MattyMoo

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/5-million-fine-for-alton-towers-owners-merlin-entertainment-ltd-over-smiler-roller-coaster-accident/story-29754241-detail/story.html That link has slightly more CCTV footage - the empty train seems to sit right at the top of the inversion static for what seems an eternity, I'm surprised that's possible

Just call me Jart...

That's a shame if there is damage to the Victorian train already - not very good considering the small amount of time it's been operational.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/alton-towers-smiler-rollercoaster-crash-8893176 The Mirror have more CCTV - it shows (briefly) the empty train valleying and the other train at the top of the lift hill - you can see just how windy it is by the tops of the trees on the lift hill.

Ahh near my old stomping ground of "beautiful" Farnborough haha. Am now down in sunny Southsea (can't say I miss Farnborough much) so it's about 1hr 10m to Thorpe depending on how fast I go up the A3...!

I did The Big Top Face It Alone - and spent most of it on my knees with a ball gag in my mouth haha. It was pretty fierce - did get pushed about a fair bit and shouted at etc. but it was still in good humour! I'd definitely do it again - the best bit was seeing the actors afterwards in Finn's Bar asking "Did you enjoy that guys?" And you think - wait a minute - just now you were a big baby covering my face in shaving foam and straw

This may be hearsay but I was under the impression that when cars were added to the track (at that particular time) they were only supposed to be added with water dummies in, due to the stalling problems previously?

17 minutes between the crash happening and the first 999 call. Wow.

I really can't see what Merlin are going to say in their defence on this - one would assume it'll be wrapped up today without going into tomorrow.

What sort of fine do we estimate Merlin getting? £5,000,000 sounds possible to me... The BBC have done very well explaining pretty simply but concisely what happened and I commend them for that. •The £18m Smiler was the world's first 14 multi-loop rollercoaster with up to five trains running at any one time •On 2 June four trains were operating on the ride; a fifth was stored away •At 13:00 BST there was a problem with one of the trains; technical staff were called •One of the engineers thought it was a good opportunity to add the fifth train because the park was busy •An empty test train was sent but failed •Engineers pushed the train until it engaged with the system and off it went •Another empty train was sent out. It got stuck, too, but in a different place •Engineers were unaware of this, thought everything was working fine and handed it back to operators •The train with 16 passengers on was sent out and stopped •The engineers looked but could not see the stalled car, thought the computer was wrong, and over-rode the stop. This set the 16-passenger train in motion and into the empty carriage

Wow, that's really brought it home - feel genuinely sick watching that, but like said above - although we all know why it happened, seeing it like that just makes it more shocking and shows the massive failings.

Opened in 1987, Rumba Rapids has been a firm favourite amongst families and young adults. As a result of many years of operation, Rumba Rapids will be out of action for 2017 while it’s being renovated. This was a difficult decision to make, however we hope for it to make a splash-back in the future! I'm joking of course...

I'd buy a nice Stealth poster in a heartbeat. But this is the SAW thread so I will keep quie.... Oh.

I'm sure you'll be fine! I had 2 complimentary tickets to Alton Towers a few years ago, and one was very faded. The guys on the gateline just replaced it as it wouldn't scan!

Random DBGT question - the "This Money Tastes Funny" tag line/T-shirt design - where is the tie in for that exactly? Is that a reference to fracking being "dirty money"? Just remembered it and it seems quite odd

No mention of Loggers being shut for development on the FN Map? RIP Loggers

I've used 2 for 1 tickets on Fright Nights before, just not the "peak" ones - which would explain 21-31 October being invalid (as it's half term weeks)

As we speak, The Daily Mail are writing an article slamming Thorpe Park's use of ouija boards in an entertainment fashion - contained within said article will be a pointless reference to the Smiler accident

There's no way you cold do that - that's like saying you can't buy something from a very reasonably priced Merlin gift shop and then sell it on eBay straight away

There were lifts in X? I didn't know that EDIT: Oh they were fake, of course. I love the way it's referred to as X Colon Backslash No Way Out. CATCHY!

Haha I will stick to it, pinky promise

There was signage on park as I remember when we visited in July

If it comes back, I'll buy an annual pass next year

Haha I think I'm still hungover...

Never seen this video before, memories of dat queueline <3 My favourite quote though: "Going for the longest, the tallest, the fastest is most parks answer for putting in a new attraction"