[The Smiler] Construction Updates / Ride Speculation Part 2 *SPOILER FREE*

[James]

Yep, reports on Facebook that X-Sector has been evacuated and closed. Looks like a crane will be coming into the area at any moment!

 

[TheMan]

I was going to post this morning, that there is no point closing this topic down.

There are those of us who are still following things like the above, and it is inevitable on a big new machine like this, who do not want to read the spoiler topics yet!

I can't believe you guys think this will the end of Smiler drama hahahaha!

The last THREE highly technical installations have had major problems.

I swear you lot forget this is Alton Towers sometimes.

Perhaps change the name or move out the new posts into a new thread and keep this one, but I personally wont be very happy if the only way I can keep up to date with Smiler news such as this, is trawling through a topic full of pictures and spoilers that I am trying to avoid!

There are many more people on this forum who have yet to ride it, than those who have.

 

[James]

I agree with that there needs to be a spoiler free topic still (perhaps more suited to there being a new one though and this being archived), as some people do not want to know what's inside the station and see what the washing machine element looks like in all its glory!

 

[TheMan]

I agree with that there needs to be a spoiler free topic still (perhaps more suited to there being a new one though and this being archived), as some people do not want to know what's inside the station and see what the washing machine element looks like in all its glory!

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

I know I reposted a picture of it. I still have not had the chance to experience it though!!

I hear Zannusi are onsite to replace the troublesome element with a rotary dryer, as the 14 looping tumble drying element failed today.

Rather than requiring too much force, these only require a gentle breeze which should address the issue.

 

[Hitch]

Every time I plan A trip there something goes wrong preventing me from going

 

[Ben]

Agreeing with leaving this topic open for now, while there are still ongoing initial 'teething issues' its worth keeping this topic open rather than taking the review topic off-topic.

 

[Martin]

Would it be a good idead to change the name of the construction topics to simply "The Smiler discussion - Spoilers" and "The Smiler discussion - no spoilers"?

 

[Ben]

I would hope as it says *spoiler free* in the title it kind of gives the game away.
Also as the past 200+ pages have been on the construction and will remain on the site for historical use I dont see much point in changing the name at present.

We are having a team meeting tonight - so will speak with the others, I think as it is still a topic following current construction updates - i.e. cars off the track, new wheels, misc teething it should be fine as it is. Also people are familiar with the topic name.
Seems less hassle.

 

[Rob]

I think something needs to be changed as discussion is becoming a bit disjointed, and things that I would consider spoilers have been posted in this topic. I'd say it's best to keep the current spoiler discussion thread, but then lock and archive this topic and create a new spoiler free discussion thread. A construction update / ride speculation thread does feel a little redundant now that the ride is open.

Just my opinion though!

 

[James]

Yeah personally I think it would be best to lock this topic. Create a new one titled "[The Smiler] Spoiler Free Discussion" and leave the other spoiler topic as it is.

Then discussion can be spread equally in all topics.

The problem right now is that the same discussions seem to be happening in both topics and good posts are getting lost because of there being confusion as to what has to be discussed where. Since construction is completed (all the current teething problems have been discussed in all topics) it seems a little pointless having a construction topic.

My opinion too of course.

 

[Dave]

The issue of topics and where they should be located will be dealt with soon, the whole team have been stupidly busy this last weekend and its something we know we need to sort.

 

[Dan]

Can I also add that you ensure the topic title is short enough to be read on Tapatalk as I posted some information at the weekend and I couldn't figure out what thread was the one that allowed spoilers

Thanks
Dan

 

[Mike]

Can I also add that you ensure the topic title is short enough to be read on Tapatalk as I posted some information at the weekend and I couldn't figure out what thread was the one that allowed spoilers

Thanks
Dan

Definitely agree with this - another way of doing it would be to put the 'Spoilers'/'No Spoilers' text at the beginning of the thread title

Anyway, back on topic - will be interested to see if it reopens today - am hoping it just an issue with the wheels as previously stated.

 

[Hllonearth]

Just a thought maybe if the engineers had to sit in in the test run for a few mornings the issues might vanish? :

Any volunteers?

 

[djtruefitt]

Few updates from my visit yesterday:

- The Smiler opened at about 11.40am and ran three trains all day. The 4th train wasn't on the track at all (not even in maintenance shed), and the 5th train is still sat on the switch track with its wrappers on.

- It was much quieter than on Monday. They must have changed the wheels as none of the trains have wheel covers on yet.

- Three or four of the speakers near the station are currently not working

- There was smoke in the station but no smoke what so ever inside.

- Queues stayed at around 3 hours all day, by the end of the day the queue board said 4 hours, but I would say it was about 3 hours.

- As far as i'm aware it had no down time.

 

[Poisson]

Few updates from my visit yesterday:

- The Smiler opened at about 11.40am and ran three trains all day. The 4th train wasn't on the track at all (not even in maintenance shed), and the 5th train is still sat on the switch track with its wrappers on.

- It was much quieter than on Monday. They must have changed the wheels as none of the trains have wheel covers on yet.

- Three or four of the speakers near the station are currently not working

- There was smoke in the station but no smoke what so ever inside.

- Queues stayed at around 3 hours all day, by the end of the day the queue board said 4 hours, but I would say it was about 3 hours.

- As far as i'm aware it had no down time.

Dipped to 2 hours briefly toward the end of the day as I was coming back to X-Sector to join you lot

 

[Jon]

How come The Smiler generally takes quite a while to open? Are they being more slow and careful with testing procedures to prevent problems, or were they doing something specific with the ride that was taking up time?

 

[BigDave]

Its a new ride and its prone to problems. Getting a ride open in the morning isn't as easy as just flicking a switch. The ride has to be tested and ran around a few times with no problems. If it fails any of these tests, it cannot open. So they are being extra careful and making sure they do everything they can to get it open and running smoothly. This requires time and means it opens later.

 

[cotda]

Its a new ride and its prone to problems. Getting a ride open in the morning isn't as easy as just flicking a switch. The ride has to be tested and ran around a few times with no problems. If it fails any of these tests, it cannot open. So they are being extra careful and making sure they do everything they can to get it open and running smoothly. This requires time and means it opens later.

I cant help but disagree, its basic logic (the day I went they began testing at 10:00 and it opened about 20 past) that if you need to do testing and it needs to be open for X time, you do the testing earlier?

I personally believe that all rides on park should begin testing and open as soon as possible, rather than testing and just staying idle till 10:00 :/

 

[Natalie]

Its a new ride and its prone to problems. Getting a ride open in the morning isn't as easy as just flicking a switch. The ride has to be tested and ran around a few times with no problems. If it fails any of these tests, it cannot open. So they are being extra careful and making sure they do everything they can to get it open and running smoothly. This requires time and means it opens later.

I cant help but disagree, its basic logic (the day I went they began testing at 10:00 and it opened about 20 past) that if you need to do testing and it needs to be open for X time, you do the testing earlier?

I personally believe that all rides on park should begin testing and open as soon as possible, rather than testing and just staying idle till 10:00 :/

They start testing way before you see if doing round the track because they do all the internal checks first before sending the trains round, which is one of the last things they do.