Smoke reported from Disney monorail

[LauraleeH]

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but there seems to have been smoke coming from a monorail. What's going on???


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,3701208.story

[Buttercup]

Hmmm... that doesn't sound good.
I just noticed this in the article:

Wuennenberg's mother is seeking legal action against Disney.

I didn't realize the family of the monorail driver that died is going after Disney.

[Polynesian Dweller]

Sounds like it was in a control tower not one if the trains. Also sounds very minor but the Sentinel does love to jump on all things Disney.

Not surprised about the possible legal action but not sure why the Sentinel thought that had anything to do with this story.

[Ian]

Not surprised about the possible legal action but not sure why the Sentinel thought that had anything to do with this story.

You don't understand how a current story about smoke coming from a monorail relates to a fatal monorail accident that happened a few months ago?

Really?

[Polynesian Dweller]

You don't understand how a current story about smoke coming from a monorail relates to a fatal monorail accident that happened a few months ago?

Really?

Of course I do, please don't insult. I would expect better of a moderator.

But I don't understand why it got more than a couple of sentences. It was a story about a very minor electrical smoke Incident not a major accident. And look more closely at the story it's not about "a monorail" but at the tower and even the article said nothing was found. So my comment is about how the Sentinel embellishes everything about Disney.

[seanyred]

Of course I do, please don't insult. I would expect better of a moderator.

But I don't understand why it got more than a couple of sentences. It was a story about a very minor electrical smoke Incident not a major accident. And look more closely at the story it's not about "a monorail" but at the tower and even the article said nothing was found. So my comment is about how the Sentinel embellishes everything about Disney.

I agree today's story is indirectly linked to the accident in July. It looks like the writer from the Sentinel is just rehashing that story to fill space since it does not add anything to the main article.

[Ian]

But I don't understand why it got more than a couple of sentences. It was a story about a very minor electrical smoke Incident not a major accident. And look more closely at the story it's not about "a monorail" but at the tower and even the article said nothing was found. So my comment is about how the Sentinel embellishes everything about Disney.

Okay, I apologize. I went back and read the full story from beginning to end and I agree ... 35% of the article is a non-story about some smoke (incorrectly identified as coming from a monorail) and the other 65% is just a rehash of a negative story about Disney.

My bad ... should have fully read the story from start to finish before I commented.

[LauraleeH]

They edited the story to give the correct location of the smoke The first article mentioned the monorail as the source of a "fire" but the updated version states it was just smoke from a platform at the station due to an electrical shortage. Not much cause for concern...I suppose we'll be hearing of any little incident concerning the monorail for quite a while.

[Ed]

From a local perspective, all I can say is "Welcome to the wonderful world of Orlando Sentinel reporting."

Notice, too, that the headline refers to an electrical "shortage". There's a world of difference between a "shortage" (BTW, there's no such thing as an "electrical shortage") and a "short circuit".

And in the other story today about the apparent natural causes death of a guest at PO Riverside, they ran a picture of PO French Quarter.

They seem to delight in rehashing old news, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the matter they are reporting.

The Sentinel (or "Slantinel" as it's known locally) is not noted for its editorial review and oversight of stories before they are published, either in print or on their website.

Is it any wonder that so many newspapers are going out of business?

[Ian]

Yeah, I was going to say, Ed ... you don't need to look just at local papers to see slanted news.

It's available every day on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox .... seems like honest, fair reporting is a thing of the past, replaced by this sensationalized "newsertainment" we have now.

And I agree. I think it's the main reason newspapers are a dying breed.

[DizneyRox]

I didn't realize the family of the monorail driver that died is going after Disney.

It's the American way it seems!

Is it any wonder that so many newspapers are going out of business?

I think it has more to do with the medium than the content. You've got shows like Access Hollywood and such that are doing quite well.

[plutoboy]

I'm not sure why anyone is surprised that Austin's mon is taking legal action against Disney. IT'S JUSTIFIED!! There were too many errors made in what could have been an accident avoided. No it won't bring Austin back and I'm sure that his family knows that. It will however send a message that carelessness or oversights like the ones in that case cannot be overlooked.

Just as when I was "friends" with the characters many years ago and a fellow performer was killed in an parade accident--backstage. Disney sent food and flowers to his home and even paid for his funeral but that doesn't erase the mistakes made.

It will all be settled out of court anyway....as BIG of a Disney fan that I am I say good for her that she is taking legal steps against the company.

[WDWdriver]

the Magic Kingdom Express and Resort monorail beams are not in operation today (Oct 1st). Guests are asked to use bus and watercraft transportation. The Epcot - TTC monorail is operating normally.

[DizneyRox]

It will all be settled out of court anyway....as BIG of a Disney fan that I am I say good for her that she is taking legal steps against the company.

That is the true test.

IF they settle, then to me, it's a money grab.

IF NOT, then good for them for trying to bring awareness to the real issues.

Something tells me this is going to turn into a settlement. And my problem with that is Disney then gets to sweep it under the rug with language in the settlement forbiding anyone to talk about it, etc. Nobody ever learns the truth and they get the go on business as usual.

[disneyboundagain]

Back to the original topic....

If the electrical problem was in the control room, why did the monorail have to be towed back to the garage?

I'll assume the monorail is powered by electric motors. Electric motor fail, ALL the time. There is no way to prevent it, other than systematically replacing functional motors, which is unrealistic in today's economy. Occasionally, when they fail they produce a lot of smoke and burning odor. I'm in the HVAC business, and I can tell countless stories of buildings being evacuated because a motor failed and smoked in the air handler in buildings/schools/dorms, etc, and the occupants were never in any danger. I would bet money that this was a simple motor failure. Nothing more, nothing less.

[WDWdriver]

The Magic Kingdom resort and express lines are back in service.

[gueli]

The Magic Kingdom resort and express lines are back in service.

Thanks for the update.
WDWdriver - can you give us any info concerning this fire ? was it on the beam or in the control room ?
thank you

[Monorail_Red]

Yeah it was just a power problem...and the train wasn't towed to the shop...since they had to kill the power, they had to use the tractor to push it back into the station to unload the guests.