The runaway bus

[felinefan]

The only other disadvantage to steam trains is the fact they have to be refilled with water every 25 miles or so--Zazu can confirm or correct. I remember watching them refill the boiler on the train at Knott's, it takes a few minutes to fill that puppy. The locos originally burned coal, but are now fitted to run on #2 diesel. The engineers told me they could run on anything--cooking oil, kerosene, etc.--except gasoline (too volatile).

[Zazu]

The only other disadvantage to steam trains is the fact they have to be refilled with water every 25 miles or so--Zazu can confirm or correct.

Depends on the capacity of the tender. Large one have been designed to go 100 miles or more. It's also possible to pick up water without stopping if the speed is high enough.

I remember watching them refill the boiler on the train at Knott's, it takes a few minutes to fill that puppy. The locos originally burned coal, but are now fitted to run on #2 diesel. The engineers told me they could run on anything--cooking oil, kerosene, etc.--except gasoline (too volatile).

I've seen locos burning propane, alcohol, LNG, butane, kerosene, #2, #3, "bunker C", fuel oil, coal (from anthracite to lignite, from powder to mine-run), wood, sawdust, bark chips, bamboo, crushed sugar cane, fryer oil, dried kudzu, used motor oil, grapevine trimmings... you could probably make them burn grass clippings if you just dried them first (and had a whole whopping lot of them). Ain't external combustion wonderful?

The interesting thing is, there are literally hundreds of serviceable steam locomotives in the US, and many of them are available for sale or lease. Many museums have late-model locomotives that could haul their entire collection, but never see service for a lack of track. I rather suspect that a few of these could be had fairly cheaply, or on short-term lease to prove the concept.

The hard part is going to be acquiring right-of-way. I suppose it could travel down the median of the Greeneway, but it would take a whole lot of bridges, and the grades may be excessive. Doing it without eminent domain could be tough, and we still don't know if the airport authority will permit a station close enough to walk.

Fun idea, but it would take PRT to deliver guests to their hotels once they arrived at the WDW end of the line. Frankly, it would probably be more efficient to simply extend the PRT system. Smaller footprint, cheaper bridges, and no transfer between the airport terminal and your hotel. It would be a fairly trivial matter to permit guests to check in remotely via communications in the car. Could save hotels some of the costs of operating a front desk in favor of remote operators who might as well be in Kansas ... or Bangalore.

[ectomstr]

It's one thing to be fun, another to do things like... dance. Going around that curve at Toontown is one of the more technical moves a bus at Disney World has to make... not all that technical for a seasoned motor coach operator, but if you got your license at Disney World, chances are that turn takes some work compared to anything you do. Also, the fact it's a REALLY high curb should give one pause before dancing around it.

I hate drivers that don't drive responsibly... Question: How many Cast Members were on the bus when that happened? I hope you all stayed, because at that point you were delayed by an incident you could and should not have forseen. There should be no attendance violation for anyone who was on that bus, stayed on... it would be the right thing to do. Managers should note who was late because of that incident.

Shaking with rage for a second.

Seats were filled, a few were standing. not what i've seen at the end of the night but the typical afternoon rush.

and just for those who might be confused, she wasn't doing disco taking her hands off the wheel rather moving her upper body in time tot he music aka, a form of dancing.

I and everyone else, weren't late by any means, but the other is i didn't report it either. Should have done but when it starts sounding like a broken record, how much more will my managers really listen? Would rather talk to transportation personally.

[empire550]

I used to drive transit and paratransit at Universityof Maryland and one day we had a new driver take his first solo run on his route which is an hour long and a lot of turns. Unfortunatley it isnt a popular route with drivers due to the traffic and neighborhood it services and new drivers usually get stuck with it. Well he missed one turn and instead of calling in right away he ended up in DC somewhere lost. After he was found he was put back in training.

[Goofyernmost]

I wish that could have happened to the Disney bus driver that ran me off the road. If something like that happens again, I am going to let the idiot hit me. Looking back, that was the better choice than letting him push me into the oncoming traffic lane. And, maybe he would have been fired.

Having been a bus driver for many years I feel compelled to say that letting a bus hit you would in all probability not come out well for you. He might get fired but you probably wouldn't be around to celebrate. They're kind of big you know. Maybe it would be a good idea to give that a second thought. ;)

[ktulu]

Having been a bus driver for many years I feel compelled to say that letting a bus hit you would in all probability not come out well for you. He might get fired but you probably wouldn't be around to celebrate. They're kind of big you know. Maybe it would be a good idea to give that a second thought. ;)

I think BW has a bit of experience with buses, so even without any details from him, I think he knows he would have made it out alive ;)

[Goofyernmost]

I think BW has a bit of experience with buses, so even without any details from him, I think he knows he would have made it out alive ;)

I've had a lot of experience with buses too and I would recommend not taking the chance.

And yes, I do realize that this was not a serious statement. I least I hope it wasn't.

[ktulu]

I've had a lot of experience with buses too and I would recommend not taking the chance.

And yes, I do realize that this was not a serious statement. I least I hope it wasn't.

BW used to drive buses at WDW, before he went to other things. I also don't think he is suicidal. Crazy at times, but not suicidal.

[Cranbiz]

BW used to drive buses at WDW, before he went to other things. I also don't think he is suicidal. Crazy at times, but not suicidal.

He also used to drive 53 footers in Portland. I also confirm crazy, not suicidal.