cybermen39
TS Member
Its just been on Central news
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The Smiler - General Discussion
- Thread starter Scott
- Start date
TheMan
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- NemiLerVion
Blaze said:
Exactly. The next bolt was on it's way out as is clear from the photos, and the track was obviously stressed as we'd all noticed from the start anyway.
I have spoken many times in the queue for it, that the track shouldn't be as rough as it is already. If that second bolt had worked loose at the same time, which it appears to have been very close to doing from the evidence that's come to light... I don't even want to go there, but that should not be happening at Alton Towers.
I feel for the majority of the staff at Towers over this, and it's annoying because if the track didn't have that ludicrous roughness for a new coaster, and now things like this, I genuinely believe it to be a world class attraction.
I just hope they get this sorted out once and for all, and whoever is responsible for these aspects of workmanship (including the jolts and bangs) can sort these issues out and make this ride what it damn well should be for that kind of money.
One bolt failed, there were 5 others to keep the track it in place. This they did.
Mechanical problems happen all the time on coasters, its only because this happened during the day on a ride where the queueline goes underneath it that its such a "big deal".
Have a walk around the Ultimate and see how many bolts, wheel bearing cases, bits of wheels and nuts there are littered around it. How many running wheels are split or in some cases exploded on rides all over the World.
The point I am making is, that 9 out of 10 times the public will never know about any incidents on rides.
John
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
One bolt failed and another came loose, causing a gap to form in a running rail. This is far more serious than a similar incident on a B&M where there would be 20 or so other bolts to take the load, and we know how much trouble they had getting the thing to fit together in the first place.
If it really wasn't such a "big deal" the ride would have reopened by now.
If it really wasn't such a "big deal" the ride would have reopened by now.
Slugjc
TS Member
Tom said:
Never credit the scum for anything. They'll just want merlin's money. Also they would be embarrassed they did all that promotion for them and its gone wrong.
Of course this made the news after six flags. This is merlin's and AT's flagship ride for this year, and it's the school holidays. The delay got on watchdog for Christ sake. Anything like this is news. No matter how many bolts fall off rides across the country. If forums like this will fuel them
Alastair
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Rise of the Resistance
PeteA said:
I see your point, but the fact that Gerstlauer track uses so few bolts (only two per rail) to keep the track together makes this a serious incident. When it happens on the likes of B&M's (incidentally, the Dive Machines have 24 bolts between each rail), it's clearly not as serious or important.
TheMan
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- NemiLerVion
I cannot understand how you can see the second bolt about to come off the running rail, and make out that isn't serious. That then leaves what, 2 bolts holding the running rails on lol? On a track that has already been squeezed together.
Let me be clear, I am not apportioning blame here, not remotely, my initial thoughts here are Alton Towers are in fact on the receiving end,but given how some members on here whom are known to be very knowledgeable are showing concerns, where normally they would be speaking very pragmatically, and the points being raised show that this is far from a normal or routine issue in this particular circumstance, this appears to be a little bit more serious than some are suggesting.
I'd be really rather peeved if this happened after I'd just forked out 18 mil!
Let me be clear, I am not apportioning blame here, not remotely, my initial thoughts here are Alton Towers are in fact on the receiving end,but given how some members on here whom are known to be very knowledgeable are showing concerns, where normally they would be speaking very pragmatically, and the points being raised show that this is far from a normal or routine issue in this particular circumstance, this appears to be a little bit more serious than some are suggesting.
I'd be really rather peeved if this happened after I'd just forked out 18 mil!
Oatcakedodger
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Swarm
Goodness me people questioning the design criteria of rides now :lisadj said:
get over it nobody was hurt :/ a bolt fell off a rail wow !Oatcakedodger said:Goodness me people questioning the design criteria of rides now :lisadj said:
are you serious? If this had of fell off with a train due to go over it in between block brakes, it would have really caused an issue
Oatcakedodger said:Goodness me people questioning the design criteria of rides now :
As I said earlier, my partner was behind a lady who said that her son was hit by the bolt and had been taken to hospital.
So yes someone (if not more than one person) was hurt.
Do you think it's more important that this is swept under the carpet so the ride can stay open and make AT lots of money, or that the incident is fully investigated so that it doesn't happen again risking further or more serious injury?
I am confused that some posters just don't think its that serious. Its not like AT need us to help them or protect their brand image. :S
Oatcakedodger
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Swarm
personally don't believe anyone got hit by a boltlisadj said:Oatcakedodger said:Goodness me people questioning the design criteria of rides now :
As I said earlier, my partner was behind a lady who said that her son was hit by the bolt and had been taken to hospital.
So yes someone (if not more than one person) was hurt.
Do you think it's more important that this is swept under the carpet so the ride can stay open and make AT lots of money, or that the incident is fully investigated so that it doesn't happen again risking further or more serious injury?
I am confused that some posters just don't think its that serious. Its not like AT need us to help them or protect their brand image. :S
Laura
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- blue fire Megacoaster
None of the other eyewitnesses said anyone was hit, so I'm taking the claim a boy was hit with a pinch of salt until anything is proven. Unless there is some serious censorship going on?
Please don't be surprised by the reaction you get, Lisa. There is a lot of conflicting information out there and we are unlikely to just accept 'eyewitness' accounts from the 'general public' or sensationalised articles in tabloid papers. Indeed, more often than not we don't believe each other! (Didn't someone promise to eat their keyboard if there was no washing-machine effect?)
Personally I am incredibly frustrated at the constant problems this ride has faced. Moreso because I haven't been able to ride it yet. It's made worse by the fact Alton will (naturally) not release any information that we could use to make an informed decision about A - how serious this is and B - what this means for our future visits.
So all we can do is guess - whether that be based on blurry photographs, 'eyewitness accounts', patchy engineering knowledge, and history of similar events. Or we can just succumb to John Gabriels 'GIFT': http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19 (contains naughty words).
Please don't be surprised by the reaction you get, Lisa. There is a lot of conflicting information out there and we are unlikely to just accept 'eyewitness' accounts from the 'general public' or sensationalised articles in tabloid papers. Indeed, more often than not we don't believe each other! (Didn't someone promise to eat their keyboard if there was no washing-machine effect?)
Personally I am incredibly frustrated at the constant problems this ride has faced. Moreso because I haven't been able to ride it yet. It's made worse by the fact Alton will (naturally) not release any information that we could use to make an informed decision about A - how serious this is and B - what this means for our future visits.
So all we can do is guess - whether that be based on blurry photographs, 'eyewitness accounts', patchy engineering knowledge, and history of similar events. Or we can just succumb to John Gabriels 'GIFT': http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19 (contains naughty words).
For me, I see a bolt flying off a ride, with another being lose and a gap appearing in the track a big deal. Especially given the problems this ride had when it was being built and the fact some parts of the track didnt fit together very well to start with. This to me indicates unacceptable stress being placed on that part of the track. How will it fare in the cold winters when metal becomes more brittle?
If both bolts had popped out and the track section dropped (or raised) and a car was about to go over it at speed, I wonder what would have happened. Would it have stopped dead, would it have twisted the car severely, would it have broken off the wheels, would it have derailed the car? No one seems to be considering this.
With regards the bolt hitting someone, im not sure if it did or didnt, im sitting on the fence, im just thinking if it did hit a kid, then surely the mum would have it all over the press by now.....
If both bolts had popped out and the track section dropped (or raised) and a car was about to go over it at speed, I wonder what would have happened. Would it have stopped dead, would it have twisted the car severely, would it have broken off the wheels, would it have derailed the car? No one seems to be considering this.
With regards the bolt hitting someone, im not sure if it did or didnt, im sitting on the fence, im just thinking if it did hit a kid, then surely the mum would have it all over the press by now.....