Guests Speak: What Monorails Mean to Me

[Switchbeam 9]

It was getting late and groups of tired people were shuffling from the Magic Kingdom side of the TTC to the Epcot side. One group approaches and is stopped by a pilot. The CM announces that he is the official squeeze breeze tester at WDW and needs to test theirs out. The kid holding the bottle is confused as this CM takes the bottle and proceeds to spray himself in the face. He announces it is no good and walks away, dumping the water. Now, at this point the family is like WTH, he's dumping the water out! I interject that this man is in fact an expert and they just need to see what happens. A few more families have started to queue up behind us (after all, it is WDW, if it looks like a line, just get in it). The CM re-fills the bottle at a water fountain, and comes back announcing it is ready for re-testing. Of course he cannot test it on himself, so I get a blast of cool water to the face (yeah, I needed to clean my glasses, thanks :p: ) and then he moves onto the rest of the crowd making sure everyone gets sprayed.

Great story. Little known secret is that the water fountain on Concourse (TTC Epcot beam) is the coldest on property. Well, it was anyways. They replaced it with a monstrosity complete with ozone-safe freon. Used to come out cold as well-chilled ice water.

"It's just a bunch of trains, lined up in a row."

NO IT'S NOT!

That is how one monorail pilot I spoke with about my love of the trains responded a few years back, much to my surprise.

We were riding in his cab and I had just said to him, "What I wouldn't give to have an hour in the monorail shop at night, when they've all been tucked in, just to stand there and look at them." Then, he responded with the above.

The Monorail Shop is one of the most amazing places on the entire property! My first time to actually go upstairs where the trains are was during my first day of drive training.

I had a hard time paying attention to my drive trainer! They don't take us in there during platform training. Seeing 10 Monorails all lined up is a beautiful sight! Paint booth and scissor-out beams and the huge control console covered with switches, buttons, lights, knobs, and display screens all over it and maintenance CMs working on trains with the skirt panels pulled open to see the internal machinery!... WOW! That's where everything happens!

Every time I pulled a train into Shop I was hoping we'd be waiting on another train or 2 to get into shop before Monorail 3 picking us up because I wanted to see "Shop" (call sign for the one controlling the system) manipulate the power zones, move switches, and everything else. Most times when I brought in a train I would talk to a guy who is nicknamed "Mr. Shop" who has a hilarious personality and a voice you'll never forget. He has been there for the opening of them system and knows more about Monorails than anyone else.

It's amazing being somewhere so completely unique in the history of the world. Nowhere else on Earth, today or throughout history of mankind, do 10 Monorails sit along side each other and go into daily service moving billions of riders. Knowing you're apart of that is amazing. Always something rewarding when bringing a Monorail into Shop and hitting that tennis ball.

I always tried to work the latest shifts available so I would be more likely to take a Monorail to the Shop.

[Monorail_Red]

The Monorail Shop is one of the most amazing places on the entire property!

x2

When I took the Steam Train Tour a few years ago...getting to walk around the yard was the best part IMO. Didn't actualy get to go inside the shop but the closer the better! :D:

I wish they would do a behind-the-scenes tour for the Monorails, but I see the potential SG liability issues behind that

[Switchbeam 9]

I wish they would do a behind-the-scenes tour for the Monorails, but I see the potential SG liability issues behind that

Unfortunately that's probably the case. The bus bars are at about torso height and are sometimes live. Other dangers as with any machine and mechanical shop.

[joanna71985]

Bru, I love your stories. :)


Probably my best monorail experience was my first ride on my first CP. It was amazing seeing the MK from the monorail. Also, my first time getting to ride in the front. Even though I was an adult, getting to ride up there (and getting a license card) made me feel so special.

[turkeyham]

How would you get to see the monorail barn? Do they have a tour for guests to see it?

[ktulu]

x2

When I took the Steam Train Tour a few years ago...getting to walk around the yard was the best part IMO. Didn't actualy get to go inside the shop but the closer the better! :D:

I wish they would do a behind-the-scenes tour for the Monorails, but I see the potential SG liability issues behind that

I was happy to see one of the diesel tugs with my own eyes on the first tour, and seeing all of the beams and switches was cool as well. On my most recent tour we had to go back to the round house (the Broggie failed a MAPO) and while we were waiting for a plaid to show up with a van to take us back to Main Street, a monorail was pulling back in. Just for a moment we all looked up, and then took 5 steps back.

I still have plans to put a Grover 1056 horn in my Jeep. Same horn on the Monorails, of course that all hinges on Jill finding a job (whole other story...)

[Shorty82]

How would you get to see the monorail barn? Do they have a tour for guests to see it?

The shop is a restricted area. Monorail cast only. The closest you can get is on the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour which takes you to the train barn and yard which is just below the monorail shop. You can't see a lot from there of the monorail shop.

[Monorail_Red]

How would you get to see the monorail barn? Do they have a tour for guests to see it?

By car you would pass the Contemporary or GF (Depending on which direction you're coming from) and it's just a loop around the back of the MK.

I got up close when I was on the steam train tour. (I had no idea that we would be going to be just outside the shop)

I was happy to see one of the diesel tugs with my own eyes on the first tour, and seeing all of the beams and switches was cool as well. On my most recent tour we had to go back to the round house (the Broggie failed a MAPO) and while we were waiting for a plaid to show up with a van to take us back to Main Street, a monorail was pulling back in. Just for a moment we all looked up, and then took 5 steps back.

I still have plans to put a Grover 1056 horn in my Jeep. Same horn on the Monorails, of course that all hinges on Jill finding a job (whole other story...)

Speaking of the tractors, the 1st time I ever saw one in person was in July of 2004...I was in a tower room at the Contemporary walking back to my room coming back from Food & Fun center...then I thought that I heard a diesel engine. I thought I was hearing things. Then not 30seconds later, a tractor pulls Monorail Red right through the Contemporary. I couldn't believe that I would actually see one in person.

Skip forward a few trips...I'm on the monorail going to the TTC from the GF...and I see a work tractor out on the line. I got off at the Contemporary and put an elevator in express mode down to the lobby (hold >|< for 5seconds :D: ) and I power walked out to the walkway to the MK and I saw Green just about to get towed just in time...it went right over me, I had my camera and took some pics. It looked like the maintainence guys got a kick out of me getting a kick out of them! :)

[Shorty82]

By car you would pass the Contemporary or GF (Depending on which direction you're coming from) and it's just a loop around the back of the MK.

Problem is that technically that whole area is restricted to cast members only. There are signs just past the GF and Contemporary resorts that say "Service and Authorized Vehicles Only". They do not want guests on those roads.

Also, you won't see a whole lot driving by and if you try to stop in that area for a closer look Security will run you off (and will do so a lot quicker now than in the past I'm sure).

[Monorail_Red]

Problem is that technically that whole area is restricted to cast members only. There are signs just past the GF and Contemporary resorts that say "Service and Authorized Vehicles Only". They do not want guests on those roads.

Also, you won't see a whole lot driving by and if you try to stop in that area for a closer look Security will run you off (and will do so a lot quicker now than in the past I'm sure).

Actually the way I found this out is one trip I drove down and missed a turn to the GF...don't remember the signs but I know that I just followed that road passing the shop and coming out by the Contemporary.

I swear, I'm innocent