Benin Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Typical Gerstlauer and their poorly manufactured rides, not as if any other manufacturer ever has this problem... JoshC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 According to some on TST (who themselves are going off of what's been said on Twitter), this has caused a gap in the track. If true - uh oh! Was meant to be on park today; lucky I'm not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_A Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Pic credit to @Ben_M_To_The_C on Twitter. You can see a slight gap in the join. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC! Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Well its definately the track, I think it will be closed for a few days. Looks like the damage is on the first or second (not to sure from the pic) dive loop before the first bunny hop hill. I have never heard the track splitting because of a bolt. Yep its going to be down for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Doubt it will be a few days, looks like there fixing it right now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 How long was Swarm down for when it did this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Few hours? Although to be fair the track didnt actually detach like it has here, I cant see it taking too long though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 To my untrained eye it looks like a fairly major problem, be amazed if it reopens quickly. Even if it is an easy fix in itself surely the track joins shouldn't be under that sort of pressure where they want to pull apart when 'released'? You'd have to ask how much strain the remaining join would be under if a train were to pass over it in that state, and where its total failure point would be. If it gave way completely the result would surely be catastrophic, with an at height and at speed derailment possible? I would imagine this is the sort of thing the H&S executive would want to look at and sign off before it reopens, rightly in my view. Of course, it is possible that picture is massively deceptive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 It was meant to be open late afternoon, obviously missed that time. Therefore I imagine it'll be open tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidders Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 When the tracks at London Waterloo warped last week, all trains on the London and South Western Mainline were cancelled because the rails had expanded by up to 4 inches and some points. However, the whole thing was open and working again the next day. The thing just needs to cool to a size that will allow the bolt to be re-fitted. A few test runs will give the green light and we're back up and smiling again. That is, if the expansion hasn't cause permanent damage to the parts I.e. the one bolt. In which case they should really have spares in the workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 To my untrained eye it looks like a fairly major problem, be amazed if it reopens quickly. Even if it is an easy fix in itself surely the track joins shouldn't be under that sort of pressure where they want to pull apart when 'released'? You'd have to ask how much strain the remaining join would be under if a train were to pass over it in that state, and where its total failure point would be. If it gave way completely the result would surely be catastrophic, with an at height and at speed derailment possible? I would imagine this is the sort of thing the H&S executive would want to look at and sign off before it reopens, rightly in my view. Of course, it is possible that picture is massively deceptive! Heat expansion on the metal is the issue here, with the built up pressure already existing within the structure built up to cause the bolt to sheer (as designed when embracing high levels of stress/strain) and ping off into the sunset... New bolt, bit of cool-down and I'd imagine we'll be alright to go... As Sidders said, the best comparison are the warping train lines... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 It's the first incredibly cool day we've had in over a week. So temperature could well be a big influence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 I was about to say it's not been hot today so that doesn't seem right, but then it could well be the change in temp rathe r than the temp itself so maybe. The way it has parted from the loss of one bolt still doesn't seem right to me, but as I sayI know nothing of these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 I was about to say it's not been hot today so that doesn't seem right, but then it could well be the change in temp rathe r than the temp itself so maybe. The way it has parted from the loss of one bolt still doesn't seem right to me, but as I sayI know nothing of these things. One bolt holds a plane engine to the wing... Temperature shock is the most likely cause yes, especially given the severe temperature change we've had since Friday... EDIT - One hell of a close up from TST... pluk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Surely lots of bolts hold the engine on (so if one breaks it doesn't fall off? That's sure what it looks like out the window!) whereas this one bolt fail looks like it could cause a really serious issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted July 22, 2013 Report Share Posted July 22, 2013 From what I was told from an aerospace engineer one bolt is the case, just as a precaution in case of the engine catching fire for whatever reason... #weirdengineeringfacts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC! Posted July 22, 2013 Report Share Posted July 22, 2013 According to Towers Times on facebook, The Smiler is still closed but has a crane on site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mah boi Posted July 22, 2013 Report Share Posted July 22, 2013 Now looking at that image, I remember seeing on my visit to alton towers on the 18th july, that a bolt on the breakrun to a support before the second lifthill was missing. I wonder if that one was missing on purpose or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste193 Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 It was mentioned on heart radio when I was listening earlier and they made it all sound very unsafe, just great for a ride thats already struggled with opening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC! Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-23415889 Press have said The Smiler is going to be closed indefinately until the ride can be deemed safe again by health and safety officials but alton towers have said they are working as hard and as fast as they can to re open it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.S217 Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 lol Gerst have been called Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornflakes Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 lol Gerst have been called Source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 I'm more interested to find out WHAT Gerstlauer have been called tbh... Liam T, MattyMoo, pluk and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 Wouldnt surprise me, the fact the rides been closed 2 days and theres been a crane on site indicates there may be more to this than just a bolt pop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 A popped bolt is one thing, but a gap in the track is a different story tbh. The 2 track pieces obviously don't naturally sit together - the bolt is constantly under a massive amount of stress in order to force the track in to a position that it doesn't want to be in! Surely a single bolt shouldn't be responsible for forcing those 2 pieces of track together... Maybe they'll have to re-align some more of the track? pluk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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