I thought I'd break out the discussion on Casey Jr's design from this post into its own thread. Its design is constantly evolving with little tweaks here and there to increase its safety. I'm hoping we could continue that discussion here.


At some point (date?) it was decided that windows should be cut into the cage cars, which I presume would be used in case of emergency. Imagine this frightening scenario: If for some reason the upstop wheels failed and the train did derail, say at the top of the main hill, the entire train could be sent tumbling down the quilt and into the waters of Storybook Land. I know the last place I'd want to be is stuck inside the cage car as it sank. I don't know exactly how deep the canal is, but I'm assuming its deep enough to fully submerge the entire cage.

I am sure at one point someone did take notice and those windows are there for that very reason. Or if the car were to tip on the door side there is no evacuation route without that window.

I don't know, Sam, but I actually like the Disneyland Paris version as a coaster. It is not the abomination you may think it is. It works for that particular Park and is in line with what was originally intended for Casey Jr.

Walt really cared about people's safety. Michael Broggie made it clear how Walt felt about the child who was burned by steam from the tipped over Lilly Belle. So it doesn't surprise me one bit that Casey Jr. had upstops. It also doesn't surprise me how he took an interest in monorails, which also feature a strong anti-derailing design. I think high speed passenger rail should also feature some sort of positive anti derailing technology.

Also pertinent to rail safety, L.A. has suffered two bloody head-on collisions between Metrolink commuter trains and freight trains, because the people did not insist on full grade separation. And now, our recent past California Governor totally sold out the safety of the San Diego to San Francisco high speed line by allowing sharing of freight trackage. We need to fix this, and get total grade separation for this high speed line, or people will die in collisions with freight trains. These deaths will be entirely due to the lack of human values by our ex-Governor and ourselves.

Probably a good idea to leave the political diatribes on the station platform, eh Roy?

Sam, I certainly was not suggesting replacing the Casey Jr track with newer-style round section tubular steel coaster track. I was thinking of something closer to what is used on some wooden coasters: a rectangular "C" section rail, or even a strap-type rail, mounted on thinner wooden rails, the combination allowing for upstops. I assume the trains would keep their original flanged wheels, and the upstop wheels would be fairly well hidden.

It would have been better off if the track actually hugged the terrain and the bogies inverted, a la Big Thunder.



Even then, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Sam,

I definately agree that a Big Thunder style scenery would have made the attraction mo bedda. Big Thunder actually looks like the mountain came first and the the track was laid on it. But that is not what was placed in Paris.

I love Haunted Mansion. Always have and always will. Disney Paris went cheap with Phantom Manor and it is a huge let down. Space Mountain Paris is incredible. So it is give and take. I love Disneyland BTMRR and Paris' as well. WDW BTMRR is a toss up for let down and really good. During the day it felt wrong, at night it was fun. Can't explain it. I love Disneyland's Small World and hate WDW version.

To each their own. I suggest you visit Disneyland Paris at some point in your life and then decide once you see it in person. Disney Imagineers, as you know, take into account the kinetics of an area and how the attraction fits into the story they are telling among other factors. It works for where it is. It would not work at Disneyland or WDW.

On a side-note (carrying over from the last topic) the little wheels that run along the side of the rails on each car actually steer each main wheel, which allows the train to take much tighter curves than if the wheels shared an axle. And there aren't any upstop "wheels", only C-channel "skids".

The separate stub axle bearing on each side should give much lower "main wheel" rolling friction on turns, too.

Did the powered locomotive drivers use a differential gear?

I would imagine they do.