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Incident on The Smiler 02/06/2015

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cotda said:
2) Human error involving reset of block systems. No idea how this process is undertaken, I hope this isn't possible from the op booth alone, as there isn't enough CCTV coverage to make this feasible.
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Dare I say it, but i'm thinking human error too. The fact the one train had stopped on the lift hill indicated that the safety system had cut in and prevented it carrying on. Given the ride was having tech problems all day, engineers probably were there and not aware that an empty train had been sent out and probably thought the "red light" was another glitch and then decided to override the system.
 
Not sure what has been posted, but I'm hearing that one person has had a leg amputated and another has life changing facial injuries. I cannot confirm these claims, just what I heard.

Also BBC radio Stoke are claiming that the ride will remain closed "indefinitely".
 
GaryH said:
Dare I say it, but i'm thinking human error too. The fact the one train had stopped on the lift hill indicated that the safety system had cut in and prevented it carrying on. Given the ride was having tech problems all day, engineers probably were there and not aware that an empty train had been sent out and probably thought the "red light" was another glitch and then decided to override the system.
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That seems to be the case, I would hope though that it isn't and if it is, feel very bad for the members of staff involved. They really need a 2 (or more) factor confirmation for manually resetting the block system if they don't already. Just another button on the brake section, or by the entrance to confirm that everything is clear. Where all need to be pressed to confirm the reset.
 
Has it happened before that a car gets stuck part way round? What is the procedure for getting it off the track? (I think someone earlier in the thread said it's lifted off?)
 
Sorry, but even if it was a human pushing a button to release that train at the top of the lift hill, that still isn't human error to me. If this is indeed the case, the computerised system itself still failed in that it allowed that unsafe process to override its instincts...
 
Harvey. said:
Sorry, but even if it was a human pushing a button to release that train at the top of the lift hill, that still isn't human error to me. If this is indeed the case, the computerised system itself still failed in that it allowed that unsafe process to override its instincts...
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I agree that's why I proposed (if not in place already) a 2 or more factor confirmation system, so buttons dotted around e.g ride entrance so staff get at least 2 visual confirmations before a manual block reset
 
I know it's too early to say conclusively, but personally, I'm attributing this to human error and an over-ride of the control system. If the second train was held on the lift hill for 10 minutes, then they appear to have not noticed the stalled train.

Reason being, people were still joining the queue. As soon as that first train stalled, the ride is closed for the rest of the day whilst they bring in a crane to recover it. It doesn't take 10 minutes to close the ride. Just one of the main announcements on the operators controls and a phone call to engineering/technical to report it. But it appears guests were still kept waiting in the queue and others kept on joining.
 
That's the entire point of manual override system, to override the safety features to enable the ride to do what is needed.
 
Surely you'd expect that something as potentially catastrophic as two trains in the same block is something that cannot be overridden without a complete reset and a visit from an engineer?
 
TomLad said:
Surely you'd expect that something as potentially catastrophic as two trains in the same block is something that cannot be overridden without a complete reset and a visit from an engineer?
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Exactly, and I trust this is something that the HSE investigation will look at.
 
Manual override can reset the block sections, basically telling the computer that there isn't a train in the block where it actually is. With no sensors in the area, the system then has nothing to tell it otherwise. Block resetting may not be intentional, and may be something that is being investigated as to why they were reset.

Often this needs to be done at least on other rides to allow cars to be garaged, and prevent a 'setup' event such as on oblivion when all the shuttles are on the breaks and haven't advanced forwards into the station when they should
 
TomLad said:
Surely you'd expect that something as potentially catastrophic as two trains in the same block is something that cannot be overridden without a complete reset and a visit from an engineer?
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I would hazard a guess that tech services were already present as empty cars were being run. That's my guess anyway
 
Jonathan said:
Exactly, and I trust this is something that the HSE investigation will look at.
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And just like I've said before, whatever the findings are from the investigation, hopefully all parks will change what is necessary to make sure something like this can never happen again. How long it will be SNBO is another question, but knowing the good ol' English H&S standards we probably won't see an opening until either a lot later in the season or even in 2016.
PeteA said:
I would hazard a guess that tech services were already present as empty cars were being run. That's my guess anyway
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If so, how did they not notice a train hadn't made it to the second lift?
 
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