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The Smiler - General Discussion

If H&S have been all over this I can see at the minimum there being nets put across the queueline, if not, drapes.

Saying that, it does depend on what caused this in the first place.
 
Slugjc said:
Still a huge divide on this thread. Some people are annoyed that the track coming apart and nearly hitting people in the queue, is nothing major. Im sure it isn't in your little world, however the real world.
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Who has actually said that? some people have pointed out that it has happened a few times but no-one has been blasé about the situation.

It's like someone getting accused of being blasé about a car crash just because they mention others have occurred similar. The only reason anyone has had to mention such stats is because the "woa onto Getst" attitude some people have had over this whilst conveniently forgetting B&M's Swarm did the same thing last year was getting a bit extreme.

There seems to be a new mob-mentality on the Internet that states if you don't scream and point Fingers and instead try and take an open minded view until further info is provided that your some sort of sub-human.
 
It was a blank firing grenade during airsoft, yes. I know it sounds ridiculous but it put me out of action for a week and I am genuinely fearful of being hit by shoes/phones/loose bolts from rides now. I suppose you had to have been there.

And it melted my HAIR not my head.

Edit: rereading what I said it makes no sense out of context but didn't want to include the whole backstory, sorry.
 
Eeesh! I had a military flash grenade go off about four feet from me once when I was on a night exercise with the ATC. Not something I wish to repeat...

Getting back on topic, I think it's a safe bet that some kind of covering will be put over the queue now. I just hope it isn't Rita style scaffolding. But at least we might get that shade we've all been saying it desperately needs.
 
DiogoJ42 said:
Getting back on topic, I think it's a safe bet that some kind of covering will be put over the queue now. I just hope it isn't Rita style scaffolding. But at least we might get that shade we've all been saying it desperately needs.
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Rita style scaffolding would be awful, but I doubt we'll be seeing anything like that, due to the fact it was only a bolt that fell compared to a pretty large cable. Netting would be a good solution and provide shade, but I fear it would destroy the effect of having the trains speeding above you.
 
I think the falling bolt is the least of their worries. The track has suffered actual structural failure. It only takes a similar amount of force for this to have happened on other bolts on that point as it is clearly a weak point, and it could've caused an actual serious accident.

I appreciate a bolt may have fallen off Swarm last year, but did it cause the section to separate in the way we have seen in the photos? No.

My biggest concern is clearly the track once completed is too inflexible which is why the bolt came loose in the first place, showing the track sections were under constant strain during stationary periods, let alone when a train is moving. This suggests that this isn't the only joint where this may have occurred. Hopefully they will need to re profile at least this section otherwise I can see it happening again
 
if it gets Rita style scaffolding, its easily fixed with a couple of vinyl stickers :D
 
Dave said:
Slugjc said:
Still a huge divide on this thread. Some people are annoyed that the track coming apart and nearly hitting people in the queue, is nothing major. Im sure it isn't in your little world, however the real world.
Click to expand...

Who has actually said that? some people have pointed out that it has happened a few times but no-one has been blasé about the situation.

It's like someone getting accused of being blasé about a car crash just because they mention others have occurred similar. The only reason anyone has had to mention such stats is because the "woa onto Getst" attitude some people have had over this whilst conveniently forgetting B&M's Swarm did the same thing last year was getting a bit extreme.

There seems to be a new mob-mentality on the Internet that states if you don't scream and point Fingers and instead try and take an open minded view until further info is provided that your some sort of sub-human.
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In my defence I haven't been running around pointing the blame. I have said earlier that there could have been many a reason, but if its found to be X's fault then the blame should be put on X. Doesn't matter if its getst, AT or Barry from Wigan the fault and buck has to stop somewhere. People will always blame something on someone first, without checking the facts. However with the lack of facts the finger will be pointed in many a direction. Its like a Game a cluedo. You go with what you got, then someone can disprove you. That's when you admit fault like I will now, ok nobody did write what I put doesn't mean people haven't thought it.
 
Not sure it will open today. Even if the ride gets the green light, with this weather, most of the coasters on park will be shut.

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From today's Sun..

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
 
Could be way off but sounds like that piece of track didn't quite reach the adjoining part hence pushed together and bolted putting stress on the bolt and nut ?
 
It's doing the rounds now. Here it is on the BBC News Website:

The Smiler at Alton Towers shut over safety concerns

A new £18m rollercoaster ride at Alton Towers remains closed after a piece fell off the structure.

Forty-eight people had to be rescued from the 14-loop ride, called The Smiler, on Sunday.

A spokesperson from the amusement park said a small piece of debris had allegedly fallen from the track.

"The health and safety of our guests is our primary concern [and] the ride will remain closed whilst the resort's technical team investigate," they said.

Staff are working to reopen the ride as soon as possible.

The Smiler - which includes a drop of 30m (98ft) - opened in May.
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yep it is and i'm sure that those 2 pieces did not quite fit together so were pushed/forced together and bolted, hence snap, bolts just don't snap unless theres force being applied or the bolts are a poor make.
 
Well I just hope that a fix can be found for Towers as the important summer holidays are important. It will really effect them as a business if it is closed, as well as all of the compensation tickets and fastracks etc. Apparently a crane is still on site today. I just hope they can come up with a solution (especially as I am visiting this Sunday :p)
 
Send the Blue Peter team around, a bit of yoghurt pot and some sticky back plastic and it will be sorted in no time
 
Have emailed my images across to a couple of the press sites - as they don't seem to be telling the whole story.
Small piece of debris indeed.
 
This story is doing the rounds on all the major news sites! As usual it is sensationalised which really doesn't look very good for Towers.

The GP will naturally be scared off by these reports as it when things are reportedly closed due to 'safety concerns' it really does sound terrible.
 
Have emailed my images across to a couple of the press sites - as they don't seem to be telling the whole story.
Small piece of debris indeed.
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And thats going to achieve what ??? What do you want to happen? The ride closed down, a drop in attendance for Alton Towers?

Sorry, but this is being blown out of all proportions, and this is from someone who is very critical of Merlin and Alton Towers.

A bolt fell off a ride. Not the first time this has ever happened on any coaster in the world. No one died, unlike the person at Six Flags Ove Texas.

This happened on the Big One at Blackpool when I worked there. A lady came off the Log Flume and gave me a bolt which had fallen off the ride and had hit her on her chest. Medical Services were called, she was ok, and that was it. Didnt make the papers, no photos sent off to press agencies, nothing.

These days.... Jeez......

:(
 
PeteA said:
Have emailed my images across to a couple of the press sites - as they don't seem to be telling the whole story.
Small piece of debris indeed.
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And thats going to achieve what ??? What do you want to happen? The ride closed down, a drop in attendance for Alton Towers?

Sorry, but this is being blown out of all proportions, and this is from someone who is very critical of Merlin and Alton Towers.

A bolt fell off a ride. Not the first time this has ever happened on any coaster in the world. No one died, unlike the person at Six Flags Ove Texas.

This happened on the Big One at Blackpool when I worked there. A lady came off the Log Flume and gave me a bolt which had fallen off the ride and had hit her on her chest. Medical Services were called, she was ok, and that was it. Didnt make the papers, no photos sent off to press agencies, nothing.

These days.... Jeez......

:(
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absolutely agree this can happen to anything could happen to your car, on a train, bus, plane etc etc.
 
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