August 24, 201510 yr Author comment_215792 Only engineers can add and remove trains at Thorpe. Not a single operator would even know how to do it. I don't know what you thought you saw, but you can believe whatever explanation you want to believe. It's fair enough, I don't profess to know everything so if you guys say he was an engineer then he was, I just thought it curious he was the same guy who had been operating the ride for the hour previously and was still there at 9.30 (they took the train off around half seven). Oddly though, it will be very interesting to find out just exactly what did happen at Alton as I think you'll find your faith that a ride operator wouldn't know how to do something is very much misplaced.
August 24, 201510 yr comment_215816 Until the full report is published I will be taking this with a pinch of salt, but I think that the fact that it was human error bodes well for the ride's future rather than if it was a fault with the ride itself.
August 28, 201510 yr comment_216148 I'm not sure if this is completely true, and you probably already know this whether it is or not, but apparently what happened is the ride operator saw the empty train and did in fact stop the lift hill to remove the stalled train, however after 10-15 minutes the computer 'panicked' so to speak and restarted the lift hill. Edited August 28, 201510 yr by ChessingtonSam
August 28, 201510 yr comment_216149 Yeah that's utterly, utterly wrong... If the E-Stop had been pushed, then the system would not by itself restart the ride, it would need a manual reset...
August 31, 201510 yr comment_216337 Hmm, I thought that was a statement from the park, I have no idea.
August 31, 201510 yr comment_216338 I'm not sure if this is completely true, and you probably already know this whether it is or not, but apparently what happened is the ride operator saw the empty train and did in fact stop the lift hill to remove the stalled train, however after 10-15 minutes the computer 'panicked' so to speak and restarted the lift hill. Hmm, I thought that was a statement from the park, I have no idea. Just to reiterate. No. Nothing like this.
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216653 So according to TowersStreet track inspection has continued today on the Smiler, and there has been some new control panels installed around the ride. To me they look like Phone boxes which will connect to the operator? More photos on Towerstreet facebook page. When do people think it will re-open?
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216655 I originally thought it would re-open for next season but with all this happening now I think it could possibly open for scarefest?
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216656 It's looking promising for the ride to re-open this year. Really hope it does, the longer it's sat there closed, the less faith the GP will have in it IMO - also if the ride re-opened this year then hopefully they could have a fresh start next year.
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216672 track inspection? (images not mine, taken from Ride on Review Facebook page)
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216704 I originally thought it would re-open for next season but with all this happening now I think it could possibly open for scarefest? Can you imagine the negative tabloid reports if they opened Smiler for Scarefest!
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216705 Can you imagine the negative tabloid reports if they opened Smiler for Scarefest! IMO I think whenever the Smiler will open it will be slammed by the papers.. Even if it is next year or in 5 years.
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216714 Can you imagine the negative tabloid reports if they opened Smiler for Scarefest! That's why I want it to open this year - that way they can hopefully have a fresh start next year.
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216722 The park is struggling without Smiler too. Lots of people to this day still ask if it's open and will probably be putting off trips till it is again. It's a huge draw for Towers, remember how dead April 2013 was as it wasn't opening till May? Opening it will cause press field day. Whenever, and it won't die down quickly. I doubt it'll be over by next year. It's going to be a slow process for Towers. They need to be careful when they open it, if or more likely when it breaks down what will the press do? "Park opens dangerous ride for it to break with guests on again" etc. There's no easy time to open it, maybe just potentially worse. If they want it for Scarefest which I'm sure they do, they'll want it running a while before hand.
September 4, 201510 yr comment_216726 I personally think That when/if Opening Smiler May have negative media attention but it is essentially free advertisment for alton towers At the end of the day and people will all know that it is open the worst thing the media can do Is ignore it completely Imo From attracting guests to towers perspective.
September 7, 201510 yr comment_216986 Brace yourselves, incredibly negative, stupid and under researched slander articles are coming!
September 7, 201510 yr comment_217041 The Smiler was testing https://www.facebook.com/gu08sty/videos/10153636627816103/
September 8, 201510 yr comment_217088 Would be very pleasantly surprised if it does reopen for the season - but the fact they are actually working on installing barriers etc. obviously shows that they are going to re-open it... at some point.
September 8, 201510 yr comment_217179 Wouldn't be surprised for it open for scarefest.... But if it does, surely they will only be able to run a maximum of 3 trains because the other two are damaged probably beyond repair and it would take longer for new ones to be made....
September 9, 201510 yr comment_217183 They are aiming to get it open as soon as possible. But if I've heard correctly HSE haven't given them the go ahead to reopen
September 9, 201510 yr comment_217184 Nah, course the park don't want to get it open as soon as possible, not like it's been affecting their attendances at all this summer...
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