Shockwavegirl wrote:It's probably just for removing the trains. At the end of the season the trains are taken off the track, put on a truck, and taken to the maintenace shed behind Wardrobe in the employee parking lot.
Wrong again.
Actually you're wrong...
If anyone has noticed, some coasters don't need a crane due to the fact that they already have a system to lower the cars at the end of the storage tracks.
http://themeparkcritic.com/scripts/profile/ViewProfile.asp?ViewID=2909 A furious storm once roared `cross the sea, catching ships in its path, helpless to flee. Instead of a certain and watery doom, the winds swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon!
Shockwavegirl wrote:THE ONLY TIME IT IS TOO COLD TO RUN A ROLLER COASTER IS WHEN IT IT BELOW 30 DEGREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was no where near that cold last night. UGH......
Gah Acers....they can run below 30, It is entirely possible.
thecoasterguy wrote:"Shockwavegirl wrote: It's probably just for removing the trains. At the end of the season the trains are taken off the track, put on a truck, and taken to the maintenace shed behind Wardrobe in the employee parking lot. "
Wrong again.
Okay Mr. Know it All, would you please explain to me what that nice shed by American Eagle is then. The trains need to be taken apart after 6months of operation, the viabrations in the trains losten the bolts, parts need to be replaced and tightened.
Shockwavegirl wrote:It's probably just for removing the trains. At the end of the season the trains are taken off the track, put on a truck, and taken to the maintenace shed behind Wardrobe in the employee parking lot.
Wrong again.
Actually you're wrong...
If anyone has noticed, some coasters don't need a crane due to the fact that they already have a system to lower the cars at the end of the storage tracks.
Okay Mr. Know it All, would you please explain to me what that nice shed by American Eagle is then. The trains need to be taken apart after 6months of operation, the viabrations in the trains losten the bolts, parts need to be replaced and tightened.
What does Batman have to do with the American Eagle?
Lets just say this -- I know why the crane was where it was, I know what is going on with Batman's trains and due to certain reasons, I can't explain further than that. But that crane had nothing to do with moving Batman's trains anywhere.
Also, the trains don't necessarily go through a complete refurbishment every winter (which is what you're describing with the American Eagle). If daily maintence schedules are maintained, then the trains do not need to be taken apart as parts that need to be either replaced or tightened due to vibrations are done as they are replaced when necessary.
twixmix0303 wrote:/\ Someone's posting that shouldn't be.
Maybe, maybe not. I definitely don't work for Six Flags, if that's what you're getting at. I do know altogether too much about rides, ride operation and ride maintence though from various happenings. I check in on this board a lot. I'm a "regular lurker" if you will.
I always find it interesting many of the theories about what sort of things happen 'behind the scenes' are. Sometimes, these theories are true. More often than not, these theories are pretty far off base either because the person is making them up or is told them by employees of the park that they themselves don't have the entire story on.
I'm not saying that I have the whole story, but I have picked up enough bits and peices to know more than my fair share of useless coaster knowledge. I just also choose not to share it, for if I ever would like to get a position in any park, I do not want to have been sitting around online chatting about their operating procedures for all the world to see. That isn't fair to them, and frankly if I were in their position, I wouldn't want to hire someone who did that.
Binks Drake wrote:Okay guys, you're being stupid. Shockwavegirl was a ride op. I think she knows better then you the interworkings of the park.
Hey, believe who you will. A person who claims to be a ride operator or a person who claims absolutely nothing and refuses to make any claims for himself. Trust me, I'm not trying to give myself a "bigger ePenis" as the saying goes by posting on here. I'll probably just go back to lurking then...
Anyway, take this into consideration: Why would this crane make an appearance on Saturday during the day if it was for "removal of the Batman trains?" Weren't there people on this board who claimed to have rode it on either Saturday or Sunday? The ride didn't run much, but it did run... right? If so, why would the crane be out in view of the public if it wasn't going to get the trains until Monday night at the very earliest. Seeing as how the crane was spotted before the ride closed for the rest of the weekend, that just doesn't make sense.
I'm sorry if I don't claim to be a ride operator, but just using context clues (and even the statement that the crane is kept ready near the maintence sheds year round), one could figure that the crane was around for another purpose.
They do not take the trains off of Batman for the off season. The Brake Shed is inclosed and they work on the trains there. Same goes for Superman. As for the crane, if you guys looked at the crane's postion it was located next to the lift motor. Could they have taken the motor out, Yes.
twixmix0303 wrote:/\ Someone's posting that shouldn't be.
lol
This topic is messed up....who gives a crap where the dumb trains go?
http://themeparkcritic.com/scripts/profile/ViewProfile.asp?ViewID=2909 A furious storm once roared `cross the sea, catching ships in its path, helpless to flee. Instead of a certain and watery doom, the winds swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon!
I was just about to say that. Anyone who is arguing about what the crane is for really needs to get a reality check. It's a freaking crane! Who the f*** cares? There are cranes all the time in amusement parks. Oh wait, this MUST be for our 2006 floorless. Not.
Shockwavegirl wrote:THE ONLY TIME IT IS TOO COLD TO RUN A ROLLER COASTER IS WHEN IT IT BELOW 30 DEGREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was no where near that cold last night. UGH......
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW SUCH A THING?
Besides, you're wrong.
Shockwavegirl wrote:It's probably just for removing the trains. At the end of the season the trains are taken off the track, put on a truck, and taken to the maintenace shed behind Wardrobe in the employee parking lot.
Wrong again.
Ummm...I used to run Shockwave, that's how I know. On our first day of training we got sent to get recertified at non-coaster rides...the reason....it was 27 degrees outside, and coasters cannot be run safely below 30 degrees. My b/f worked BTR and same thing, got sent to train on something else, reason, below 30 degrees.
The cannot run in freezing weather for this reason. When the steel on the tracks reach a temp of below freezing, it contracts, therefore the train wheels do not make direct contact on all sides. And the train is dangerously loose on the track.
And the trains need to be removed, they don't stay on the track all winter. The cold causes the steel to expand and contract, like any other metal, plus the plastic cracks, and the plastic and rubber on the wheels rot, and after 6 months of operation, they need rehab.
So there, don't ask me how I would now, rather rudely I might add, unless you know that I would have no idea. And if I am still wrong, I was misinformed by full-time management who would have wasted a day of pay on hundreds of park employees to train on rides that weren't their home unit before getting certified elsewhere based on a lie. I don't think so.
Last edited by Shockwavegirl on November 2nd, 2005, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Welcome to ShockWave please pull your harness down as far as it will go. While riding ShockWave please keep your hands and feet inside the car, and your head against the headrest, please hold on to all loose articles, especially hats and glasses. Enjoy your ride!
Binks Drake wrote:Okay guys, you're being stupid. Shockwavegirl was a ride op. I think she knows better then you the interworkings of the park.
Hey, believe who you will. A person who claims to be a ride operator or a person who claims absolutely nothing and refuses to make any claims for himself. Trust me, I'm not trying to give myself a "bigger ePenis" as the saying goes by posting on here. I'll probably just go back to lurking then...
Anyway, take this into consideration: Why would this crane make an appearance on Saturday during the day if it was for "removal of the Batman trains?" Weren't there people on this board who claimed to have rode it on either Saturday or Sunday? The ride didn't run much, but it did run... right? If so, why would the crane be out in view of the public if it wasn't going to get the trains until Monday night at the very earliest. Seeing as how the crane was spotted before the ride closed for the rest of the weekend, that just doesn't make sense.
I'm sorry if I don't claim to be a ride operator, but just using context clues (and even the statement that the crane is kept ready near the maintence sheds year round), one could figure that the crane was around for another purpose.
BTW thanx Binks for stickin up for me.
coasterguy....I don't just claim to have worked there. There is someone who posts here that could actually verify it if you need it. We worked there the same time, in fact it's how we met.
The crane I mentioned by the maintenace shed, isn't really the kind of crane you are probably picturing, nothing like the one by Batman last night, but more like a engine hoist. Heavy machinery capable of lifting heavy things. You can't see it from the park. And the crane I was talking about was the one outside Whizzer last night, not Batman, sorry for the confusion. The crane by Batman probably had to do with repairing the lift problem, whether it was sensors, the motor or the chain, a crane may have been needed to remove parts that needed repair.
I have been in the park in January....there are no trains on any tracks on any coaster.
Welcome to ShockWave please pull your harness down as far as it will go. While riding ShockWave please keep your hands and feet inside the car, and your head against the headrest, please hold on to all loose articles, especially hats and glasses. Enjoy your ride!
They don't take trains off that have an inclosed train shed i.e. Batman and Superman. All other trains that are exposed to the elements are taken off and stored in the maintenance buildings.
I really wouldn't know about Batman or Superman....I worked on Shockwave. But it was a theory based on information I did know. I didn't work Batman, and Superman obviously wasn't there yet. But, yes it does stand to reason that if the track or train wasn't exposed to the cold it wouldn't need to be removed. But all others......yes, they are removed. For that I stand corrected, expecially since you were nice when you corrected me.
Welcome to ShockWave please pull your harness down as far as it will go. While riding ShockWave please keep your hands and feet inside the car, and your head against the headrest, please hold on to all loose articles, especially hats and glasses. Enjoy your ride!
From what I heard that the trains are still taken off the tracks even if in the shed because the train sitting there is putting extra unneeded stress on the axels and the parts because the wieght of the train is causing more pressure to the wheels and axels, and without it moving, could be a bad thing in the long run.
Universal Orlando Mechanical Engineer Marathon down, Goofy to go.
Argh. Okay, here goes and then I'll go back to lurking as I definitely know more than I can say, and I do need to watch what I know...
Shockwavegirl wrote:Ummm...I used to run Shockwave, that's how I know. On our first day of training we got sent to get recertified at non-coaster rides...the reason....it was 27 degrees outside, and coasters cannot be run safely below 30 degrees. My b/f worked BTR and same thing, got sent to train on something else, reason, below 30 degrees.
Actually, I think that if you reviewed SFGAm training records, every cast member who is a ride operator must be certified for kiddie rides before getting certified for the attendant position (or single op) position on their home units.
The cannot run in freezing weather for this reason. When the steel on the tracks reach a temp of below freezing, it contracts, therefore the train wheels do not make direct contact on all sides. And the train is dangerously loose on the track.
Nothing personal, but if you worked at Shockwave you should know that this simply isn't true. Most coasters do not have all of the wheels touching the track at the same time, and this is especially apparent in the horribly constructed Arrow rides. Their uplift wheels are usually about half an inch below the track and not touching. The B&M rides (and recent Intamin rides) are constructed with spring-loaded wheel assemblies that keep the wheels in constant contact.
The metal in the rides get larger and smaller no matter what the temperature is. If a ride can't be run because of a certain temperature, it's because of the fact that it runs the risk of valleying because the friction in the wheels is much higher at colder temperatures.
And the trains need to be removed, they don't stay on the track all winter. The cold causes the steel to expand and contract, like any other metal, plus the plastic cracks, and the plastic and rubber on the wheels rot, and after 6 months of operation, they need rehab.
As others have nicely pointed out, the trains are not removed in at least two of the rides at the park. I know of a third too, actually.
So there, don't ask me how I would now, rather rudely I might add, unless you know that I would have no idea. And if I am still wrong, I was misinformed by full-time management who would have wasted a day of pay on hundreds of park employees to train on rides that weren't their home unit before getting certified elsewhere based on a lie. I don't think so.
No, you were not 'misinformed' by full-time management. You followed what I understand are the procedures for getting certified somewhere else. First you do some sort of general training, then you do kiddie rides and then you go to your home unit. I overheard one of the train operators complaining about how he had worked there for over 10 years on the train, and hated the kiddie rides, and just wanted to be certified for the train, but then a supervisor told him he had to get certified at the kiddie rides first.
You may have been told that the roller coaster couldn't yet be run, but I really doubt that it had anything to do with the cold. I was once coming home from work and could clearly see a few of the rides operating in what had to have been a training day (the gates were shut) and it was most definitely below 30 degrees out.
Sorry if I came off rudely, I just find it interesting how some people on message boards tend to claim to be the end-alls of knowledge. Certain parks purposely don't completely inform ride operators that they know are part of message boards like this one and are very careful with them. Why? Because sadly, coaster enthusiasts tend to be the people who believe that they can break the rules, ride with their harnesses up or whatever and so on. Not saying you would have broke the rules, but it is a serious concern. And so people that are marked as coaster enthusiasts (which again, nothing personal usual are quite obvious) are sheltered by full time management.
Besides, unless you can get a year-round picture of what goes on, one or two pre-season trips don't really reveal too much.
Shockwavegirl wrote:coasterguy....I don't just claim to have worked there. There is someone who posts here that could actually verify it if you need it. We worked there the same time, in fact it's how we met.
No, I believe that you did work there completely. I just also believe that you didn't get to see the full picture from your position there. I don't claim to know the full picture either, but I've been in contact with a bunch of people from the park just thanks to the hand that life dealt me.
I won't and can't break the trust that I have had from these people by talking too much about the park, but once someone I knew told me it was funny to learn about the real goings-on and then to read the message boards because the misinformation and speculation that tends to circulate on them is pretty fascinating. And it is.
I'm not claiming that you're deliberately trying to confuse anyone or lie about anything. It is just that at some point, you got some wrong information whether it was from management, other employees or friends. And really, I will get out of your way again after this post. I promise I just couldn't resist. Every so often I'll stop on here and make a few posts. I posted asking for proof that Deja Vu was 'constantly' valleying, and never got that. I asked for proof that a whole bunch of people started claiming that their harnesses just raised while going up the lift on Bull and then didn't lock again for the rest of the ride. And every time, people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about, but yet there isn't proof to refute what I've said.
I may not really know what I'm talking about, but I'm altogether too good of an observer and from the various parks I've been too, I have put together a lot of stuff. It helps that I work in Gurnee, so I often see the park throughout the week even in the winter months from the outside.
The crane I mentioned by the maintenace shed, isn't really the kind of crane you are probably picturing, nothing like the one by Batman last night, but more like a engine hoist. Heavy machinery capable of lifting heavy things. You can't see it from the park. And the crane I was talking about was the one outside Whizzer last night, not Batman, sorry for the confusion. The crane by Batman probably had to do with repairing the lift problem, whether it was sensors, the motor or the chain, a crane may have been needed to remove parts that needed repair. I have been in the park in January....there are no trains on any tracks on any coaster.
Is the crane that you are talking about the white one? If so, it does move places throughout the season, from the maintence warehouse to the boneyard to various places to do things... but they keep it out of view of the guests if at all possible.
I don't know what crane you are talking about outside of Whizzer. If I recall correctly, Whizzer has it's own built-in crane thing to lower the cars below. If there was another one, it definitely could have been there to assist in removing the trains.
Danhockey04 wrote:From what I heard that the trains are still taken off the tracks even if in the shed because the train sitting there is putting extra unneeded stress on the axels and the parts because the wieght of the train is causing more pressure to the wheels and axels, and without it moving, could be a bad thing in the long run.
That is a bad thing in the long run, which is why B&M being the absolutely genius company that they are has made it so that when the trains are on the storage track for any of their coasters, they don't sit on the wheels but instead on a different part of the train altogether. I can't find any close up pictures of the trains to demonstrate this for any B&M ride, but next time you are at the park look at Iron Wolf's transfer track. You'll see that the rails for the wheels become a much smaller rail, and the train itself rests on little wheels under the ride and secondard wheels on the outside of the train.
The same is true of Batman. There are wheels toward the top of the train, close to where the ride connects to the track but on the bottom of it. When the trains are taken off the main track at night, their normal wheels sit off the normal rails and instead the trains sit on these other wheels. Next time you're there, look at the train when you're getting on and you should be able to see these wheels.
The same is true of both Raging Bull (which is sort of visible when you're on the ride, although not as much as Iron Wolf) and Superman, which like Batman is hidden in the shed.
So anyway, I'm going to go away again. Sorry if I'm leaving questions unanswered, but such is life. As usual, I'll be lurking.
Last edited by thecoasterguy on November 2nd, 2005, 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Binks Drake wrote:Wow, You really know how to make enemies!
I'm not trying to make enemies. As I said in the post above, almost every time that I have posted on here, people have said that I was full of crap. And that's just fine by me. I would be just as happy if everyone wants to dismiss this last post as crap as I would be if anyone believed it.
