Thorpe Park: General Discussion

[Call_um]

Oh dear.

Do feel for them but this is becoming an absolute joke now.

They clearly just can't send any empty trains unless changes are made, which is an operational nightmare for them.


On passholder day, after every breakdown no empty trains were sent, once it was back up they just loaded with guests. Wonder what made them send an empty train today? Unsure what the procedure currently is but clearly some breakdowns require empty trains to be sent, which needs changing.

 

[DanJB]

40 mph gusts from the east would be blowing directly against the train as it exits the Immelmann and climbs into the overbank. Seems more like an operational fail than a design one.

 

[Coaster]

Come back Big One's wind issues, all is forgiven.

 

[Funcone]

Where do they go from here????

They'll probably have to have a look in the cupboard to see if they've still got the receipt.

 

[owenstreet7]

Oh dear.

Do feel for them but this is becoming an absolute joke now.

They clearly just can't send any empty trains unless changes are made, which is an operational nightmare for them.


On passholder day, after every breakdown no empty trains were sent, once it was back up they just loaded with guests. Wonder what made them send an empty train today? Unsure what the procedure currently is but clearly some breakdowns require empty trains to be sent, which needs changing.

I honestly think it needs a transfer track for when it valleys.

That would sort a lot of these issues out.

I think sending out empty trains on a windy day with the chance of valleying is a silly idea either way.

 

[addy2503]

Surely the easiest solution to this would be redesigning the outerbank so it's a bit lower? Obviously easier said than done, but I don't really see any other way to solve this stalling issue. Unless a wheel change would do it, but surely they would have done that by now?

I know it's only happened when empty so far, but surely Merlin aren't going to want to run the risk of it stalling with riders on (if only to avoid the press headlines...)?

I still haven't ridden yet, as it has felt like too much of a gamble so far, as I live 3.5 hours away, and don't want to make the journey for it to then be closed

 

[Poisson]

They'll have wind meters on it, they need to change procedures for the wind alarm at least you'd think

 

[QTXAdsy]

I still haven't ridden yet, as it has felt like too much of a gamble so far, as I live 3.5 hours away, and don't want to make the journey for it to then be closed

I live further away from there and even I know that knowing my luck if I ever make it to Thorpe, Hyperia would be closed.

Still, I do have to wonder if Mack and Merlin's relationship is now coming apart now much like with Gerstlauer...honestly what ride manufactures haven't Merlin fallen out with yet?

 

[Benzin]

I live further away from there and even I know that knowing my luck if I ever make it to Thorpe, Hyperia would be closed.

Still, I do have to wonder if Mack and Merlin's relationship is now coming apart now much like with Gerstlauer...honestly what ride manufactures haven't Merlin fallen out with yet?

I mean Hyperia hasn't thrown bolts at people yet so it's doing better.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Still, I do have to wonder if Mack and Merlin's relationship is now coming apart now much like with Gerstlauer...honestly what ride manufactures haven't Merlin fallen out with yet?

The relationship is coming apart so much that they're currently building two Mack Spinners, one for Legoland Korea and the other for Legoland Japan.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Given that no other Mack has these issues, I choose to believe this is somehow Merlin's fault.
I'll get back to you when I've decided how, exactly.

 

[DistortAMG]

How many times has this valleyed? It doesn't seem like it's in new terrolitory for large coasters. These things will valley due to being more sensitive to the weather.

I think the issues with this are heightened for a few reasons, one being that many enthusiasts following this have never witnessed a large scale coaster and it's teething issues.

 

[Blackhole_Sun]

Has anyone got Werner Stengel’s phone number?

 

[djransome]

Oh no... They can't catch a break on this. I know yesterday it was reasonably windy as they were playing the "poor weather conditions" announcement from 4:30pm and the ride batcher was saying they were doing what they can to keep it operating. The winds gusts were 25-29 mph. Enough to cause Vortex to go down from 2pm.

How long will it take them to sort? Surely they need to re-design or re-calculate what conditions it can run in.

 

[Danny]

A re-design would be too costly. The Smiler wasn't re-designed when it repeatedly valleyed on the batwing. It'll just involve an operational procedure analysis and change.

 

[DJM]

Was there today down for my birthday got on it when it opened then i got a fast pass for my birthday so went on at noon then sat having my dinner and my wife said oh its going backwards and i said that's not good anyway was planning on staying all day but left at 2.30 still had a good day.
Thought it was pretty busy today and on a side note seems like kids don't spend much time at school.

 

[flyingguitar]

Surely the easiest solution to this would be redesigning the outerbank so it's a bit lower? Obviously easier said than done, but I don't really see any other way to solve this stalling issue. Unless a wheel change would do it, but surely they would have done that by now?

I know it's only happened when empty so far, but surely Merlin aren't going to want to run the risk of it stalling with riders on (if only to avoid the press headlines...)?

I still haven't ridden yet, as it has felt like too much of a gamble so far, as I live 3.5 hours away, and don't want to make the journey for it to then be closed

there are many ways to reduce the drag on the train, redesigning the ride would require new support structure, new track, a lot of work, and it could be extremely difficult, rollercoasters (in fact most buildings) are designed to be built one way, I can't recall how hyperia was built, but there will have to be a full assessment on how to disassemble the track, then reassemble it without causing potential structural problems.

the ways you can reduce drag are many:
wheel compound: similar to F1 rollercoasters have differnt compounds from cold wether (harder, less rolling resistance to combat the more thicker cold grease) to hot (softer, but able to withstand the hotter temperatures)
wheels compressment: there are adjustments on the train to adjust how much the wheels are pressing into the track, if to tight it will introduce too much drag.
the wheel grease being used,
and so much more

you also have to remember a lot of stuff is wearing in at the start of the season, after a bit of running it will naturally reduce its drag and it is a new ride, it has only vallied what 3 times now, the second time they got it back running very quickly if I recall correctly, they will be working out new operating procedures to prevent this, valleying isn't a new issue with hyperia, the smiler struggled with it and it is primarily based on the layout of the track.

 

[rob666]

.. redesigning the ride would require new support structure, new track, a lot of work, and it could be extremely difficult, rollercoasters (in fact most buildings) are designed to be built one way...

They did exactly that with the Big One within the first few seasons...completely reprofiled first drop, and the high hairpin above the National station.
Puters are clever enough to make changes.

 

[Spark]

Surely they could lower the track, it was done on JO in 2003 on the cobra roll due to it valleying

 

[Benjsh]

For all your Hyper Coaster needs.....Try B&M.