The Smiler - General Discussion

[WillG]

It may open later.

I'd be very surprised; but I've been wrong before...
Don't know if the incidents can be compared, but I'm remembering how long the two maurer spinners were MIA for after the incident back in 2004.

...and Flume and Rapids both down as well? What's that all about?

 

[John]

They don't open until 11am, both are now listed as open on ridetimes

 

[manual_operator]

As far as H&S need to look at the queue due to this, I don't believe they will.

In 2005, a metal panel on the undercarriage of 1 of Rita's trains came loose and ripped off during the ride and landed in the middle of (the then) Ugland. This was much bigger than the bolt which came off The Smiler. Not that I'm saying this incident is less serious, they are both serious incidents where guests were potentially in danger.

My point being, AT will fully inspect the ride and prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that this was an unforeseeable incident and the ride is back to the standard that is was when signed off by the manufacturer and H&S.

 

[lisadj]

I haven't been on or seen the ride in person yet.

But, I was under the impression H&S had already had a field day with the queue area and the whole thing was fenced in from all sides, including from above?

Did the bolt fall outside of the standard queue area, or am I incorrect in assuming the entire queue is covered with fencing?

It's mind-boggling to think someone ended up getting hit by something after all the H&S drama before opening.

there are parts of the queue that don't have a cage above them, I think I posted before saying this surprised me.

 

[Benzin]

Cue canvas being put over the entire queueline...

Least it'd be shaded then...

 

[GaryH]

I would like to know what caused it though - i've felt a little uneasy about this ride since all the hoo-hah they had putting it together and gaps in the track afterwards, i'd feel even more uneasy now about going on it, and thats not like me!! If its just metal fatigue in the bolts fair enough, but for 2 of them to work loose thats a concern. Imagine the track had come loose on that side causing a considerable step, I wonder what would of happened if the car was approaching it. I dread to think....

 

[QTXAdsy]

The whole thing's utter madness for AT. Merlin's already sinking reputation is sinking faster than the Titanic at this rate.

I'm worried it won't be opened for next month at least...then again it depends of how much work is needed for that section alone and other parts of the track if needed. :/

 

[Tracycharnock]

Gerst are also at fault for Swarm's bolt flying out then...

Must be, obviously B&M can't ever be at fault.

If The Smiler was a MACK we would be considering sabotage

Seriously this happening isn't very good especially as the queue is under the ride, it's going to require some serious consideration from Towers.

That was the scary part. I didn't feel comfortable with queuing under the ride on Saturday. On Sunday we were talking about safety and my partner was saying about how safe the cars/gondolas are on the track. But we never really doubted the track. I did have a very uneasy feeling and after it was fine on Saturday I felt better, but then this did happen today!

Must've been so scary for the young boy and his family.

 

[lisadj]

Tracycharnock - were you in guest services around 3pm on Sunday? Just wondering if it was you that my bf heard discussing it with them - he had his camera and he showed them the photos for you.
If not then there was another young boy involved, if it was he told me the boy was hurt. :S

 

[Rob]

So Alton Towers have released a small statement on the matter:

“Yesterday morning, Sunday 21st July, in line with our standard procedures, Alton Towers Resort closed The Smiler to investigate a small piece of debris that had allegedly fallen from the track.

At no time was any visitor at any risk, and 48 guests on the ride at the time were safely disembarked. As the health and safety of our guests is our primary concern, the ride will remain closed whilst the Resort’s technical team investigate.”

Taken from TowersStreet News

I'm surprised that they released anything at all to be honest, in the past they've just gone along as if nothing had ever happened. I guess all of the photos and witness accounts forced them to though. I'm not sure a bolt is a "small piece of debris" though and it certainly happened so it's not alleged. I suppose you can't blame Towers for trying to play it down in a public statement though. I'm sure they are taking the incident very seriously internally.

 

[Laura]

With all these eyewitness accounts (I am surprised nothing has been in the news about it if a child was hit) it makes it sound like the ride will be closed for the foreseeable future. It makes it sound like the whole thing could have derailed.

Yet apparently something similar happened on The Swarm and it was fine the next day.
And some people say it will be open as soon as tomorrow.

Of course Alton don't want to say anything that will put us off from visiting. However it makes it very difficult to make an informed decision on whether to visit or not, when £120 in trains+hotel is required.

That's just a statement of annoyance, by the way.

 

[Jordan]

It made it into the Express and Star:

Smiler forced to close again as flying part just misses Alton Towers ride queue

Alton Towers’ new £18 million ride has been forced to close again – after a part of the ride flew off and landed just yards from people queuing for the attraction.

Thrill-seekers told how a piece of metal broke away from the ride before landing near to them.

A gap appeared in the track and the ride was closed down.

In the queue at the time was 20-year-old Fiona Gilbert from Compton in Wolverhampton.

She and friends, Amy Cashmore and Farah Rahim, who are both 20 and also from Wolverhampton, decided to get in the queue for the roller coaster which opened earlier this year.

The University of Manchester student said: “It was about 10.15am yesterday and we thought we would start queuing for the smiler. As you queue you go through metal cages and the rollercoaster goes over your head.

“We were stood there when all of a sudden we heard a massive clanging sound. We turned around and there was a metal bar not even a metre away on the floor behind us.

“It was just under 1ft long and about two inches thick.

“The man in the queue behind us picked it up and took it to a member of staff and the ride was shut down.”

She added: “I am never going on it. I just could not believe it and the whole thing really put us off the rest of the day. The worst part of it was that it could have hit someone.”

The rollercoaster has drops of 60 metres and hits speeds of up to 53mph, it has 14 loops, which is more than any other rollercoaster in the world, and bosses behind its creation have said it ‘messes’ with the minds of riders.

It is the latest drama for the new ride since its opening.

In May, 16 people had to be rescued from the ride after it appeared to break down during a press launch and the planned opening was then delayed due to technical issues.

Alton Towers spokeswoman Elizabeth West said: “Yesterday morning, in line with our standard procedures, Alton Towers Resort closed The Smiler to investigate a small piece of debris that had allegedly fallen from the track.

"At no time was any visitor at any risk, and 48 guests on the ride at the time were safely disembarked. As the health and safety of our guests is our primary concern, the ride will remain closed whilst the resort’s technical team investigate."

Source

 

[GaryH]

“Yesterday morning, Sunday 21st July, in line with our standard procedures, Alton Towers Resort closed The Smiler to investigate a small piece of debris that had allegedly fallen from the track.

Nothing standard at all about it, a bolt fell off the track and it was only when a guest went to a member of staff and said "excuse me mate, but does this belong to your ride" did they close it!! Thinking about it, if they check the track regularly ( which they should be doing given its a new ride for any play ) im surprised they didnt notice the bolts had worked loose.

At no time was any visitor at any risk, and 48 guests on the ride at the time were safely disembarked. As the health and safety of our guests is our primary concern, the ride will remain closed whilst the Resort’s technical team investigate.”

Lol, yes, no member of the public was at risk from the large 8 inch solid steel bolt hurtling down towards them from above. Im really surprised (and glad) no one was seriously injured by this - think about it, whats the first thing you do when you hear a loud clunk above your head... look up.... bolt in the face.... ouch.

Course they are going to play it down.

 

[Laura]

Thanks for the link, Jordan. It doesn't say anything about anyone being hit though.

How did it end up in the queue though?

I know the ride falling apart is concern enough, but if it HAD been a mobile phone or shoe, if it had hit someone it still could have injured them. Why cage up only part of the queue?

I'm sure no one wants to be hit by anything but I was knocked out by a cooked dynatec grenade (about 1.2kg and dropped from a height before exploding on my head and melting my hair) so I'd be uneasy enough about that risk...let alone the track coming apart.

 

[TheMan]

I'm sure no one wants to be hit by anything but I was knocked out by a cooked dynatec grenade (about 1.2kg and dropped from a height before exploding on my head and melting my hair) so I'd be uneasy enough about that risk...let alone the track coming apart.

Pardon?

 

[GaryH]

I'm sure no one wants to be hit by anything but I was knocked out by a cooked dynatec grenade (about 1.2kg and dropped from a height before exploding on my head and melting my hair) so I'd be uneasy enough about that risk...let alone the track coming apart.

Pardon?

... what he said....

 

[Poisson]

I'm sure no one wants to be hit by anything but I was knocked out by a cooked dynatec grenade (about 1.2kg and dropped from a height before exploding on my head and melting my hair) so I'd be uneasy enough about that risk...let alone the track coming apart.

Pardon?

... what he said....

Blank firing grenade is it?

 

[thefatone]

Crane disappeared by end of day - water dummies in the cars and all cars on ride system.

It essentially looked all ready to open (however hadn't by 540, and not tested so presume it didn't open).

Looks all good for tomorrow I imagine.

 

[Rupert]

Screw The Smiler falling apart - Laura was hit by a flying grenade which made her head melt?! That's incredible.

 

[Slugjc]

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.

Question and im surprised nobody has mentioned this, could there be Rita style tunnel put up? Will the H&S Nazi's get this put in place? Lets seethe hatred this would cause