Morgan.B Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 There are rumours running around suggesting an opening tomorrow. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Coaster Man Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 There are rumours running around suggesting an opening tomorrow. Thoughts? Seems highly unlikely. Until it has been signed off by HSE, Alton Towers cannot open the ride to the public. pognoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan.N Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Seems highly unlikely. Until it has been signed off by HSE, Alton Towers cannot open the ride to the public. For all we know the prohibition notice could have been lifted. If we think back to the rides construction it had a prohibition notice placed on it then but there was never an official release that said it had been lifted so it is quite plausible that HSE have already deemed it safe to operate. JoshuaA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planenut Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 I'm there on Saturday and things are looking very promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Vicky did an interview this morning - http://www.itv.com/goodmorningbritain/news/alton-towers-crash-victim-told-ride-will-re-open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiteknuckle Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 I'm there on Saturday and things are looking very promising. See you there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MachoMachine Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 By the way they were talking about it on the news, it looks like the emergency services who helped during this incident are going to have a segment on the Pride of Britain awards if anyone's interested pluk and pognoi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planenut Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 See you there Will do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretchy Posted October 4, 2015 Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 New post and cameraStaff are cleaning the ride areaNew Estop button, but oddly its on the wrong side of the wire mesh fence.Some fencing bits, not sure how long they have been there though. pognoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-S Posted October 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 I do hope that estop button isn't on the 'public' side of the fence.... Given that new phone box looking device that's appeared on the fence by the batwing, I wonder if one of the conditions pushed onto the park will be a live observer will have to be positioned there all the time the ride is in operation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 that estop button is by the entrance? and there's usually a member of staff there anyway, so probably won't be too much different. although I can see so many rules and procedures in place in as part of an overreaction of health and safety, some probably ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 that estop button is by the entrance? and there's usually a member of staff there anyway, so probably won't be too much different. although I can see so many rules and procedures in place in as part of an overreaction of health and safety, some probably ridiculous. Health and safety over reacting after a very public and life changing incident... JoshC. and huzzellio 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Given that new phone box looking device that's appeared on the fence by the batwing, I wonder if one of the conditions pushed onto the park will be a live observer will have to be positioned there all the time the ride is in operation? That new box now has a padlock over it, so I doubt it'll constantly be in use. My bet is that when it breaks down, the ride will need to be reset from that box to confirm the track has been looked at? Can't think of what else it could be. Ian-S 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 That new box now has a padlock over it, so I doubt it'll constantly be in use. My bet is that when it breaks down, the ride will need to be reset from that box to confirm the track has been looked at? Can't think of what else it could be. Yes that's what I was thinking too - so you can't just reset from the control room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Health and safety over reacting after a very public and life changing incident... Well I know that. But doesn't stop there being an overreaction in some parts. TPGG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobF Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 I expect an extra block has been added to the system and the box houses a block reset switch. So in the event of a shutdown the blocks need to be reset by making someone attend the bat wing and enabling a resart by visually seeing the track is clear then enabling the block reset if a train is on a block you dont declare it clear. A typical coster like Colossus has a brake, station, lift and top of lift to breaks is a block. Obvously various coasters are more in depth like saw smiler ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planenut Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Well they haven't opened it yet; staff were there in training and it was being tested late on Saturday. The Merlin rep. stated that Smiler still has not been given it's certificate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/new-footage-emerges-alton-towers-6580607 "Crash test dummies". I really really hate the tabloids... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-S Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I can't see the video for reasons I won't go into, but are these the white legless water filled 'bodies' they use to simulate passengers, or real crash test dummies with data logging equipment in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I can't see the video for reasons I won't go into, but are these the white legless water filled 'bodies' they use to simulate passengers, or real crash test dummies with data logging equipment in? The water filled ones (ones used on all coasters in testing) Ian-S 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhabbi Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Noticed on Twitter now rather then saying the smiler will remain closed for the foreseeable future they have changed the wording to we would like to re open the smiler but the final decision will be made after we have undertaken all the necessary steps!!! Dunno if this means anything or not! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 not sure if it has previously been mentioned, but any info regarding the smiler saying about closed for the foreseeable future on the banner on their website has now gone... and also I'm not sure what it said before but on the smiler ride page, all it says is this ride is currently closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam T Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Do not hold your breath just yet... They've been testing the new systems today and working on some of the effects... but with less than a month till season ends, it's anyone guess right now if it will or will not open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhabbi Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Think it would be better for them to open it for a couple of weeks this year get most of the bad press out the way this year rather then the start of next year!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk MarkC and pognoi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I know they would want the investigation finished as soon as possible; but if they didn't have the intention of reopening it this year we may not be seeing all this work going on in open season, as the testing has made its way to the newspapers which otherwise they would have wanted to keep it completely in the dark and forgotten until next year. MattyMoo and pluk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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