rschendel

I alway notice the "jog" in the underground tram that runs between the main terminal the the parking/transit center at MSP. The ride is smooth, but I always need to hang on at the point in the trip where a jog in the line occurs. Does anyone know why the jog occurs? Is there some sort of utility or building piling in the way?

themicah

Aw. I thought this thread was going to have a creative idea for where to exercise during long layovers.

DanTravels

My guess was that it was a thread about the tram being broken, and people jogging down the tunnel to get to their flights.

SchmutzigMSP

I'm not sure why it "jogs", but many other trams also "jog". The main tram inside DTW does as well as the outdoor tram at MSP.

Is it really a big deal?

davetravels

Ditto on here at PIT! . . . I think the'ye even built here!!

Pick2LiteMSP

Always thought that jog was a bit insane for such a short run.

Other pax were commenting about it during one ride. Pax remarked that, due to the inherent slack in the cable drive, the jog is intentional to keep the tension for the cable drive.

Initially thought this was bunk, but have noticed that the C/B tram run is not straight either -- nor is the DTW tramway. Hmmm, there may be something to this...........

aSiAnRiCk

And I thought we have already discussed everything on FT about NW and the airline industries

BobH

At DTW, they have what is essentially a single track system with a place in the middle where the two cars can pass ---

I haven't ridden the system at MSP often enough to notice, but wonder if there's a place for the cars to pass there.

Bob H

davetravels

My opinion, at least in the case of PIT is:
The system only has 2 stops - Landside and Airside. 2 trams - 2 separate tracks. Back and forth. That's it. At both ends, both trains jog over - OUTWARD - just before stopping. Now, there's also an emergency evacuation tunnel that runs down the middle between the two tracks. So, I think the trams jog OUTWARD to allow a larger waiting area at the two ends where the cars board. If they didn't jog OUTWARD, then either the waiting areas at both ends would have to be smaller or the tunnel in the middle would have to be wider - for the entire 1.1 (I think) miles, which would have cost more than using a narrower tunnel and flaring out at the ends to allow for a wider boarding area. Does that make any sense?

rcherskov

You have reached the end of the internet. Please turn around and go the other way.

Ginger K

That's what I thought. I was pretty excited about the possibility, no need to spent entire layovers munching cheese and crackers in the World Club

Pick2LiteMSP

Not quite that long -- only seems like it after a long week and a long flight!

1,100 feet!

http://www.mspairport.com/msp/expans.../hub_tram.aspx

davetravels

I was referring to the tram in Pittsburgh and why I think IT flares out at the end and maybe it's the same reason at MSP

javajunkie

The C/B/A tram (outdoors) at MSP is also a single track cable pull system (similar to DTW) with the "jog" near the middle to allow for the cars to pass each other in opposite directions.

I have not been on the underground/parking tram at MSP.

divrdrew

The basement tram at IAH also has a number of different jogs in it.