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The Smiler - General Discussion

So, finally got my butt on to this thing, and somehow I managed to wrangle front row in the dark for my virgin voyage. Really enjoyed it, a really complete ride experience. It seemed to run really fast for me, and was super smooth too. Not quite a Nemesis in intensity, but I like how relentless it was. Different rides but atm I hold them as top two. I need to ride the Smiler a few more times to decide I guess. (spoiler-Nemmy will still probably be the best)

However, has anyone noticed how the queue line absolutely floods like a motherlover when there's bad rain? Felt like I was swimming at one point?!? (Ok, it reached my ankles in a few places...) Seemed pretty bad!!
 
kamfira said:
However, has anyone noticed how the queue line absolutely floods when there's bad rain? Felt like I was swimming at one point?!?

That line reminded me of this picture.
DSCF2191.jpg


James I do wonder if Mr Twirly did a done a runner as he was worried about a bolt to the face. ;)
 
kamfira said:
However, has anyone noticed how the queue line absolutely floods like a motherlover when there's bad rain? Felt like I was swimming at one point?!? (Ok, it reached my ankles in a few places...) Seemed pretty bad!!

It's gotten noticeably better in the earlier parts of the queueline since they added the mats on the floor. Before then it was horrific well before you got past the queueline shop.
 
You all seem a bit over critical. Lost my smiler virginity on wed and loved it. To me they have done a good job for what they have dealt with. The drainage will be sorted. It as in a hole.
 
I think the point is more that drainage should have been built in from the start considering it is built in a hole...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.
 
Bearings from the vertical lift have fallen off:

1390487_10201456535992806_1625256922_n.jpg

Picture credit to Jack Fletcher

This is fantastic...
 
This is getting beyond a joke now. I love the ride, but there's no hiding just how shoddy a job it is.
 
I hope SW8 is not rushed like this was. Fantastic ride, but the maintenance is beyond a joke now...
 
TheMan said:
Is it closed again then?

Indeed it is. And it is likely to be closed until the rest of the reason if Health and Safety has anything to say about it. I'd be glad if it does close for the rest of the season so any other, even worse, problems cannot occur.
 
It's almost like a huge game of buckaroo

If they do get it limping along again i bet they will breath a sigh of relief when the last riders get off on November the 10th.

dear o dear
 
Andrew said:
TheMan said:
Is it closed again then?

Indeed it is. And it is likely to be closed until the rest of the reason if Health and Safety has anything to say about it. I'd be glad if it does close for the rest of the season so any other, even worse, problems cannot occur.

Oh bugger!

These are middle of the road problems. They are not MAJOR problems, but many niggling but significant issues. Let's not over-hype.

If they are indeed bearings for the lift hill though, does that mean the lift hill is actually officially knackered until it is replaced, because that cannot be a small job? Calling Towers Street resident engineers lol! I mean used to work on my own cars, and changing a bearing set on wheels was hard enough sometimes. They will have the gear obviously, but will need to order, replace, test etc.

Regardless of anything else though, this is getting a bit stupid now quite frankly.

Dave said:
It's almost like a huge game of buckaroo

If they do get it limping along again i bet they will breath a sigh of relief when the last riders get off on November the 10th.

dear o dear

I was thinking something similar lol! If indeed they get it open again before season close. Will they even bother?
 
TheMan said:
Andrew said:
TheMan said:
Is it closed again then?

Indeed it is. And it is likely to be closed until the rest of the reason if Health and Safety has anything to say about it. I'd be glad if it does close for the rest of the season so any other, even worse, problems cannot occur.

Oh bugger!

These are middle of the road problems. They are not MAJOR problems, but many niggling but significant issues. Let's not over-hype.

I wasn't trying to over-hype it but considering the amount of problems the ride has had (as well as the time it could take to fix this and inspect the ride) then it could possibly be closed for a while.
 
They wont want it closed if they can help it.

I'm no engineer but they don't look like bearings, bearings don't open up like those things have.
 
Andrew said:
I wasn't trying to over-hype it but considering the amount of problems the ride has had (as well as the time it could take to fix this and inspect the ride) then it could possibly be closed for a while.

Sorry Andrew that wasn't really aimed at you, more the general discussion which has a tendency to descend into panic lol! More a general thought of not over hyping what it may be, but regardless it is obviously something and after many other somethings, it isn't really very good!

Be interesting to see if it does indeed open today.
 
To be honest, as unlucky as it is that this is all happening, I think we all have to just be grateful that no serious harm has been done to anybody so far. It's a miracle that a proper injury hasn't occurred, and for Alton's sake, escaped to the mainstream press.
 
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