2018: General Discussion

[Robert.W]

Oh dear...

Thrill-seekers in Staffordshire were reportedly stuck on the vertical drop segment of Oblivion for at least 30 minutes at around 2pm.

I think gravity may beg to differ.

 

[Alsty]

Love the word 'reportedly'... provides a get out of jail card when they need to backtrack.

It's surprising how many people don't understand how a rollercoaster works. In a world where nearly everyone has the Internet in their pocket, there's just no excuse for ignorance like that

 

[speedy]

Maybe at the brakes on the drop?

Regardless this BS and the general overload of politics is the reason why I don't follow any news outlets any more.

Radio 1 news and Jeremy Vine is all I need

 

[spinba11]

Judging by where the train on the lift was stopped I looks like the next block was occupied.

 

[speedy]

To tell you the truth I didn't read it, I was just reading this thread

 

[Alsty]

Maybe at the brakes on the drop?

Just to pick up on this point... the Oblivion shuttles are not held on the drop by a brake.

It's a chain like the one used on the lift, and there's a dog under the shuttle that engages with it. There's a clutch which ensures it releases. It's explained a bit here by John Wardley. I'm sure I've heard him say it's impossible for the shuttle to get stuck on that drop because the clutch will always release, but I can't lay my hands on that quote at the moment.

[Edit] See also, for more geekery: Behind the scenes of Sheikra

 

[DiogoJ42]

It never actually stops the shuttle. You just crawl forwards really slowly.

 

[speedy]

Thanks!

I knew it was a chain, didn't realise it wasn't a brake though. I guess I always thought it was because of RollerCoaster Tycoon.

 

[Matt N]

It never actually stops the shuttle. You just crawl forwards really slowly.

So do you crawl forwards too slowly to see and feel, then, because it definitely feels like stopping at the top when you're on Oblivion and SheiKra!

 

[DiogoJ42]

I can only comment on Oblivion, but it certainly feels like you are always moving to me. Personally, I think it adds to the impending doom.

 

[Rick]

At the risk of causing another debate about the intricacies of Oblivion. I have seen with my own eyes a shuttle stopped on the hold.

I don't know why. But it was stopped there. Empty. Prior to park opening. Circa 1999.

 

[Alsty]

I've also heard the opposite, where some people claim their shuttle went straight over the drop without pausing. I guess it's possible

 

[TheAverageNerd]

I've also heard the opposite, where some people claim their shuttle went straight over the drop without pausing. I guess it's possible

I’ve definitely had rides where the shuttle hasn’t stopped over the edge. I guess it’s at the operators control.


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[Plastic Person]

At the risk of causing another debate about the intricacies of Oblivion. I have seen with my own eyes a shuttle stopped on the hold.

I don't know why. But it was stopped there. Empty. Prior to park opening. Circa 1999.

I just hope they shifted it before either of the two shuttles ascending the lift behind it caught up!

 

[Rick]

I’ve definitely had rides where the shuttle hasn’t stopped over the edge. I guess it’s at the operators control.

That's been fairly common for some short periods. Plus there was a time where one shuttle seemed not to engage the chain properly and just dropped but you didn't know if you were on that shuttle until you reached the edge, which was pretty entertaining.

I just hope they shifted it before either of the two shuttles ascending the lift behind it caught up!

I just stifled a guffaw in a restaurant.

 

[DiogoJ42]

I've definately had a few rides where the shuttle doesn't "stop" (or more accurately, "slow to a crawl"). But I'll stake my Lego collection on this absolutely NOT being something the operator has control over!

 

[alee298]

I think when the clutch or other parts of the hold mechanism are wearing down, the shuttle will stop for shorter periods or just continue over the drop, but its definitely not under operator control!

 

[TheAverageNerd]

My mistake saying it’s under operator control! It is pretty interesting to see that it’s variable in terms of how long you are held there though.


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[Mikw]

I'd like to know what it's had so much downtime this year.

 

[Danscott22]

Yeah, Oblivion is usually the most reliable, but it and Nemesis being the two oldest of the major rides seemed to have had the most downtime, obviously excluding Wicker Man, so maybe it's just their age! On a different note, Oblivion still remains in my top 3 at Towers, just barely though, I've started to enjoy Galactica more every time I go on it, could soon controversially be in my towers top 3!