars... pain to maintain, not nearly as efficient, but there just seemed to be so much more personality in them.
Or maybe it's just a case of me missing the old "clack-clack-clack" you'd hear from the cast members walking down shutting all those doors that just added that little something extra.
I do have to wonder though if the nightmare this past winter, and the fact the cold has been a more common occurance the past couple years, if the suits/bean counters might relent a little on their new policies to allow the nose-to-nose parking again at some point. In theory (besides the fact it was done for years safely,) any "oops" type fear should be easy to overcome since you'd effectively be able to park the first trains and empty them without having anybody 'in danger', and the 2nd train could then be brought in with just the pilot in the "front" cab, and who'd be able to see what he was doing. Worst case, throw in a little precautionary rule stating that the procedure wouldn't be allowed if the monorail window was fogged up preventing decent visability.
Or for that matter, just throw a damned proximity sensor to idiot proof the procedure in the specs for the next gen trains. straight flat beam + cheap laser type proximity sensors would make for pretty easy engineering.
I would imagine that there will be some revisiting of the current rules, It was such a major overhaul from the old system that its impossible to get it right the first time. The current rules and policy were written with good intentions but without much thought of practicality.
There are many things that can be done, cameras could be installed on each train for reversing, there are already touch screen monitors in each cab it surely wouldn't be hard to have it flip to a display when the train it put in reverse.
The reversing procedures for slightly missing your stop are just plain crazy, I can understand needing them for longer reverses but an inch or two is just slowing everything down for everyone. Let's face it if a train is going to hit another train there are far bigger problems than just a couple inches.
Red - "Central, Red"
Central - "Central, Bye"
Red - "at the Polynesian, need to reverse to complete my stop"
Central - "10-4, 23 radio"
Red - "10-4, 23 Radio"
Central - "Polynesian, Central"
Polynesian -"Polynesian, Bye"
Central - "Need an observer for Red"
Polynesian - "10-4, I am at the rear of red, with a handpack, there are no trains behind red, it's clear to reverse"
Central - "10-4, I copy the beamway behind red is clear, break, Red, central"
Red "Red, Bye"
Central " Place your train in reverse, complete your stop, hold and notify central"
Red completes it stop
Red - "Central, Red"
Central - "Central, Bye"
Red - "Completed my stop in reverse"
Central - "10-4, train in forward, with dispatch normal visual"
Red - "10-4 train in forward, with dispatch normal visual"
See why it takes forever.
Don't get me wrong there are some really good additions to the new OG. I think its great we no longer reverse through a switch (well there are times but there is another procedure for that), some great changes were made regarding driving conditions and visibility, and switching procedures to just name a couple things.
One of the silliest rules is regarding platform cast members. Have you ever noticed that there is a little box like area at the Grand Floridian that cast stand inside of, well that is because its deemed not safe for them to be outside of there without a train... makes some sense except at the Polynesian and Contemporary the platform cast member is allowed on the beam side of the gates *scratches head*
The procedure for reversing a train inside the contemporary is kind of confusing as well, if the resort train has to back up to complete its stop (yeah, I've missed the contemporary stop before) it must wait until a express train stops at pylon 45 (north end of the contemporary), it gives the all clear that nothing is behind the train and it can reverse. It makes sense except for the fact that everywhere else a platform cast member must have a hand pack in their hand so they can drop power should a train somehow approach the reversing train, there is no way for the express train to drop power to the beam. In no way do I feel that any procedure is unsafe, the express train not being able to drop power is not a major concern, there is always the radio (however train to train communication is prohibited) and a nice loud horn to get the attention of the other driver, the problem is there is a contradiction in how things are done.
Parking nose to nose at the contemporary is no big deal, heck in shop we drive towards a beam that ends. There is a tennis ball hanging of some string, when we see the ball move we simply stop (yeah really high tech eh)
All you would need is a platform cast member observing with a hand pack, a reduced speed of 1 or 2 mph entering the contemporary and there is your safe procedure. Throw in the proximity sensors that were mentioned and you have another safety precaution.
I doubt it will ever happen, the thought of having a Pilot driving in forward so close to another train sends chills through legal and understandably so. Hopefully over time things will be adjusted, the trains will get the care they deserve and require and maybe, just maybe the Walt Disney World Monorail system will once again be something very special.
