• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

The Smiler - General Discussion

James said:
It would be great to see all of the effects fully restored.

Regarding stalling, the ride stalled countless times during its early days. It seems the ride has been able to 'bed in' more, which has reduced the risk, although they are more cautious with high winds for obvious reasons. While train stalling was a primary factor in the 2015 incident, the staff's failure to notice this stall and proceed to send another train round was more of a concerning issue.

I'm not an engineer, but the ride had huge issues with groundwork throughout the construction, so I wonder whether that's a factor with the bodged track, too. I know it gets slammed a lot, but I really admire the thought behind designing such a large amount of track in a small space. Had it not been for the accident, it would probably be admired as a feat of engineering.
Click to expand...
Can't really forget this can we? I am also unsure if having to grind the track down is normal when assembling a coaster? Probably not as removing material from the track is probably not ideal.

I believe in the crash report it was also reported that the gaps in the track were larger than normal but didn't contribute towards it.
 

Attachments

  • Smiler-Track-gap.jpg
    Smiler-Track-gap.jpg
    62.3 KB · Views: 63
  • Smiler_TG_Rob.jpg
    Smiler_TG_Rob.jpg
    63 KB · Views: 58
Martin said:
I know we're all sick of Smiler's shit at this point but (imo) it's easily the second best extant coaster in the UK and we'll be much worse off when it inevitably tears itself down, which, judging by what it did to my neck the other week, could happen any day now
Click to expand...
It’s such an intensely frustrating ride. Inventive theming concept, poorly executed. Wild, intense layout that always rides awkwardly and sometimes rides like a shopping trolley. So close to being something special but misses the mark quite spectacularly.
 
My partner had his first ride on it on opening day just gone.

His review on the brake run "oh, ok...interesting". This is a man who usually has a lot to say.

After a little prodding for more info, he said he didn't enjoy it as such, but strangely felt proud that he'd endured it. He wasn't uncomfortable with the inversions, or the roughness, but together, coupled with his detestation of the queueline experience, made it all just a bit too much.
 
Loui Richards said:
They have taken train 4 back off after some testing :(, however the ride is expected to open later on as it's not ready to open so who knows what will happen
Click to expand...
They must’ve intended to keep train 4 on then because if they just wanted to test it they would’ve took it off before 10
 
Ethan said:
They must’ve intended to keep train 4 on then because if they just wanted to test it they would’ve took it off before 10
Click to expand...
Yeah I thought that. I think they were just carrying out the first bit of testing a train does after winter maintenance. They only just finished properly testing the other 3 trains this morning so adding the 4th to test must of created a delay
 
Does anyone get the sense that the poorly executed, intolerable and confining queue line actually sort of makes sense to the theme of the ride. I mean, the queue makes you feel uncomfortable in a literal sense, exactly how you would feel if you was going to be experimented on, or 'corrected'.
 
But if you aim to create a horrid queue and succeed you've still made a horrid queue. No matter the experience they're aiming for, they should be aiming to make it actually pleasant. At the end of the day, we're here to enjoy ourselves. Even scaremazes should be fine to wait for no matter how twisted they are inside.
 
I never understood the queue for The Smiler. You certainly have to have a fair chunk of it down in the pit but they could have taken the queue around the back of the ride (past the toilets and up around to the station, then come back down to where the entrance is before heading into the pit.)

If you only had to spend 20min down there and they had put some theming in then a small period of claustrophobic queue with the ride above your head would have been interesting.

2hrs of it is intolerable.
 
I don’t think the queue layout so much is the problem. It’s how it’s been executed. The idea of interaction with the ride about is great. Just needs to be less backwards / forwards and maybe some more themeing at ground level.

The cage you can’t avoid really.
 
Am I the only one who loves the uniqueness of queuing underneath the ride. It’s probably my favourite queue line because of the views and the atmosphere. Watching the ride go round above your head is amazing and you don’t get that with any other ride. Not to mention the fact it’s visually by far the most impressive ride in the Uk it just looks mesmerising I could watch it for hours
 
Ethan said:
Am I the only one who loves the uniqueness of queuing underneath the ride. It’s probably my favourite queue line because of the views and the atmosphere. Watching the ride go round above your head is amazing and you don’t get that with any other ride. Not to mention the fact it’s visually by far the most impressive ride in the Uk it just looks mesmerising I could watch it for hours
Click to expand...

Yes only you.
 
Ethan said:
Am I the only one who loves the uniqueness of queuing underneath the ride. It’s probably my favourite queue line because of the views and the atmosphere. Watching the ride go round above your head is amazing and you don’t get that with any other ride. Not to mention the fact it’s visually by far the most impressive ride in the Uk it just looks mesmerising I could watch it for hours
Click to expand...
Yea I love it, can't beat the interaction of rollercoaster trains flying above your head and the views you get of the ride, my other favorite queue was the Nemesis queue although I do miss the older queue route for that one, still great though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top