7/5/2009
UPDATE: This information is no longer up-to-date due to new developments. This post will be updated after an official confirmation. of what appears to have happened, from Disney.
I'm writing this post early and quickly to be as relevant as possible to this tragic, breaking news story. Therefore, it will likely not be the most well written, so please forgive any typos or poor writing!
Firstly, the real story here is the tragedy of a family losing a loved one. Please keep these people, and the fellow cast members of that person, in your prayers.
Secondly, please don't think I am writing this blog post in an effort to promote this blog during a time of increased interest by the WDW community. I am writing this simply to explain to people how the monorails work, and hopefully shed some light on what may or may not have happened.
All of that said...
On my recent trip in March of this year, we rode in the cockpit of the monorail twice. The second time was in the pink monorail; the monorail that hit the purple in this terrible collision.
In riding in the cockpit, we had a great pilot who let me stand beside him and watch his computer/control screen. He explained to me how it works, which was very interesting to say the least. First, though, let me explain how the monorail itself works in case you don't know.
The monorail is, in its simplest form, a train on wheels. The monorail train has wheels (with tires) that run on top of the concrete monorail beams, and on both sides to balance it. It is powered by an electric current along the track. Again, that's a very simple explanation.
As far as operation goes, the pilot has a very detailed control screen that shows his path and diagnostic train information, to name just a tad of what he or she can see. Most importantly in this case, though, it shows the current speed, and also what speed you should be going, and if you should be going or stopping. The monorail computer system, according to my pilot on this trip, tells the pilot what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. The pilot just has to execute those commands.
For example, we were nearing the Main St. Station. While we could see a train in the station ahead, his screen told him to slow down and eventually stop. He didn't wait for visual confirmation that the train had left the station, but rather for his control panel to tell him when he could proceed.
With this knowledge, how could one train collide into a parked train (which is what is being reported)? Using deductive reasoning, here are the most likely possibilities:
- It was 2am. The pilot potentially could have fallen asleep, and not been able to see his control screen.
- The train's brakes failed, and the pilot was unable to stop the train.
- The computer system failed, and the pilot thought the station was clear, and didn't have time to stop.
Well, that is all I know for now, and all I really wanted to say. I just wanted to give you an idea of how the monorails work so that you can better understand what may or may not have happened. I hope this helped.
Again, please keep this family in your prayers!
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