Disney Monorail Incidents

1974 February

 Two monorails collide head on. One driver, and two passengers were injured. 

 

 

 

 

1985 June 26

 

Fire engulfed the rear car of the six-car Mark IV Silver monorail train in transit from the Epcot station to the Transportation and Ticket Center.  This fire pre-dated onboard fire detection systems, emergency exits and evacuation planning.

Passengers in the car kicked out side windows and climbed around the side of the train to reach the roof, where they were subsequently rescued by the Reedy Creek Fire Department. Seven passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation or other minor injuries. The fire department later determined that the fire started when a flat tire was dragged across the concrete beam and ignited by the frictional heat.

1991, August 30

A monorail train collided with a diesel maintenance work tractor near the Contemporary Resort as the tractor drove closely in front of the train to film it for a commercial. Two employees were treated at a hospital for injuries.

1996, August 12

An electrical fire occurred on a Monorail pulling into the Magic Kingdom station. The driver and the five passengers on board exited safely. Two bus drivers who witnessed the fire and assisted were overcome by smoke and treated at a nearby hospital.

2009, July 4

During a failed track switchover from the Epcot line onto the Magic Kingdom express line, Monorail Pink backed into Monorail Purple at the Transportation & Ticket Center station, killing the 21-year-old pilot, Austin Wuennenberg,  of Monorail Purple. One employee and six guests who were also on the trains were treated at the scene and released. OSHA and park officials inspected the monorail line and the monorail reopened on July 6, 2009, after new sensors and operating procedures were put in place. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board showed no mechanical problems with the trains or track but did find that the track used in the switchover was not in its proper place for the track transition. The NTSB also noted that Purple’s pilot attempted to reverse his train when he saw that there was going to be a collision. Disney placed three monorail employees on paid administrative leave as a result of the incident. On October 31, 2011, the NTSB issued its findings on this incident, citing the probable cause as the shop panel operator’s failure to properly align the switch beam before the monorail train was directed to reverse through it.

2013, July 13

Due to a power failure possibly caused by a lightning strike, the monorail system was temporarily disabled. Most trains were restarted and returned to stations safely. Disney cast members were unable to restart the Gold Monorail on the EPCOT line. Reedy Creek emergency personnel successfully evacuated 120 people from that train. Fire officials confirmed the malfunction was weather-related.

2015, October 10

A mechanical failure stranded guests aboard a monorail traveling between the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Firefighters were able to rescue all the passengers about two hours after their arrival. No injuries were reported, although a number of the riders reported on social media they had been stranded for “hours”.

2015, November 18

Monorail Coral was being towed by a tug for an unknown reason, possibly under a test for a new automated system. The monorail separated from the tug, then crashed into it, causing damage to the body of the monorail and shattering the windshield. All monorail lines were shut down after the accident.

Here it is being towed after the incident.