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2017/18: SW8 Speculation

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BigAl said:
Haha it really isn't. :p The system is ancient. They've had to train various team leaders on how to evacuate the pods if they get stuck over the gardens and have cleared space and made footers throughout the valley to allow them to park a cherry picker in the event that the system does go.
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So basically they have updated all the cheap shiny bits, but the big expensive parts that make it move are still aincent.
 
BigAl said:
Haha it really isn't. :p The system is ancient. They've had to train various team leaders on how to evacuate the pods if they get stuck over the gardens and have cleared space and made footers throughout the valley to allow them to park a cherry picker in the event that the system does go.
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That sounds like perfectly reasonable forward planning to me. I feel much safer going on a ride suspended hundreds of feet in mid air knowing that a sound evacuation procedure is in place.

Every ride on park will have an evac procedure. Skyride is just more drastic because of its location - it's a bloody unlikely situation though.
 
Danny said:
Its location? I think it's more to do with that pay-to-call phone number which adds the drastic element.
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Which although may seem ridiculous, I'm fairly sure it has a pay number to discourage people ringing it 'for the lols' while on the ride.
 
No, it genuinely has been implemented because it's not in the greatest condition. :p

The Monorail's safer because it's not covering any massive drops but that too is beyond tired now.
 
It's one word against another but from what I know I'm pretty sure that the ride has always had a detailed evac plan, like any other cable car in the world would have.
 
Danny said:
Its location? I think it's more to do with that pay-to-call phone number which adds the drastic element.
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Don't you mean premium rate phone number. if i got stuck on it, i would tweet the AT account asking about the number and add @bbcstoke to the tweet.
Should get a quick reply with media tagged.
 
This is starting to turn into gripes against the sky ride and monorail's safety procedures rather than SW8 discussion. Back on topic please :)
 
So blade is off the map, tree works near by. Do we think this is prework to SW8 or just coincident??
 
I dunno. Tree clearance is normal over the winter, but it does seem that more trees have been removed than would be normally expected. They might have something to do with each other, but I don't think we'll know either way until marketing for SW8 kicks in and/or a planning application is made visible to the public.
 
If they are going to place a station where blade is then they will have to loose the HB stall
 
I wouldn't mind seeing the back of some of those HB stalls. That part of Forbidden Valley has always been a bit useless. Could be a good space for a coaster to go through.

I wouldn't look into the mass tree removals too much, there have always been years where a large set of trees are removed, I would assume it's routine work.
 
I would! They're a revenue stream for Merlin and we all know just how much merlin loves them some revenue streams!

Any loss from those stalls will probably be included in any cost-benefit analysis and could be the deciding factor in the planning decisions!

:p
 
Could the blade removal be for a much needed modern flat ride, I hope so. Do you not think that 3 coasters in FB would be overkill. With blade gone that leaves only 2 thrill flats which is abismol for a major theme park. I would like to see a modern pendulum ride put in its place. I would love to see a cross valley coaster for SW8 but I see Alton going for a cheaper option as Mer£in tend to save higher end coasters for Europe.
 
BigAl said:
Haha it really isn't. :p The system is ancient. They've had to train various team leaders on how to evacuate the pods if they get stuck over the gardens and have cleared space and made footers throughout the valley to allow them to park a cherry picker in the event that the system does go.
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Every cable car in the world has an evacuation from height plan. Skyride is not on it's last legs, they wouldn't have spent the money on the pod refurbishment if the system didn't have long. Its structurally sound and the parts very much available still so i wont worry too much about losing it anytime soon. I'm sure at times the main drive is more likely to fail when it is at the end of a maintenance period but they have the back up generators and as far as i am aware they have never had to use the evac plan.

Anyway this is off topic.
 
shawnoc said:
Could the blade removal be for a much needed modern flat ride, I hope so. Do you not think that 3 coasters in FB would be overkill. With blade gone that leaves only 2 thrill flats which is abismol for a major theme park. I would like to see a modern pendulum ride put in its place. I would love to see a cross valley coaster for SW8 but I see Alton going for a cheaper option as Mer£in tend to save higher end coasters for Europe.
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Blade is hardly a thrill flat, it's a family ride.

Europe is getting a mini dive machine, with a borrowed theme and a layout much like the others. Alton got The Smiler two years ago. Alton definitely get the top coasters.
 
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