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Probably not that either, as surely it would becoming from Switzerland? Also surely they would have done the tunnel works over the closed season as they planned to have this open, just doesn't make sense either.
The_bup
TS Member
It doesn’t need to be actively collapsing for it to be a concern.
I genuinely have better things to do than research concrete, but every product has a shelf life. Assuming it is a concrete issue, my intuition tells me there can be signs the concrete is coming to the end of its life before a point of crisis.
For all we know, it could just be some inspection work to make sure they don’t have a disastrous situation like the expired RAAC in some schools. They’re planing ahead so they have ample time to strategise. It’ll be redone or demolished before the threat of collapse even materialises.
I know Merlin aren’t known for their maintenance, but this isn’t like 80’s USSR bad. Just because we see the chipping paint on the front-of-house doesn’t mean we can extrapolate that into the inner workings of the parks. A lot of this work we don’t see are legal and industry standards. Merlin has been burned and will still be haunted from that infamous time they sunk below those standards - they will be avoiding that like the plague.
“Alton Towers Ride Risks Collapse!”
Of course, they’d still sell you discounted tickets.
I genuinely have better things to do than research concrete, but every product has a shelf life. Assuming it is a concrete issue, my intuition tells me there can be signs the concrete is coming to the end of its life before a point of crisis.
For all we know, it could just be some inspection work to make sure they don’t have a disastrous situation like the expired RAAC in some schools. They’re planing ahead so they have ample time to strategise. It’ll be redone or demolished before the threat of collapse even materialises.
I know Merlin aren’t known for their maintenance, but this isn’t like 80’s USSR bad. Just because we see the chipping paint on the front-of-house doesn’t mean we can extrapolate that into the inner workings of the parks. A lot of this work we don’t see are legal and industry standards. Merlin has been burned and will still be haunted from that infamous time they sunk below those standards - they will be avoiding that like the plague.
No, because The Mirror.
“Alton Towers Ride Risks Collapse!”
Of course, they’d still sell you discounted tickets.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
You might be right about Smiler, but Sik has lap bars, even though its layout is very similar to Colossus?
This is the first that I've heard of an "open pit"; what is this a reference to?
tayspru
TS Member
The original Port Discovery concepts featured multiple bridges across and open chasm, rather than the tunnel we ended up with
Secret Weapon
TS Member
Merlin should hire Renny Ruprinski to film some new Oblivion queue line videos, complete with hard hat and hi-viz jacket, assuring people that the tunnel is safe (with construction noise in the background)
I actually e-mailed Renny last year and suggested that he return in person for the 30-year anniversary in 2028 (he replied and said he was open to the idea), and also that he could film some new HD videos while he was there
(I also said it was unfortunate that he never filmed any videos for the Italian Oblivion ride, or for SW7, which I thought would have been better used as a 'sister' to Oblivion instead of its own ride)
He was also unaware that the Lord of Light portion of the Oblivion queue videos had been removed in 2015 (he mentioned it during a YouTube interview last year)
Poisson
TS Member
SEW Eurodrive are a German company who do a lot of industrial motors including coaster parts.
Fair enough, but I still don't believe that they would be doing unimportant tunnel works, because the lift hill motor has gone, wouldn't you have done that before you'd opened the ride. I reckon it is an issue in the tunnel, but as you've pointed out, that doesn't necessarily indicate its a massive issue. I certainly don't thin its caving in, that would for sure result in the whole area being closed.
George W
TS Member
If they can't reverse it back then they can't just cycle it to the brakerun if the track ahead is partially collapsed or whatever.The fact a shuttle has been sat at the bottom of the lift hill since it closed suggests the issue is with the lift hill. So the motor idea is more likely.
We get the Tunnel rumour at least once every two years. Never seems to ever be true
Really hope the thoosie vapours are just rumours tho and to have blivvy back up and running soon, oblivion is the only ride in the park where you feel kinda high up and it also provides absolutely stunning views up top with a top 5 drop on a coaster so I hope if it does need a costly fix that they do it as I don't think they'd get planning permission for something like that again.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I might be wrong, but I am guessing that B&M rely on suppliers outside of Switzerland when required; for instance, I believe that their track is made in Ohio (I have no idea why they haven't found a European steel fabricator for European rides, though).
I haven't heard this before; isn't Toxicator approximately the same height above tree level as Oblivion? (albeit at the opposite end of the park)
Dave
TS Founding Member
Building tunnels is expensive but once you do they are very stable structures (hence why all those Victorian ones that have been abandoned haven’t collapsed).
But if you want the clincher, you don’t actually discover structural issues whilst a coaster is operating. That’s why they have daily inspections. What scenario do people imagine occurred were a train is dispatched and then someone goes “ohh wait the tunnel is collapsing let’s stop the ride!”
Even guests couldn’t feedback an imminent failure as you are not in the tunnel long enough to notice anything.
I wouldn’t mind so much but rumours like this can cause issues for parks.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
That's true, although Oblivion's tunnel is slightly different from most tunnels as it has a huge rollercoaster thundering through it closely every few minutes.
I am guessing that the designers anticipated this when it was built, though (similar to train tunnels).
Interestingly, I heard that the soft Staffordshire ground caused problems for The Smiler (especially as the ride is so compact) - but I don't remember hearing of any problems with Oblivion (possibly as it was much deeper and hit bedrock rather than just soil).
Dave
TS Founding Member
Yeah because those steam trains in the Victorian era were gentle little mouses…
Poisson
TS Member
Oblivion's tunnel is really simple compared to some. For example:
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1utdiC-wiOo
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1utdiC-wiOo
Dave
TS Founding Member
What’s that got to do with anything?
All tunnels deal structurally in a similar way (with some differences based on ground moisture etc). The complexity of tunnel building is how you can contruct it, the simplest method is “cut and cover” (the method Oblivion used), the most complex being boring.
Can we please put to bed the tunnel discussion. I’m certain over the years the tunnel has required remedial works, but lets stop with the idea it’s caused structural risks of such a magnitude that track has been distorted.