Skyride cable being replaced.

Acutally if a broken wire were detected it might trip a switch and shut down. If that happened you would need to clip off the broken wire - do an inspection of the area - reset and re start and off load. Then do an up close visual of the cable. Then re open.

Code (B77 Ariel Tramways) requires an evacuation procedure to include an axillary power unit or ground evac like a crane. Usually the cable type lifts have a gasoline engine/drive unit that is engaged to power the cable around to off load if need (power outage - electric drive motor fails - electrical control problem - etc.) Disney World has a unique emergency unit under the station and is hydraulically driven up thru the floor and into the drive unit on their tramway for emergencies only.

Another evac procedure I read about, was used in Switzerland years ago involved a maintenance worker climbing the tower and attach a "T" bar to the cable that had little wheels on it. He would then "ride" this unit downhill to the stalled car and once aboard attach a repelling system to lower the skiers to the ground. Good for him.

Something to remember about almost any ride, bholcomb...

When something breaks down, it is almost always safer to bring the riders back to the normal unloading point than it is to try and evacuate them from the ride. There are several rides where a failure will cause the ride to automatically shut down. In most cases, the automatic shutdown is the control system saying, "Something went wrong and I don't know how to deal with it safely." It doesn't mean that the ride cannot be operated safely, it means that the control system cannot operate the ride safely. Instead, you drop the ride into a manual operating mode so that you can get everybody off, then shut it down.

I imagine that on the Sky Ride, if the system detects a frayed rope, the control system would shut the ride down and tell the crew approximately where the break was detected. Then they ought to be able to jog the ride manually to get the cabins off. Note that I am just guessing here. But it's not unlike what I saw on Gemini one day when a brake hose or valve in the station failed. They kept running the ride until everybody was off, then shut it down.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Like I said, it was what I was told last year. I agree that it is almost always safer, easier and faster to evacuate people by normal means.

I guess it's a good thing that, as far as I(we?) know, they've never had a rope fray problem.

With Sky Ride, the system isn't very high tech. As I said above, there's 2 'wires' I guess you'd call it hanging around the cable. If a fray were to happen, it'd cause those two 'wires' (really they're metal pieces, but we'll call them wires for the sake of explanation) to short out, and for the thing to auto e-stop.

Right. My point is that even if it is an automagic E-stop, that doesn't automatically mean you can't get the system running again manually to get everybody off. Which you could do in the case of a rope fray, but you probably could not do if the rope jumps a sheave somewhere. There are detection devices in place to identify either of those problems.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

There are derail switches on the towers that will shut the ride down should the cable jump the sheaves. On the tramway I am familiar with the switch will not allow the ride to restart until the switch is replaced and problem corrected.

That's correct for the most part.

Usually a failed switch is not the problem. It's what tripped the switch is the root cause. Detachable grip not opened right - or closed right - counterweight to high or to low - tension wheel in wrong position - trip mechanism not functioning right - coupling area where car clamps on cable not adjusted right and many more switches that detect mechanical issues that need to be monitored. The limit switch is very reliable and will last many years - the proximity switch on the other hand is very touchy and does not like magnets - rain/water - other elements and will fail much sooner.

Sorry about that - to many clicks - not a bad switch - dumb operator.

For it taking several monthes to replace, it does not look like they have done anything to the ride yet.

It doesn't take several months to actually replace.

"Ryan, the actual replacing of the cable will happen in early 2006 when the replacement cable arrives. It's not necessarily a 12-week job, it just takes that long for the cable to get here."

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun_online/blog/index.cfm?entry=a0cf510f-26b7-4302-8bd1-ea4574e1d25b

The nice answer is that T&T made a mistake of wording.

Thanks to the Main Midway Cam, I guess that the replacement of Sky Ride cable is beginning. A crane is actually located in the Midway, in front of the Burger Patio/Mr. Potato.

Actually you can use the Cleveland Cam it still works but only if you use the video mode.

I can't get it to work on video mode anymore.

Vince982 said:
I can't get it to work on video mode anymore.

it looks like the picture view is back online.

Excellent timing. Coincidence? I think not! I'm glad this view is back, it's gonna be a lot easier to see the activity from this cam as opposed to the main midway cam.

I never knew that the Skyway attractions at all Disney parks were removed. It was 10 years ago since my last visit to WDW and rode the Skyway, and had no clue that it closed for good in 1999.

It's nice that CP still has the Sky Ride after all these years.

If you look at the web cams right now their taking the cable off.

kylepark said:
I never knew that the Skyway attractions at all Disney parks were removed. It was 10 years ago since my last visit to WDW and rode the Skyway, and had no clue that it closed for good in 1999.

It's nice that CP still has the Sky Ride after all these years.

A worker died. he was on a loading platform and some careless worker started the ride. I'm fuzzy on the details as it's been a while... But someone correct me if I'm wrong on the following.

When the ride started he hung on to a car as long as he could before he fell 25 feet.

I guess Diney felt strongly enough to shut it down. It was a very nice ride... very long and a great way to escape the noise of the park below.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/skyway.htm

I'm suprised there was no lockout-tagout system in place for when workers are in low-visibility areas.

A Disneyland Skyride worker did once get stuck to a car (caught in the door or something) but managed to jump out into a tree and go back to work. Source: Mouse Tales