July 23, 201312 yr comment_163932 They'd BETTER sort it out in time for this weekend. Some world's first this is if there's CONSTANTLY gonna be a problem!
July 23, 201312 yr comment_163935 Whilst Dr Kellman can't be seen at The Smiler at the moment he can be seen as a disabled person advertising Wiltshire Farm Foods.
July 23, 201312 yr comment_163938 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? This is what I was trying to say yesterday, but you said it better. The bolt is one thing, the result is another. I'd be interested to know what would happen if a train went over it in that state. Did one go over it do we know?
July 23, 201312 yr comment_163940 This is what I was trying to say yesterday, but you said it better. The bolt is one thing, the result is another. I'd be interested to know what would happen if a train went over it in that state. Did one go over it do we know? According to an eyewitness on various forums, three further trains successfully traversed the join after the bolt had fallen and track separated. I wouldn't like to think how many more would've made it safely if the other bolt failed.
July 23, 201312 yr comment_163947 I'm more interested to find out WHAT Gerstlauer have been called tbh... I think Alton Towers want to call Gerstlauer a few choice words that shouldn't be said round the dinner table at the moment having paid 18 million for that!
July 23, 201312 yr comment_163951 Apparently the reason Gerstlauer have been called is to basically say "She's good to go" after a quick check... Of course, the problem is that they're currently dealing with a slightly more serious matter in Texas... So unsurprisingly, the issue itself was dealt with pretty damn quickly, just like Swarm's was... Just getting the company to sign it off is the issue...
July 23, 201312 yr comment_163957 I hope theres no problems on the 12th August. I'm going up for my birthday, purposely to ride it. Also, does anyone know what sizes the smiler onesies come in?
July 24, 201312 yr comment_163968 Looking at tweets with #altontowers on twitter, it appears The Smiler will be opening today. A queue has been allowed to build and The Marmaliser effects are switched on. Maybe it was a simple fix after all.
July 24, 201312 yr comment_163970 So unsurprisingly, the issue itself was dealt with pretty damn quickly, just like Swarm's was... Just getting the company to sign it off is the issue... 2 Hours / 2 Days... same thing I guess?
July 24, 201312 yr comment_163971 Apparently it was all ready to go on Monday, but required signing off... Not the weeks of death and destruction some people were proclaiming it would mean to the ride... I would say it would take them longer to access it at the very least than the 2 hours for Swarm because of the tightness of the area, so from the incident to Monday being fixed up makes sense imo... EDIT - It's reopened... Panic over lads!
July 24, 201312 yr comment_163992 Well that sucks you think it was the other bolt that has fallen out
July 24, 201312 yr comment_163994 Well that sucks you think it was the other bolt that has fallen out Probably not, it's most likely just a regular breakdown.
July 24, 201312 yr comment_163996 Towers Street says on facebook: The Smiler has once again closed and according to rumours the queue line evacuated also. It's not been a good day for guests with several rides also appearing to be unavailable including Runaway Mine Train and Rapids according to www.ridetimes.co.uk
July 24, 201312 yr comment_164003 Various twitter and facebook users report that The Smiler has now reopened again and a queue is forming. I hope it doesn't keep going down.
July 24, 201312 yr comment_164006 According to Ride Times, the queues at the park are very light anyway. Nemesis 5 minute wait.
July 24, 201312 yr comment_164011 Its a shame the Smiler was doing so well and hadn't had a major problem or series of breakdowns for weeks but now it seems to be having problem after problem again. At least they're trying to get it open again though
July 24, 201312 yr comment_164012 It is open (at the time of posting)... In addition, Oblivion has NO queue
July 30, 201312 yr comment_164375 Uh oh, Closed again according to ride times and a post on Facebook. What now?
July 30, 201312 yr comment_164377 Is this thing trying to rival Slammer with the amount of breakdowns it has in one season lol
July 30, 201312 yr comment_164380 According to posts on FB ride staff have apparently been saying it may be down a few days. Alton are very much in the Thorpe Park dark days of 2006/7 when it comes to ride reliability now it seems :\
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