Wicker Man - General Discussion - Part Two

[Matt N]

No it’s to prevent the chain falling down the lift hill into a train in the event of a chain snap.

Didn’t that happen to Wodan a few years back, which is what caused them to introduce this new safety measure?

 

[spinba11]

There's a photo of it online, Ive got the photo but haven't a clue about posting photos

 

[Alsty]

Yes, chain broke and then rolled down and coiled up in front of the train:

Erm, Wodan appears to have gone very wrong:

Of course, being Europa-Park they got it fixed for the next day

 

[Skyscraper]

No it’s to prevent the chain falling down the lift hill into a train in the event of a chain snap.

Ahh I see, that's interesting. Thanks for clarifying.
In that case it is definitely a safety measure.

 

[pluk]

If the rides are currently unsafe by design, what are they doing open?! I can't think of another time when an identified ride safety issue has had a future remedial date rather than immediate action.

You don't want that chain in your face.

My guess is they will have a massively reduced lifespan on the chains to mitigate against breakages until after the works, which to am extent would make it a maintenance and servicing rather than safety issue.

 

[Skyscraper]

If the rides are currently unsafe by design, what are they doing open?! I can't think of another time when an identified ride safety issue has had a future date rather than immediate action.

You don't want that chain in your face.

My guess is they will have a massively reduced lifespan on the chains to mitigate against breakages until after the works, which to am extent would make it a maintenance and servicing rather than safety issue.

Well it's a bit of both, as the part will stop the chain from breaking and prevent it from potentially injuring someone.

Do we know if the passengers at the front of the Wodan train that was hit by the chain were injured or ok?

 

[delta79]

More likely won't be warranteed if not installed by next year.

Warranty is an interesting thing. If the problem is logged before the end of warranty then it can be repaired under the warranty after it and date.

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[pluk]

Well it's a bit of both, as the part will stop the chain from breaking and prevent it from potentially injuring someone.

Do we know if the passengers at the front of the Wodan train that was hit by the chain were injured or ok?

IIRC it didn't ride up into the rider space, but that's a matter of luck not judgement.

 

[RoyJess]

Warranty is an interesting thing. If the problem is logged before the end of warranty then it can be repaired under the warranty after it and date.

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Warranty covers anything that breaks before it's time under the manufacturers guarantee, warranty length is usually set by the manufactures. ...

...however if it is a design fault, then that is a different matter, providing that you can prove it is a design/manufacturing fault, then you have rights regardless how old the product is.

 

[pluk]

Warranty is an interesting thing. If the problem is logged before the end of warranty then it can be repaired under the warranty after it and date.

Sent from my SM-J600FN using Tapatalk

Warranty covers anything that breaks before it's time under the manufacturers guarantee, warranty length is usually set by the manufactures. ...

...however if it is a design fault, then that is a different matter, providing that you can prove it is a design/manufacturing fault, then you have rights regardless how old the product is.

I'm sure the terms for a multi-million pound ride are somewhat different to my washing machine or car, but I'm thinking along similar lines of not keeping to the manufacturers service invalidating the warranty.

Beyond that I'm sure that not keeping up to date with technical bulletins would basically make the rides uninsurable.

 

[Dave]

If the rides are currently unsafe by design, what are they doing open?! I can't think of another time when an identified ride safety issue has had a future remedial date rather than immediate action.

You don't want that chain in your face.

My guess is they will have a massively reduced lifespan on the chains to mitigate against breakages until after the works, which to am extent would make it a maintenance and servicing rather than safety issue.

Chain snaps are relatively rare and the only one on a GCI didn’t cause any harm to passengers. Like with airliners there are probably different categories of advisories and they have likely deemed that based on the risk it is satisfactory for the work to occur within a year.

 

[Skyscraper]

Chain snaps are relatively rare and the only one on a GCI didn’t cause any harm to passengers. Like with airliners there are probably different categories of advisories and they have likely deemed that based on the risk it is satisfactory for the work to occur within a year.

And remember that cable snaps on Intamin hydraulic launch coasters are more common then chain snaps on GCI wooden coasters (not to mention more serious and dangerous too), and even then they are rare.

 

[Steve74]

Yep, was just some re-tracking:-



Nice to see they got the job done fast, hopefully will ride smoother on that section now. Is it true the ride really is running faster this year?

Anyone know if the wood they removed is for sale in the shop yet?

 

[Skyscraper]

Here are a couple of videos in case anyone is wondering what the chain issue is:



Even closer look:

 

[TheBolt]

If the chain can catastrophically fail, is there potential of it falling onto the queue line beneath the lift hill, rather than up on the track?
The last thing AT would need is a huge metal chain falling onto the queue line.

 

[Dave]

If the chain can catastrophically fail, is there potential of it falling onto the queue line beneath the lift hill, rather than up on the track?
The last thing AT would need is a huge metal chain falling onto the queue line.

Not really as there is a metal plate that runs over the queue (mostly to prevent oil dripping onto the queue but would also stop the chain dropping).

 

[AT86]

I suspect if there was any likely chance of that there would have already been a hideous scaffolding contraption built to cover the queue line.

 

[Alsty]

Here are a couple of videos in case anyone is wondering what the chain issue is:

The modification is for the lift chain in case it breaks to stop it from falling back down into the front of the train. I don't think the modification is for the return trough.

Although it looks weird and is probably stressing the chain when that happens there's nothing inherently dangerous about that. I mean, the Maurer chains come completely away from the trough when the cars engage onto the lift

 

[Skyscraper]

I'm surprised it doesn't have a cog above to keep the chain in place. Surely that would sort it?

 

[djtruefitt]

The Wicker Man chain has been doing that for a long time now, you’ll notice usually only when it’s cold and wet. Never when it’s dry. It’s been reported a few times and I’ve even seen it reported on Twitter and it’s been stated it’s perfectly normal and okay to do that.

I can only guess it’s either the weird angle of the lifthill, or just the design of the ride. The way it bangs though I’m surprised it’s not come out of its runner.